 Below is a listing by year of the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation efforts in land acquisition, development of facilities, exhibits and opportunities at the Reserve. |
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2005
John Borom, president of Mobile Bay Audubon Society and one of the organizers of the Alabama Coastal BirdFest, presented a $5,000 check to Walter Ernest, executive director of the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation, on Tuesday, July 11. The money, partial proceeds from last year’s Alabama Coastal BirdFest, will be used toward the purchase of three wetland lots on Fish River. “We truly appreciate the generosity of BirdFest,” said Ernest. “This land adds to the available bird habitat at Weeks Bay, and is a good fit with the Reserve’s Long Range Plan. For now, the land will be left mostly in its natural state, with the possible addition of a boardwalk.” Additional proceeds from the 2004 Alabama Coastal BirdFest are being donated to the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary for the purchase of land on Dauphin Island. The 2005 Alabama Coastal BirdFest is planned for Oct. 20-23 and will include over 20 guided birding tours in Mobile and Baldwin counties, evening events, special guest speakers, and a free, daylong Bird and Conservation Expo on the Faulkner State Fairhope Campus. For more information on the 2005 Alabama Coastal BirdFest or to register for any of the tours or events, call 251-929-0922 or visit www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com |
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2004
Mobile Bay Property (2.94 acres Mobile Bay). |
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WBRF volunteers (left) assisting during the derelict crab trap clean u. (note future WBRF member assists his father during the cleanup WBRF volunteers (right) assisting during the annual derelict crab trap clean up. |
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2003
Members and their families work to keep Weeks Bay Watershed clean. |
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Juniper Parcel Fish River 13.5 acres with 123 front feet on Fish River was donated to the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation by a landowner that wanted to receive a tax deduction and ensure that the property's natural beauty would be protected for generations. This property included a small white top picture plant bog and has a substantial amount of Riverine wetlands. |
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2002 The Foundation expanded the Reserve's boundary when it sold the 91 acre tract on Fish River and the 20 acre tract on Turkey Branch to the Alabama Department of Conservation State Lands Division Forever Wild Land Trust Program. The Foundation sold the 22.5 acre Bay Watch Marina to the Alabama Department of Conservation State Lands Division.
Derelict crab trap volunteers who assisted removing derelict crab traps from Weeks Bay. |
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2001 The Foundation purchased a 91 acre tract with 2000 feet of frontage on Fish River.
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The Foundation purchased a 49 acre tract on Fish River. |
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A 20 acre tract of timberland near Stockton was donated to the Foundation in memory of the late Walter Lindsey.
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2000 In April of 2000, the Foundation purchased the 10 acre Meador Tract (pictured at right) located at Highway 32 and Fish River (parcel #2 on the map below). |
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The 9.5 acre Fish River Hvelda Tract (parcel #1 on the map to left and also pictured below) was purchased by the Foundation in 2000 and was sold in 2003 with a conservation easement attached to the property. The stewardship funds to help pay for the conservation easement were provided by a land sale donation in memory of the late Walter Lindsey. Mr. Lindsey was a longtime supporter of the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation.
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1998
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The Foundation hosted the Annual Meeting of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, with representatives from 27 Reserves around the country, as well as federal, state and local officials participating in the week-long educational event. | ||
The Foundation acquired a 684 acre tract on Bayou Sara in Mobile County through a generous private donation. |
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Walter Ernest (left) Executive Director of Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation, and Randy Roach (right) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, discuss the importance of the Bayou Sara Tract to wildlife including the Black Bear. |
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The beautiful Bayou Sara Tract is important habitat for numerous plants and animals. |
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The 2000 foot Kurt G. Wintermeyer Boardwalk Trail was extended from the carnivorous plant bog to Fish River as a result of a major gift to the Foundation.
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1997
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The Foundation purchased at auction 106.4 acres on Fish River that included the Bay Watch Marina and the Safe Harbor RV Park. |
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This significant acquisition was made possible through private donations and collaboration with several other organizations and agencies. |
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The Kurt G. Wintermeyer Boardwalk Trail over
the carnivorous plant bog was started as a result of a
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1996 The 3,200 foot Boardwalk Trail behind the Interpretive Center was completed as a result of a grant to the Foundation. |
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1995 The Foundation funded the addition of a live animal display room to the Interpretive Center as well as new exhibits and an extensive specimen collection. |
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1994
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The Foundation purchased a 64 acre tract on Fish River. | ||
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1993 The Foundation acquired a 2.94 acre tract on Mobile Bay near the mouth of Weeks Bay. |
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1992 After a period of public comment and agency review, ONRW status was conferred by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Foundation purchases a 20 acre tract at the headwaters of Turkey Branch. |
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1991 The foundation assisted in the proposed designation of the waters of the Reserve as Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW). |
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