Project Summary

The Cotton Bayou/Terry Cove system is located in the heart of Orange Beach, AL and is a component of the larger Perdido Bay watershed, connected to the Gulf of Mexico by Perdido Pass. The canals and other shallow waters of the Cotton Bayou/Terry Cove system have historically served as nursery habitat for aquatic and avian wildlife. Over time, development and re-development has replaced much of the natural shoreline with seawalls and other structures, and sediment has accumulated in ways that disrupt natural hydrodynamic mixing. These and other unknown factors are contributing to water and sediment quality degradation; fluctuating temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen concentrations; driving algal blooms, fish kills and other indicators of poor ecological health.

The goal of this project is to develop a science-based, comprehensive understanding of the factors governing the environmental and ecological health of the Cotton Bayou/Terry Cove system, leading to a scientifically-defensible plan for restoring ecological and environmental health within this system. The cost of no action is the continued degradation of environmental and ecological conditions within the Cotton Bayou/Terry Cove system, with a myriad of known and unknown future consequences for the living resources within this system and for the Orange Beach community.

The purpose of this project is to use historical and project-acquired data, and environmental modeling, to identify potential alternatives for restoration of the Cotton Bayou/Terry Cove system.

All reports, documents, publications, photographs, and all associated data and related items of information were prepared by Auburn University under Award No. GNSSP21AL0026 from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council). The data, statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author[s] and do not necessarily reflect any determinations, views, or policies of the RESTORE Council.

Last Updated: August 2024