About the Mobile River Basin CoalitionThe Mobile River Basin Coalition was initiated in 1995 by a joint effort of leaders from business, government, and citizen groups and has since grown into a network of individuals and organizations from the business, government, and public sector who collaborate in sharing information and addressing issues that affect the Basin's future. The Mobile River BasinThe Mobile River Basin is the largest Gulf Coast drainage east of the Mississippi River, and provides almost three times the daily water yield per square mile than does the Mississippi River Basin. The Basin flows through 10 different physiographic provinces including the Cumberland Plateau, Appalachian Highlands, and the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The Basin's rivers and streams provide a wide variety of natural habitats for plants and animals, supporting aquatic communities among the most diverse in North America with numerous fish, mussels, snails, turtles, crustaceans, and aquatic insects, some found nowhere else in the world. The resources of the Basin have been central to the economic and environmental well-being of the Southeast. The natural beauty, fish, wildlife, and abundant water of the streams and river valleys were among the top attractions for the Basin's early settlers. Over the years, the Basin's streams and rivers have been vital to the region's needs for transportation, water supply, electricity production, irrigation, waste disposal, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreation. As a result, years of impoundment, mining, dredging, channelization, as well as point and nonpoint sources of pollution have been detrimental to the fauna and their habitats. The future of the Basin depends upon maintaining the ecological and economic sustainability of its resources. These resources have experienced accelerating change in the past decades, causing riverine habitats to decline and contributing to an extinction rate of aquatic species unparalleled elsewhere in the continental United States ( See Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered species page). This decline is also reflected in increasing economic, political, and regulatory conflicts over water quantity and quality. Meanwhile, the value and importance of the Basin's streams and rivers will increase as human populations and economic activities continue to grow. In an effort to preserve and protect the Basin, the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service has created a Recovery Plan for the Mobile River Basin Aquatic Ecosystem.The CoalitionThe purpose of the Coalition is to provide a forum for all interested groups who have a stake in the Basin to discuss, develop, and promote good management of the Basin's rivers and streams. The Coalition provides an opportunity for these stakeholders to work together in assessing the status of the Basin's resources, in helping develop educational materials about the Basin's future, and in resolving conflicts over use and management of the Basin. The Coalition promotes watershed awareness and stewardship responsibilities of individuals and communities and serves as a clearinghouse for information, materials, and assistance relating to river and stream habitat quality, biodiversity, and resource management. By working together, improved planning and voluntary initiatives can be used with existing laws and regulations to enhance environmental quality, biodiversity, and economic strength and opportunity. An Accomplishment Report has been compiled describing the significant projects of coalition members. Ongoing ResearchClick on the links below for information about interesting organizations that are doing good work in the
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Alabama Fisheries Association
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