**STUDY TITLE**: Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ecological
Characterization.

**REPORT TITLE**: Alabama Coastal Region Ecological Characterization. 
Vol. 3, A Socioeconomic Study.

**CONTRACT NUMBER(S)**: BLM: MU0‑20; MMS: 14‑12‑0001‑30037.

**SPONSORING OCS REGION**: Gulf of Mexico.

**APPLICABLE PLANNING AREA(S)**: Eastern Gulf of Mexico; Central Gulf of
Mexico.

**FISCAL YEAR(S) OF PROJECT FUNDING**: 1980; 1981; 1982; 1983.

**COMPLETION DATE OF REPORT**: October 1982.

**COST(S)**: FY 1980: \$360,000; FY 1981: \$250,000; FY 1982: \$375,000;
FY 1983: \$200,000.

**CUMULATIVE PROJECT COST**: \$1,185,000.

**PROJECT MANAGER(S)**: J. Friend.

**AFFILIATION**:  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

**ADDRESS**: 1010 Gause Boulevard, Slidell, Louisiana 70458.

**PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S)\***: L. Borom, J. Ferguson, J. Friend, N.
Garrett, G. Lloyd, M. Lyon.

**KEY WORDS**: Eastern Gulf; Central Gulf; Alabama; baseline;
socioeconomics; population; demographics; development; minerals;
tourism; recreation; commercial fishing; recreational fishing;
agriculture; transportation; pollution; characterization; literature
review; synthesis.

**BACKGROUND**: This study is one of a series of characterizations
produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and jointly funded with
the Bureau of Land Management (presently the Minerals Management
Service).  The series attempts to describe relationships between human
population growth and availability of natural resources in coastal
areas.  Planners and managers, among others, should find this report and
its data base useful for coastal resource planning and management.

**OBJECTIVES**: (1) To compile and synthesize information from existing
sources concerning social, demographic, and economic factors in the
Alabama coastal region.

**DESCRIPTION**: The socioeconomic study consists of a series of
chapters containing quantitative and qualitative descriptions of nine
regional socioeconomic components.  Recommendations for planners and
identification of data gaps are given in each chapter.  The chapters
concern: (1) social and demographic characteristics; (2) industrial and
residential development; (3) agricultural and forestry production; (4)
mineral production; (5) commercial fishing; (6) transportation; (7)
recreation/tourism; (8) multiple use conflicts; and (9) environmental
issues and regulations.  All figures and tables are given in a data
appendix in the order that they appear in the text.  Data were obtained
from various published documents.  Except for evaluation and
interpretation, the document is based entirely on secondary sources.

**SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS**: Coastal Alabama, similar to other coastal
areas, has natural resources that cause it to be attractive for
recreation, residential, and industrial development.  Conflicts arise as
development demands alteration to coastal ecosystems.  As demand for
coastal resources increases, land use and resource planners are
confronted with greater challenges in attempts to maintain a proper
balance among competing users.

**STUDY RESULTS**: Coastal Alabama is a fast growing area.  Population
in Mobile and Baldwin Counties increased from 174,300 in 1940 to 442,800
in 1980.  Rapid growth is expected to continue.  Population at Mobile,
the area\'s largest population center, currently is about 200,500. 
Compared to many areas of the Nation, people of coastal Alabama are less
affluent and less educated.  The coastal population characteristically
contains a high percentage of minorities (e.g., blacks).  Recent trends
indicate that the gap in income is narrowing.

The basic regional industries or services are paper and allied products;
shipbuilding and repair; chemicals and allied products; construction;
transportation; communication; utilities; lumber and wood products;
services; and wholesale and retail trade.  The region\'s employment
increased from 131,600 in 1969 to 172,300 in 1978 and could reach
233,400 by 2000.  Impetus for future economic expansion will be
generated by the Tennessee‑Tombigbee Waterway, increased coal shipments
through the Port of Mobile, and expanded production, storage, and
transportation of oil and gas.  Regional land area is 7,484 km^2^ (2,890
mi^2^).  In 1975, forested lands made up 48% of the total land;
agriculture, 19%; transportation, communication, and utilities, 3%;
residential, 2%; industrial and commercial, 1%; and undeveloped, 27%.

Although agriculture and forestry are dominant land uses in the region,
income from these sectors is relatively low.  In 1978, agriculture,
directly and indirectly, generated about 11% of total employment and
income, and forestry generated only 1%.  Principal agricultural products
are soybeans, vegetables, cattle, and nursery products.  Major forestry
products are lumber and pulpwood.

