Back from the Gulf

October 27, 2008 -- Two Harbors, MN

Returning home from the Gulf Coast on Friday was quite a trip. Thinking about the time and distances involved, I am amazed that it is all so easy. Still, it was a long day. We left the hotel about 7 a.m., drove through the Gulf Shores area to Pensacola, returned the rental van, and made it to the airport for my 9 o'clock conference call, only a few minutes late. Then is was a wait in the airport for our 11:30 departure. We boarded on time but sat on the plane for a good 40 minutes before takeoff. We landed in Memphis with 10 min. to make our connecting flight. Sprinted through the airport wearing my laptop backpack. Then waited another 30 minutes before that plane was ready to go. Arrived in Minneapolis/St. Paul airport at around 4:00 p.m. thanks to an unusual tailwind. Picked up the car from the ramp and drove back to Duluth. Made it home by 8:00 p.m.

Thursday was the last day of the CSO meeting and the group approved (in concept) a draft of a bill for reauthorizing the Coastal Zone Management Act. We'll have to wait and see how far and how fast that goes given the political and economic climates, but it seemed important to try to be proactive on suggesting changes that could make for better coastal management in the future.

In the afternoon, after the meeting let out, my boss and I hopped in the rental and went to check out Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge.

First we stopped for lunch at Big O's Seafood Grill (for fried flounder, beet greens and steamed cabbage) before heading out to the shore. It was pouring rain and very windy so we didn't get a chance to get out and explore much. I was glad that were appeared to be visiting in the off season. Not too much activity going on right now but it sure looks like the place would be a crazy, people-packed circus during the busy season. The number of condos for rent and 10 to 20-story hotel/condo complexes right smack on the beach was amazing.

We also made a return visit to the Weeks Bay National Estuary Research Reserve. After a couple minutes on the boardwalk from their visitors center we were soaked and gave up the idea of walking and headed back to the hotel.

We ended up at Old Bay Steamer restaurant for dinner where the Thursday special was a pound of shrimp (Royal red shrimp) and a pitcher of beer for $16. Couldn't beat that. I also had a bowl of gumbo. Good stuff.

Gulf Coast Explorations

October 23, 2008 -- Point Clear Alabama.

Yesterday we spent only a little time indoors talking about Maryland's efforts to address impacts of climate change and regional ocean governance reports from each of the regions. Then it was off on a whirlwind field tour of coastal resources in Alabama and Mississippi. Our first stop was 5 Rivers - Alabama's Delta Resource Center. It is a brand new facility on the water where Mobile Bay starts to feel more like a riverine wetland or estuary. It is the 2nd largest river delta complex in the lower 48 states.

I took a bunch of pictures of 5 Rivers and other sites we visited today. I'll upload them as soon as I can.

We had a nice box lunch at 5 Rivers and some time to explore the museum and theater as well as spend some time watching the river flow by and looking for wildlife. There were not too many critters around, but we did see some HUGE web spinning spiders, egrets, Great Blue Herons, Royal Terns, and Laughing Gulls.

As we traveled by bus into Mississippi we heard about rebuilding of bridges and other structures damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Ivan. There was a lot of damage here and along the way we saw evidence of many houses that were destroyed and not rebuilt. In one area they told us of relatively reasonably valued houses having tax rates of $2000/yr and insurance of $6000/yr.

Our next stop was the Grand Bay National Estuary Research Reserve. We drove through pine savanna habitat and did a turn around in what looked like a cool salt marsh area where they have a small boat launch facility. We stopped to talk to the reserve manager and look at the new building they have under construction. It is a 16,000 square foot building that will have two classrooms, labs, and offices. They are planning to receive a LEED Gold certification on the building.

We made our way to Biloxi MS to look at redevelopment issues along the coast after hurricanes destroyed the floating casinos along the shore. The new casinos are huge structures, built on shore within 800 feet of the water's edge. Shrimp boats still have a few places to dock here though and the Maritime and Seafood Museum operates the charter Oyster Schooners here. We got to sail aboard the Glenn L. Swetman, a 50 foot, 21 ton wooden schooner built in 1989. Unfortunately, it started to rain a bit when we got on board and the sail was cut a bit short.

After the sail we were treated to a wonderful meal of seafood by the staff of the Mississippi coastal program at the museum site on a pier out in the bay. It was great.

Coastal Alabama

October 21, 2008 -- Point Clear Alabama.

Yesterday afternoon was the start of the Coastal States Organization Fall Meeting. It was a long stretch of annual budgets, dues discussions ($8174.00 for MN again in 2009), officer elections and so forth. We also got into a meaty discussion of the states' language for a proposed bill to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act. It was a line by line review of where the draft bill is now in preparation for a detailed discussion later in the week. I thought it was a worthwhile session and I was pleased to see that much of what I had suggested in September had been incorporated into the new version.

After we wrapped up the meetings for the day we were treated to a reception at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The staff and volunteers put on a very nice reception with some great food at their new education facility right on the water. For pictures of the reserve check out their photo albums here.

Today we hear from NOAA about a variety of topics, have some work group sessions and Break-out sessions. Then we get into the discussion of re-authorization again. No field trips even though the weather beg us to get outside. Does that seem right to you?

Mobile Bay

October 20, 2008 -- Point Clear Alabama.

Yesterday the boss and I drove from Duluth to the Minneapolis - St. Paul airport, met up with the boss's boss and flew to Memphis for a change of planes, then on to Pensacola, picked up the rental car and drove to Point Clear Alabama on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. Straight-line distance 1150 miles. We are staying at the Grand Hotel Marriott, a pretty ritzy place. It is clearly the off season here though based on the room rates we are getting and the lack of traffic and general sense of quiet so far.

Last night we went for supper at Randy's Bar and Grill. I has the steamed "Ocean Platter" with shrimp, crab, oysters, red potatoes, coleslaw and corn on the cob. It was good, tasty food. The small platter was $14 for a good sized platter of seafood. Yuengling lager on tap was $2 each so that was nice too.

This morning we went into Fairhope Alabama and explored around just a bit. The best part was walking out on the 1400 foot long municipal pier and watching the fishermen cast nets or throw big double-hooked, heavily weighted rigs out in the bay for mullet or "white trout"

I took a bunch of pictures but unfortunately, I left my camera cable at home so no sharing of the pictures until I get home.

Here is a picture of the net thrower with his net full of "Shiners".


And here is the view from my balcony shortly after getting to my room.

More pictures can be found on My Photo Album on Picassa Web.