TheWeeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a field laboratory and research facility[1] alongWeeks Bayestuary along theGulf Coast of the US state ofAlabama. It is about 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) in size. It receivesfreshwater from theMagnolia andFish Rivers, and drains a 198 square miles (510 km2) watershed into the portion ofMobile Bay via a narrow opening.[1][2] This sub-estuary of Mobile Bay averages just 4.8 ft (1.5 meters) deep[1] and is fringed withmarsh (Spartina,Juncus) andswamp (pine,oak,magnolia,maple,cypress,bayberry,tupelo and others). The reserve lands also include upland and bottomlandhardwood forests, freshwater marsh (Typha,Cladium), submerged aquatic vegetation (Ruppia,Vallisneria) and unique bog habitats (Sarracenia,Drosera). Weeks Bay is a critical nursery forshrimp, bayanchovy,blue crab and multitudes of other fish,crustaceans andshellfish that support robust commercial fisheries providing $450 million/year forAlabama.
The Weeks Bay Reserve includes over 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) of coastalwetlands and water bottoms that provide rich and diverse habitats for a variety of fish, crustaceans and shellfish, as well as many unique and rare plants. The Weeks Bay estuary, "where rivers meet the sea," is an important site of scientific research on estuarine ecology. The Weeks Bay Interpretive Center offers the public opportunities to learn about coastal habitats through its exhibit, live animals displays and collections of animals and regional plants. Self-guiding nature trails wind through wetlands, marshes, bogs and forests.[1]
In 2014, the Reserve joined with other conservancy groups to secure a tract of land which now protects the undeveloped marine forests near the bay.[3] The Weeks Bay Foundation is a fully accredited member of TheLand Trust Alliance.[4] Weeks Bay was designated part ofNOAA'sNational Estuarine Research Reserve System in 1986.[5] This site is managed by theAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.[5]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theNOAA.
30°23′50″N87°49′51″W / 30.39722°N 87.83083°W /30.39722; -87.83083
