Ivey Directs $50M to Shield Alabama Gulf Coast from Erosion

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday an executive order directing $50 million toward erosion mitigation projects along Alabama's Gulf Coast, focusing on beaches battered by recent storms. The funding, sourced from state conservation reserves and Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) allocations, aims to restore shorelines in Baldwin and Mobile counties. Initially reported by Alabama Daily News, the order prioritizes engineering solutions like dune reinforcement and shoreline armoring to counter intensified erosion from hurricanes and sea level rise. The initiative builds on Ivey's prior GOMESA investments, including a $45 million package announced last October for 23 coastal projects. That funding supported $5 million for upgrades at Gulf State Park Campground in Gulf Shores and enhancements to boating access and water quality in areas like Orange Beach and Dauphin Island. With this new $50 million infusion, Ivey's administration has now awarded over $355 million in GOMESA projects since she took office, administered by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Local impacts are stark: Erosion has rapidly degraded Little Dauphin Island's shoreline, prompting complementary federal grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced Dec. 16, 2025. Those $13 million awards fund habitat restoration there and at Salt Aire on Mobile Bay's western shore, addressing Deepwater Horizon spill legacies. Baldwin County Commission Chair Joey Underwood praised Ivey's order, noting it safeguards 60 miles of coastline vital to $2.5 billion in annual tourism revenue. The executive order mandates ADCNR to prioritize projects with measurable outcomes, such as reduced beach loss rates documented at 5-10 feet per year in high-risk zones. Funds will be disbursed to partners including the University of South Alabama and coastal municipalities by June 2026, aligning with the recent Alabama Development Fund law signed by Ivey, effective June 1, to bolster long-term economic resilience.