There is a new attraction on Dauphin Island today. After several years in planning, the salt marsh educational pier is open to the public. The new pier is an educational element of a larger salt marsh conservation and restoration project. It was funded jointly by grants from the Alabama state Lands Division and from Bridgestone/Firestone.
For many Dauphin Island visitors the new educational pier will be the first thing they see on Dauphin Island. It's located right next to the ferry landing on Dauphin Island's east end.
Island's new salt marsh educational pier opens
DAUPHIN ISLAND -- As cars slowly lined up to wait for a ferry ride to Fort Morgan on the other side of Mobile Bay, a group of 20 people walked out on a brand new 100-foot pier stretching out into the calm waters of the Mississippi Sound.
After three years of planning and construction delays from two major hurricanes, the group was there to celebrate the pier's official opening Thursday.
The pier is an educational element of a larger salt marsh conservation and restoration project.
"Starting today, people waiting for the ferry can come out on this pier, enjoy watching the birds and maybe catch a flounder," said Carl Ferraro of the Alabama State Lands Division.
His agency provided $12,000 in grants for the $21,000 pier project. The rest was provided by Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC.
The pier stands beside Alonzo Landing, more commonly called Billy Goat Hole, the busiest boat landing on Mobile County's populated barrier island.
"We kept saying, 'This fall,' and we all know what happened these last two falls," said Mayor Jeff Collier.
Hurricane Ivan in 2004, then Katrina in 2005, delayed the pier's construction, he said. This fall, the elements cooperated, and the pier was built.
City officials hope that in coming years, they'll be able to add other projects to the site, including an extension of the pier -- along the land or into the wetlands themselves -- and possibly a concession stand, Collier said.
Large signs on the pier instruct visitors on how to identify shorebirds such as the black skimmer or killdeer, wading birds, such as the reddish egret, and fish, such as the red drum.