Restoring the Lower Perdido Islands

The Lower Perdido Islands—Bird, Robinson, and Walker Islands—are hidden gems nestled just north of Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, Alabama. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, expansive sandy beaches, and rich wildlife, these islands have become a prime destination for boaters, nature enthusiasts, and tourists alike. However, with growing visitation—estimated at over 8 million people annually—the islands are facing significant environmental stressors. The influx of boat wakes, pollution, habitat destruction, and disturbances to wildlife habitats have put immense pressure on these fragile ecosystems.

In response to these challenges, a collaborative restoration project spearheaded by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the City of Orange Beach, Moffatt & Nichol, Olsen Associates Inc., and other stakeholders, aims to preserve and restore the Lower Perdido Islands while maintaining public access for recreation. Backed by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and Natural Resource Damage Assessment funds from the Deepwater Horizon spill, the restoration project seeks to rejuvenate the islands’ critical habitats and ensure they remain vibrant for future generations.

The Ecological Importance of the Lower Perdido Islands

The Lower Perdido Islands boast a variety of habitats, including marshlands, seagrass beds, sandy shorelines, and uplands, each supporting a rich diversity of wildlife. Shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl thrive on these islands, with species such as tricolor herons, reddish egrets, snowy egrets, white ibis, and brown pelicans relying on the islands for nesting and foraging. These birds, along with migratory species, depend on the islands as vital stopovers during migration. Additionally, the surrounding seagrass beds provide critical nursery habitats for juvenile marine species such as speckled seatrout, redfish, shrimp, and blue crabs, supporting both the local ecosystem and economy.

The growing popularity of the islands has led to increased boat traffic, erosion, pollution, and habitat destruction. As boat wakes erode shorelines, damage seagrasses, and disrupt nesting areas, the fragile ecosystems that support wildlife are under threat. To protect these natural treasures, the restoration efforts aim to balance ecological preservation with sustainable public use.

TNC’s Conservation Goals: Protecting and Restoring Key Habitats

TNC’s conservation goals for the Lower Perdido Islands focus on restoring and protecting the diverse habitats that make up the islands’ ecosystems. The project’s objectives include:

• Restoring Marsh Habitats: Marshes provide critical breeding and feeding grounds for a variety of bird species. Restoration efforts aim to address degraded marsh areas and expand marsh habitats on Robinson and Walker Islands, enhancing biodiversity and stabilizing shorelines.
• Enhancing Bird Habitats: The islands provide important nesting and roosting habitats for shorebirds and wading birds. To support these species, TNC will plant native trees and shrubs to improve existing habitats and create new areas for bird nesting and foraging.
• Maintaining Seagrass Beds: Seagrass beds are essential to the health of the ecosystem, supporting fish, shellfish, and other marine life. The restoration design seeks to protect and expand seagrass beds while minimizing disturbance during construction activities.
• Providing Public Access with Care: While ecological restoration is the priority, TNC recognizes the importance of allowing the public to continue enjoying the islands. The project seeks to improve recreational spaces while minimizing the impact on wildlife and habitats.

Restoration Concepts

The restoration efforts on the Lower Perdido Islands are based on extensive scientific research and input from local stakeholders. Moffatt & Nichol led the design process, conducting a series of surveys and technical studies, including topographic and bathymetric surveys, sediment transport studies, hydrodynamic modeling, and seagrass assessments. These studies helped guide the development of restoration strategies that would maximize ecological benefits while minimizing disruptions to the islands’ delicate ecosystems.

The restoration strategies for Robinson and Walker Islands include sediment placement, the creation of marsh habitats, and the restoration of dunes. These efforts will provide habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife while stabilizing shorelines and improving the resilience of the islands to climate change and storms.

Walker Island Restoration

Walker Island, in particular, will benefit from a comprehensive restoration effort designed to enhance critical habitats for wildlife. Since Walker Island is off-limits to the public to protect its sensitive ecosystems, the restoration work here will focus solely on wildlife habitat creation and enhancement. The design for Walker Island includes two primary restoration areas:

• Western Placement Area: The western portion of Walker Island will see the creation of more than five acres of high marsh habitat, which will provide essential feeding and breeding grounds for birds and other wildlife. In addition, approximately one acre of upland habitat will be created, along with subtidal shoal habitat. These habitats are essential for sustaining diverse wildlife populations.
• Eastern Placement Area: On the eastern side of the island, the restoration will focus on addressing the degradation of marsh habitats and maximizing dune and scrub-shrub habitat. The eastern placement area will restore over eight acres of high marsh and more than three acres of upland habitat, creating vital ecosystems for wildlife and mitigating the impact of storm damage.

Both areas are designed with specific shapes—a “hummingbird” shape on the west side and a “kidney bean” shape on the east—to minimize impacts on the surrounding seagrass beds. These designs ensure that the valuable seagrasses, which have been steadily expanding over the past two decades, are protected from sediment placement activities. The restoration team will also plant native species like sea oats and marsh grasses to stabilize the new sediment and prevent erosion, providing additional shelter and foraging areas for wildlife.

Protecting Seagrass Beds

Seagrass beds surrounding the Lower Perdido Islands are a key feature of the area’s marine ecosystem. These beds have been expanding steadily for over 20 years, providing a healthy environment for juvenile marine life and contributing to water quality. As part of the restoration efforts, the design team worked to ensure minimal disruption to these seagrass beds.

However, some patches of seagrass were located within the sediment placement areas, requiring a careful relocation process. In partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, the team developed a plan to relocate seagrass sods—plants, roots, and sediment—from areas that would be impacted by construction.

In July and August 2024, the team, in collaboration with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, CSA Ocean Sciences, Inc., Moffatt & Nichol, and numerous volunteers, relocated over 4,000 sods of Shoalgrass (Halodule wrightii). These sods were transplanted to a protected no-motor zone just outside the construction footprint, where they can thrive without disturbance. The sods were planted in a checkerboard pattern over approximately 1.5 acres of the seafloor.

The relocated seagrasses will be monitored for five years to ensure their survivability and health. If necessary, additional plants will be added to maintain or improve coverage. This proactive approach ensures that the seagrass beds continue to thrive, preserving the ecological health of the area.

Sustainable Restoration for Future Generations

The restoration of the Lower Perdido Islands is an important step toward preserving Alabama’s coastal ecosystems. By implementing science-based restoration strategies, the project will improve the health of critical habitats, protect wildlife, and maintain recreational spaces for the public to enjoy.

Though the restoration work may cause temporary disruptions to the islands’ landscape, the long-term benefits will far outweigh any short-term inconveniences. With careful planning, monitoring, and community engagement, the restoration efforts will enhance the resilience of the islands and ensure they remain vibrant and accessible for future generations.

Through these restoration efforts, the Lower Perdido Islands will not only recover but thrive—becoming a model for sustainable conservation and a source of pride for Alabama’s coastal communities.