Principal mineral industry products are oil, gas, sand, gravel, clay,
and oyster shells.  Oil and gas production is economically most
important, representing a relatively new but rapidly growing regional
industry.  In 1979, Alabama ranked 17th nationally in oil production and
20th in natural gas production.  Recent natural gas discovery in Mobile
Bay has increased interest in bay, nearshore, and offshore exploration. 
In April 1980, the State leased 13 tracts in Mobile Bay, Mississippi
Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico 3‑mile offshore area; in the near future,
tracts in Federal OCS waters may be offered.

In 1978, 23 finfish species and 7 shellfish species were landed
commercially in coastal Alabama.  Shrimp have consistently ranked first
in volume and value since 1955, accounting for 33 to 50% of total pounds
landed and 80 to 85% of dockside value.  Oyster (\$1.2 million dockside
in 1976) and crab (\$281,000 dockside in 1976) fisheries are relatively
small.  Atlantic croaker is the principal regional finfish species. 
Other commercial saltwater species include spotted seatrout, southern
flounder, and striped mullet.  Commercial freshwater fisheries exist for
channel catfish, smallmouth buffalo, and freshwater drum.

Coastal Alabama is served by a well developed transportation system. 
Terminal facilities for rail, highway, air, and water are centered in
Mobile County.  Water transportation centered around Mobile Bay with a
system of navigable waterways is dominant and has been the primary
contributor to the area\'s economic development since the 17th century. 
Mobile Bay ranks 13th amoung the Nation\'s ports, handling mostly bulk
commodities (coal, grain, and iron ore).  The Tennessee‑Tombigbee
Waterway, scheduled for completion in 1986, will link the Tennessee and
Ohio Rivers to the Tombigbee River and Port of Mobile.  The Port of
Mobile and Mobile Harbor are undergoing expansion to accommodate
expected increased transport.  Intercity highway transportation is
served by I‑10 and I‑65.  Rail service (freight only) is provided by
four railroads‑‑Louisville and Nashville, Illinois Central Gulf, St.
Louis‑San Francisco (Frisco), and Southern.  Commercial air
transportation is available at Bates Field and Brookley Field.

In 1980, resident and tourist outdoor recreation in Mobile and Baldwin
Counties was expected to add up to over 51 million user days.  Most of
the user participation was near the shore.  An estimated 4.4 million
tourists visited the two county area and spent \$117.8 million. 
Sportfishing and hunting are major regional sports.  The Mobile Delta is
the principle freshwater fishing area for largemouth bass, sunfish,
crappies, channel catfish, and alligator gar.  Marine fishermen use all
regional estuaries and bays, as well as Mississippi Sound and Gulf
waters.  Principal sport species are amberjack, Spanish and king
mackerel, southern flounder, striped mullet, and spotted seatrout. 
Shrimping and crabbing also are major sport activities.  Hunting seasons
begin in mid‑September and continue to late April.  Duck and racoon are
hunted in the lower Delta.  Whitetail deer, turkey, and small game are
taken in most areas of the region.

Many of the social and economic benefits prevalent in the region are
dependent upon natural resources.  Competition for these resources
causes multiple‑use conflicts and environmental stress.  Although the
conflicts generate some social, economic, and political repercussions,
the issues usually are environmental.  Major environmental conflicts are
dredging, mining, petroleum extraction, construction, transportation,
pollution, waste disposal, farming, and logging.  Recreation activities
most likely to be affected by these multiple uses are commercial
fishing, sportfishing, hunting, recreational boating, swimming, hiking,
and camping.

Water pollution is a serious problem in and adjacent to Mobile Bay. 
Spoil disposal from port and channel construction and maintenance has
caused environmental concerns.  Alteration or destruction of marshes and
shallow bay bottoms caused by port, commercial, residential, and
recreational development needs to be prevented.  Principal point
discharges are municipal sewage treatment facilities, paper mills, and
chemical plants.  Nonpoint discharges include urban storm water runoff
and septic chainfields in low lying areas.  Air pollution is confined to
Mobile County.  A major environmental issue is natural habitat loss. 
Estuaries, marshes, and barrier islands provide storm protection, waste
assimilation, and recreation.  Threatened and endangered natural lands
and waters and other areas of high ecological value to man are the
Mobile Delta, coastal barrier islands, submerged grassbeds, tidal
marshes, wet acid pinelands, mesic ravine woods, and habitats of
endangered and threatened species.

**STUDY PRODUCT(S)**: Friend, J. H., M. Lyon, N. N. Garrett, J. L.
Borom, J.  Ferguson, and G. C. Lloyd.  1982.  Alabama Coastal Region
Ecological Characterization.  Vol. 3, A Socioeconomic Study.  A final
report by the U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service for the U.S. Department of
the Interior, Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Office,
Metairie, LA.  NTIS No.  PB83‑190017.  FWS/OBS‑81/41.  Contract No.
14‑12‑0001‑30037.  367 pp.

**\*P.I.\'s affiliation may be different than that listed for Project
Manager(s).**