Alabama beaches slightly dirtier, oil spill notwithstanding
GULF SHORES, Alabama -- Alabama’s beaches last year suffered relatively few bacteria-related water-quality issues, though they were a little less clean than in 2009, according to an annual report released this week that ranks beaches around the nation.
The study ranked the state’s beaches the 21st cleanest in the nation — a drop from 19th place last year. The Natural Resources Defense Council’s “ Testing the Waters ” report’s rankings are based on bacteria testing results and on the number of days that beaches are closed due to water contamination.
Mississippi’s beaches came in 20th place, just ahead of Alabama. Florida’s beaches were ranked the 6th cleanest in the nation.
The study’s state rankings excluded most data related to last year’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill in order to keep the report focused on bacteria-related water quality, said Jon Devine, a senior attorney with the council, a Washington, D.C.-based public-interest group.
“We included events of six weeks or less, but not events of more than six weeks. That will allow us to better compare data from year-to-year,” Devine said.
All beaches in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi were closed at least 50 days during the BP PLC oil spill, above that 42-day limit, he said. This year’s report also includes a section devoted solely to the oil spill, he said.
According to that section of the report, “because of the BP oil disaster, total advisory days for 28 events lasting six consecutive weeks or less increased more than 5-fold to 195 days in 2010 from 34 in 2009.”
Nevertheless, oil-related events accounted for less than 7 percent of all beach closings last year, according to the report.
Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said that the city’s policy from the beginning of last year’s oil spill was “safety first,” even at the risk of losing tourists. That approach apparently worked, since tourism officials this week reported occupancy rates near 100 percent for the state’s condos and hotels during the July 4 weekend.
During the oil spill, there were 9,474 days of oil-related beach notices, advisories, and closures along the Gulf Coast. Louisiana beaches were closed 3,420 days, Florida 2,245 days, Mississippi 2,148 days, and Alabama 1,661 days, according to the report.
Most Gulf beaches were closed for at least 56 consecutive days. The report released Wednesday adds those days together cumulatively for each of the beaches in each state, even though the days took place at the same time. So, for example, if a state had only two beaches and they were closed for the same 53 days during the oil spill, that would count in the report as a total of 106 days.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Pirates - News
During the oil spill, there were 9474 days of oil-related beach notices, advisories, and closures along the Gulf Coast. Louisiana beaches were closed 3420 days, Florida 2245 days, Mississippi 2148 days, and Alabama 1661 days, according to the report.
In the first decade of the 19th century, as filibusters and pirates raided from the land and sea along the north Gulf Coast, Americans in Mississippi and New Orleans clamored for access to areas within the commercially inclined Choctaw nation - part of
Black Cats faced off against the Gulf Coast Phillies on Sunday at AW Watson Field at Boston Park, and the Black Cats came away with a 16-3 victory. With the victory, the Black Cats won the Mississippi Semi-Pro Baseball Association championship.
While playing in both the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League in 2010, Sano hit a combined .307 with seven home runs and 29 RBI in 61 games. Sano is a big, fast and athletic player that has led scouts to compare him to Marlins slugger
Hillman made the most of his first time in a Black Cats uniform with a two-run homer against the Gulf Coast Phillies last week. “It felt very nice to hit that home run,” said Hillman. “I didn't hit a single home run this past season at Henderson State.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Pirates - Bookshelf
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