Weeks Bay listed as endangered

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. - It's one of the most tranquil spots in Baldwin County is Weeks Bay. It's a small estuary and besides being beautiful, it was recently named one of the ten most endangered places in the south by The Southern Environmental Law Center.

"These are special places in the region that face immediate potentially irreparable threats by development," said Gil Rogers, and Attorney with the SELC.

L.G. Adams Manages the Weeks Bay Reserve he said his staff monitors a 200 square mile watershed looking for unnecessary erosion and water runoff.

"We've seen high turbidity associated with construction projects those kinds of thins, and occasional fish kills and low oxygen levels that may be damaging to organism living in estuary," said Adams.

Yet Adams said it's hard to pinpoint the cause. He adds Weeks Bay is highly productive and an essential part of Alabama's seafood industry. Adams agrees Weeks Bay needs to be protected to keep it looking beautiful.

The Southern Environmental Law Center hopes putting the bay on its endangered list will do just that. "Spur people to see what's being done, what's not being done and not take natural resources for granted," said Rogers.

Weeks Bay has also been recognized for its outstanding water quality.