|
Auburn's Landscape
Architecture Studio Class and Public Water Access
|
 |
| |
Mobile
County Commissioner Mike Dean addresses the crowd at
the Public Water Access meeting. |
|
The challenges of public access to the water are rising with
demands for more boat ramps and fishing locales. Last year,
various state agencies collaborated on a survey of public
opinion of these challenges, and used the results to design
new access options in the area south of Bayfront Park to,
and including, Dauphin Island.
Charlene LeBleu, Assistant Professor of Community Planning
and Landscape Architecture at Auburn University, and her
landscape architecture class, presented the results of the
water user survey, an overview of the current challenges,
and design options for improved public access. Commentary
was sought from the audience of boaters, commercial and
recreational fishing interests, oyster fishing interests,
and others.
“This is an exciting process for all users of the water,
whether you’re an oysterman, a boater, or a family hoping to
find a beach on the way to Dauphin Island,” said Dr. George
Crozier, Executive Director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
“The busiest boat ramp in Alabama is at the east end of the
island – trailer rage has not yet escalated to violence but
local fishermen have told me that they’d never go back to
the island because of the congestion.”
Participating agencies in this project are: Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State
Lands Division; Auburn University, College of Architecture,
Design and Construction; Dauphin Island Sea Lab;
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium; and the Mobile Bay
National Estuary Program.
|
