Partners for Environmental Progress has presented 2025 Environmental Stewardship Awards to Moffatt & Nichol and Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) for their work on the Aloe Bay Living Shorelines and Christopher Blankenship Ecotourism Area Projects. These initiatives combined coastal restoration with community recreation to protect vital infrastructure and bring new life to the island’s waterfront.
For decades, the Aloe Bay shoreline has suffered from erosion and storm impacts. To address this, the Town of Dauphin Island secured funding from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund, and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. With these resources, the project restored six acres of shoreline and intertidal habitat, stabilized by eight nearshore, segmented breakwaters. Three of the structures also feature marsh mounds to enhance habitat while reducing shoreline risk.
The restoration not only protects critical infrastructure—including the wastewater treatment plant, marina, and new Ladnier Landing Boat Ramp—but also supports long-term resilience.
At the same time, the Christopher Blankenship Ecotourism Area created new amenities for residents and visitors. Improvements included pervious paving and expanded parking on El Dorado Avenue, a modern restroom facility, and timber boardwalks with wildlife viewing areas.
“The Town of Dauphin Island is proud to have partnered with the Alabama Department of Natural Resources while leveraging multiple funding sources to create the Christopher Blankenship Eco-tourism Area & Kayak Launch and Living Shorelines in scenic Aloe Bay,” said Mayor Jeff Collier. “This new facility has become immensely popular while connecting residents and visitors to the vast natural resources in this unique area.”
These award-winning projects showcase what’s possible when environmental stewardship, infrastructure protection, and community engagement come together to shape a resilient future for Alabama’s coast.
Join us in congratulating Moffat & Nichol, Goodwyn Mills Cawood and the Town of Dauphin Island. Learn more about this special project in the video below. You can also learn about all of our 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award recipients on the PEP YouTube channel.