On Tuesday, May 7, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL) announced his Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act passed the House Natural Resources Committee.

Ben Raines, a local regional investigative reporter who has spent over 25 years reporting on and studying Alabama's wild and natural world, often talks during speaker series about how Alabama is one of the most biodiverse areas in the nation — housing more freshwater fish species, more plant and animal species per square mile and the greatest diversity of carnivorous plants than any other state — because of the biodiversity of the Mobile River Basin and because Alabama did not freeze during the last ice age.

Carl's bill is intended to preserve a 60,000-year-old submerged ancient forest discovered near Gulf Shores in 2004 — after Hurricane Ivan devastated the area on land but uncovered the offshores, underwater forest — that is home to marine life such as fish, crabs, turtles and octopuses, among others.

“I'm thrilled that my Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act is one step closer to becoming law after being voted out of the House Natural Resources Committee," Carl stated. "This legislation is an incredible win for the coastal Alabama community and all those who enjoy recreational activities in our area."

This effort was designed to designate the underwater forest as a marine sanctuary and eliminate the concern for explosives or drilling, the removal of subsurface cypress tree salvage and the lowering of certain intrusive devices or seabed cables in the area. Pre-existing oil and gas projects authorized prior to the enactment of this bill continue as planned, with fishing, diving and other recreational activities also all still permitted under the act.

In 2018, the Alabama Coastal Foundation assisted Raines in producing "The Underwater Forest," a documentary that explores its discovery. Gulf Coast Media previously reported that ACF began introducing legislation to Congress in 2020 to have the area designated as a National Marine Sanctuary.

"At the time, Bradley Byrne, who is now the president and CEO of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, was serving as our U.S. representative. Each year since then, that same legislation has been introduced by Congressman Jerry Carl," ACF Director Mark Berte said in January. "The good news is that each year we have had more people, no matter their political perspective, learn about this amazing natural wonder and take action to let others know so it can be protected."

Raines traveled to Washington, D.C., in January to testify for the bill, showing portions of the documentary and explaining what lies within the forest. While the exact location of the underwater forest has not been released publicly, it will be if the area if federally protected.

"The rich history of this underwater forest must be both preserved and enjoyed," Carl added. "It is vital to protect the beautiful ecosystem, whilst ensuring that hunters and anglers can respectfully use the area. This common sense legislation is a step in the right direction of preservation, appreciation and recreation of our natural resources."

Raines testified in January that a furniture company offered him $10,000 for the coordinates of the forest. He also said that "many of the tree stumps we found are 10 to 12 feet across, with a circumference of 30,000 feet if you can imagine." Those stumps are now part of a functioning coral reef that has an ancient river running between the trees.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman commended Carl for his commitment to ensuring research continues at the forest with little disruption, simultaneously maintaining support for recreation and economic activity critical to Gulf Shores and coastal Alabama as a whole.

"Congressman Carl has consistently fought for local issues critical to his state and district," Westerman said. "This congress and I thank him for his continuing leadership on the committee."