Dauphin Island gets $5M in grants

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (WALA) - Some people like to say ‘good things come to those who wait.’ For others, good things happen to those who work tirelessly in pursuit of specific objectives.

Perhaps it should be said that good things come to those who do both.

Such is the case for the Town of Dauphin Island who was recently notified via letter that its grant application with the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) has been approved for a sum of $5 million which is to be used to fund a shoreline protection program on the island’s Eastern End.

Dauphin Island mayor, Jeff Collier, the town council and the island’s coastal engineers have been working with state and federal agencies for a number of years to apply for funding to complete the rebuilding of the East End shoreline which has worn away over the years due to dredging of the Mobile Bay Ship Channel, increased storm activity and rising sea levels.

"This is great news for our community and for the state of Alabama, who will soon have several new miles of beach and shoreline to enjoy," said Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier. “Our team has worked hard over the past several years to get to this point, and we look forward to continue working with the necessary agencies to complete the project and providing a safe environment for families and visitors to enjoy everything historic Dauphin Island has to offer.”

Despite the approval of funding, there are still a number of measures that must be completed and permits acquired before the town has permission to break ground.

According to Mayor Collier, the Island community hopes to see the project completed in the next calendar year. The project will help protect the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, historic Fort Gaines, Coast Guard property, and the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary, which includes the important maritime forest, migratory bird habitats and fresh water lake.