Demand an End to Federal Mud Dumping in Mobile Bay
The Problem
90 million cubic yards. That is how much sediment the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to put into Mobile Bay over the next 20 years. It is also enough to cover the entirety of Mobile Bay with 2.5 inches of mud. No one should be allowed to dump this much mud in our waters, especially the federal government.
The dredge sediment being pumped into the Bay has already greatly harmed seagrasses and oyster reefs. Another 90 million cubic yards will decimate the little we have left and destroy the livelihoods of commercial and recreational fisherman.
Our Solution
How Did We Get Here?
June 2026
Baykeeper Submits comments opposing Corps plan
Mobile Baykeeper submitted comments opposing the Corps' plan to continue dumping dredged sediment into Mobile Bay during maintenance dredging.
February 2026
Alabama takes a major step to protect Mobile Bay.
HB 181 is signed into law. The new law requires that at least 70% of dredged material from the Mobile Bay ship channel be put to beneficial use, such as marsh creation, shoreline protection, or habitat restoration. Dredged sediment can no longer be treated as beneficial use if it is dumped back into the Bay. This marks a turning point in the fight to protect our waters and our way of life, ensuring dredging strengthens our coast instead of harming it.
June 2025
Baykeeper Letter to Congress
The United States Congress has the opportunity to end mud dumping in Mobile Bay and fund proper disposal practices.
December 2024
Environmental Impact review
Baykeeper has authored a paper disputing the Corps’ position. The federal agency has not defended its position with any legitimate scientific backing.
July 2024
Baykeeper sends Notice of Intent to Sue
Baykeeper sends a Notice of Intent to Sue to the Army Corps over their failure to protect Gulf Sturgeon. Protections for the Gulf Sturgeon will mean protections for commercial shrimpers, oystermen, and inshore charter captains.
June 2024
Eastern Shore Anglers raise concerns
Discovery of dead fish in dredge placement area
Eastern Shore anglers discover dead fish in the dredge placement area and raise concerns.
2024
Mitigation Efforts
Baykeeper attempts to work with the Corps to mitigate impacts of millions of cubic yards of sediment to no avail.
2018
Commercial fishermen express concerns
Commercial fishermen and Inshore Charter Captains express concern over dredge disposal practices.
2017-2019
Mobile Baykeeper expresses concerns
Baykeeper files 60+ pages of comment letters to demonstrate the harms that would be caused by the ship channel. Concerns ignored by USACE who eventually found that moving millions of cubic yards of sediment to deepen and widen the ship channel would have no environmental impact.
2012
The Corps receives emergency permission to begin disposing of dredge material in Mobile Bay again.
1986
MCWCA stops Corps of Engineers
Ask your federal officials to protect Mobile Bay.
We are also asking our federal elected officials to make the Corps do its job of serving the people rather than the other way around.
Our requests:
- No in-bay disposal that is not beneficial use.
- Involvement and approval of future beneficial use projects.
- Formal study on wave energy mitigation along the ship channel.
- In-channel dissolved oxygen system similar to the Port of Savannah.
- Creation of a private cost-share program to convert waterfront property to living shoreline.
- Large-scale public waterfront property conversion project to living shoreline.
Now is the time to call your elected officials.
Let them know how important end the mud dumping is to you.
Office of Senator Katie Britt 202-224-5744
Office of Senator Tommy Tuberville 202-224-4124
Office of Representative Barry Moore 202-225-2901
Office of Representative Shomari Figures 202-225-4931