New funding has allowed Mobile Baykeeper to bring back its SWIM (Swim Where It's Monitored) program to help coastal Alabama residents and visitors make informed decisions before heading into the water.

Beginning Friday, Sept. 11, trained community volunteers will be collecting water samples from public swimming and recreational areas across coastal Alabama. Samples will be analyzed in Mobile Baykeeper's lab, with updated results published every Friday through September and monthly for the remainder of the year. Results will be available on the environmental advocacy nonprofit's website, and the Swim Guide app and will be sent to subscribers by email.

The program's return was made possible through support from local businesses, community partners and volunteers who recognized the importance of providing reliable water-quality information to communities that depend on coastal waters, inlcuding CrowderGulf as presenting partner. It was paused in April after going unfunded.

"When SWIM paused, our community let us know just how much they relied on it," said William Strickland, executive director of Mobile Baykeeper. "Families use SWIM to decide where to swim, and they know its absence changed the way they lived. Several businesses stepped up to fill the funding gap, and we are now able to employ people to run the program. Volunteers stepped up to make the program more affordable and community-centered.

"The community has chosen to help neighbors across coastal Alabama have access to reliable water-quality information while we continue the work of defending and reviving our waters and our way of life."

SWIM monitors public swimming and recreational areas by testing for indicator bacteria that can signal sewage contamination. Results are compared with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recreational water-quality standards and published on an interactive map to help residents and visitors understand current water conditions.

This season, SWIM is returning with a focus on public areas used by the greatest number of people. The program provides science-based information designed to help people make informed decisions before entering the water.

CrowderGulf is the program's presenting partner. Additional support comes from Michael and Debbie Quinn, Bay Break Fairhope, Gulf Surgical Dermatology and Fly Creek Marina.

"For decades, CrowderGulf has been proud to call Alabama's coast home," said Reid Loper, senior vice president of CrowderGulf. "We've seen firsthand how these waters sustain local communities, support livelihoods and shape the way of life we all share. Supporting SWIM's return is one small way we can give back, help protect these vital waters and empower people with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions."

Mobile Baykeeper is relaunching the program with its highest-priority monitoring sites and plans to expand SWIM as additional funding becomes available.

"There is still a need for our community to help," Strickland said. "We need more sponsors and volunteers to add more sites and track down sources of bacteria in problem areas. If you want to join your community in helping your neighbors, you can email us at info@mobilebaykeeper.org."

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.