Hog Bayou was once a vital resource for the Africatown community, providing a place for swimming, fishing, and gathering. Today, it is no longer safe for recreation or subsistence fishing due to industrial pollution. In 2022, officials confirmed dangerous levels of mercury in the water, attributing it to pollution in the air. However, nearby industries have a long history of releasing toxic chemicals into the bayou, raising serious concerns about ongoing contamination and its impact on the community.
We’re working alongside community leaders in Hog Bayou who want their water back. Everyone should have the ability to safely swim, fish, and enjoy these waters—but that won’t happen until the pollution stops. We’re pushing for a plan that holds polluters accountable, reduces mercury contamination so fish are safe to eat, and restores public access, ensuring the community has a voice in the future of this vital waterway.
Baykeeper joins with the community to test the waters of Hog Bayou to better understand the issues the water body faces and where they are coming from.
Mobile Environmental Justice Coalition is formed to build a coalition to address environmental justice issues and challenges many the community faces.
Occidental Chemical Corporation acquired chemical refining facilities around Hog Bayou, including a brine sludge lagoon, which remains a concern to this day.
Access and habitat quality decline as Africatown, especially around Hog Bayou is industrialized. Paper mills, lumber treatment, and petrochemical manufacturing take the place of hunting and fishing.
Africans brought to Mobile on the Clotilda, the last slave ship to America, settled in what is now called Africatown. Hog Bayou became known as the “Happy Hunting Grounds” and provided a source of food and recreation for generations.
