MONTGOMERY – With a unanimous ruling, the

Alabama Environmental Management Commission, an appointed board who

oversees the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM),

granted Wolf Bay the highest state classification for water quality

– Outstanding Alabama Water (OAW).

The 6-0 vote validates nearly a decade of

work, including constant volunteer water quality monitoring, the

development of a comprehensive watershed plan and a public

awareness campaign reaching out to government officials throughout

Baldwin and Mobile counties, by the Wolf Bay Watershed Watch

(WBWW), a non-profit environmental organization based near Wolf

Bay.

The classification applies to Wolf Bay from

the Intracoastal Waterway to Moccasin Bayou, according to Jerome

Hand, public relations director for ADEM.

In order to receive OAW, ADEM must certify,

according to federal and state regulations, that the proposed area

meets stringent water quality standards which take into account

bacteriological, dissolved oxygen and turbidity data, among other

indicators.

WBWW members contributed to the data by

collecting water quality samples over the years, according to Stan

Mahoney, executive director of the group.

He said that without the efforts of citizen

volunteers boating and even wading through the waters of the bay on

steamy summer days and frigid winter months, Wolf Bay would not

have the data to earn the designation.

James McIndoe, head of ADEM’s Water Division,

said that Wolf Bay is only the fourth waterway state-wide to

receive OAW and the first estuarine system.

“We certainly thought (the designation) was an

appropriate step to take with Wolf Bay, it’s not something we take

lightly,” said McIndoe.

Segments of the Cahaba River, Hatchet Creek,

and the Tensaw River are also deemed OAW, he said.

Wanda Ramos, president of the Wolf Bay

Watershed Watch, said: “I’m very excited for our volunteers that

have put in many hours testing water quality.

“And, it’s paid off for the people of Wolf Bay

and the State of Alabama.  A big part of this

goes out to Liz Langston of the watershed watch for keeping the

water quality program going and for sending many letters to ADEM

over the years requesting OAW.”

Mahoney realizes that the designation is a

beginning - not an end - for the environmental quality of Wolf Bay

and the county’s resources.

“This is not a final step, but rather one more

step in the process,” he said, noting that with sustainable

development and government action the Intercoastal Waterway,

Perdido Bay, Little Lagoon and the Bon Secour Bay could be

classified as outstanding waters.

The watershed watch, he said, needed nearly 8

years of data to verify that Wolf Bay deserved the designation.

But, Mahoney said: “I don’t think we have that

much time to wait.”

He recommended the usage of real-time water

quality devices submerged in the county’s waterways so that data

can be consistently measured, reported and verified.

“There needs to be a cooperative approach

among the municipalities and the county in order to get a system in

place,” he said, adding that local chambers of commerce, developers

and businesses should join the cause and promote action for

environmental quality in the county.

“We would like to see an increased awareness

from those who are benefiting from the county’s resources,” he

said.