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City staff outline National Coastal Resilience Fund grant plans to refresh breakwater designs
Summary
City staff described a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant application to refresh 2018 breakwater designs to slow historic shoreline loss; staff said the project would not directly restore seagrasses at the river mouth and that using dredged spoils for beneficial reuse is under consideration.
City staff told the Mobile City Council on March 17 that they plan to apply for a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Coastal Resilience Fund grant that would require local matching funds.
Staff described the project as a refresh of 2018 breakwater designs from Hellman Park up to the Zeigler wastewater facility to address a historic rate of shoreline loss at roughly 3 feet per year. When asked if the project would restore seagrass at the mouth of the river, staff replied, “Directly, no. Indirectly, possibly.” They said the application would allow the city to revisit designs and consider beneficial reuse of dredged material from port dredging as part of project construction.
Council members asked for a clearer map and for staff to identify the next-highest erosion hot spots once the project areas are prioritized. Staff committed to providing a list of critical areas and follow-up information about potential beneficial-use partnerships with dredging contractors.
The item was presented as a resolution to authorize city participation in and acceptance of grant funding; council discussion focused on scope and next steps rather than awarding the grant itself.
