Several coastal parks, outdoor facilities and wildlife offices in Baldwin County are closed as Hurricane Isaias approaches the Alabama Gulf Coast, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores and Meaher State Park in Spanish Fort are both closed and are not accepting reservations. Reopening dates will be announced after post-storm evaluations. Other Alabama state parks remain open for evacuees.
The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Baldwin County is closed until noon Tuesday, Oct. 13. The closure includes facilities, trails, boardwalks and boat ramps, except for emergency personnel. The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division’s District 5 office and the Perdido River Wildlife Management Area office and check station in Baldwin County are also closed. Reopening dates have not been announced.
Marine Resources Division offices on Dauphin Island and in Gulf Shores are closed until 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13. Reservations for the Alabama Canoe Trail System are closed through Friday, Oct. 16, with reservations expected to reopen Oct. 17. State Lands Division coastal offices are already closed for renovations.
Several outdoor events have also been canceled, including the Alabama Deer Herd Health Field Talk in Spanish Fort on Oct. 8; youth dove hunts in Baldwin County scheduled for Oct. 10 in Fairhope and Oct. 11 in Elberta; a Crenshaw County youth dove hunt in Dozier on Oct. 10; the Fred T. Stimpson Small Game Hunt in Clarke County on Oct. 10-11 and the Little River Special Opportunity Area deer hunt scout day in Escambia County on Oct. 10.
ADCNR is warning boaters that public ramps in coastal and low-lying inland areas may experience high water, storm surge and floating or submerged debris that could make conditions unsafe.
Facility updates are available at www.outdooralabama.com/Isaias and www.alapark.com/Isaias. Updates for Meaher State Park are available at www.facebook.com/Meaherstatepark and for Gulf State Park at www.facebook.com/GulfStatePark.
