Last updated: May 2025
The Eagle Reef Project was launched to restore the health of Mobile Bay in response to habitat loss and declining fish populations due to the degradation of oyster and seagrass beds [REF 1, REF 6]. Originally planned in 2022 as an Eagle Scout service project by John Shell of Boy Scout Troop 147, the project has grown into a regional environmental initiative supported by Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP), the University of South Alabama’s Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, and municipalities such as the City of Fairhope [REF 3, REF 4, REF 7]. The project deploys preassembled mini reefs—constructed from plastic and PVC—beneath docks and piers across Mobile and Baldwin counties. These reefs, once colonised by filter feeders like oysters and barnacles, can filter up to 20,000 gallons of water daily and serve as habitats for fish, shrimp, and crabs [REF 1, REF 4]. The initiative aims to improve water quality, sequester nutrients, reduce algae, and restore marine biodiversity [REF 1, REF 6]. The Eagle Reef Project addresses critical coastal hazards, including water pollution, fish habitat loss, and the legacy of environmental disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill [REF 4]. It combines scientific monitoring, civic engagement, and scalable design to enhance the region’s climate resilience and ecological health [REF 1, REF 6, REF 7].
The Eagle Reef project
Ref. 1
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Marine and coastal research and/or education
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Poor water quality
- Other
Key priorities
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Coastal ecosystems restoration and maintenance (mangroves, dunes, saltplains, underwater meadows), Coral reef restoration, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Marine and coastal conservation initiatives, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Species-specific monitoring and conservation programs
Project objectives
-Restore and revitalise marine and coastal ecosystems by deploying mini reefs across Coastal Alabama. [REF 1]
-Improve water quality through natural filtration by oysters and barnacles on the reefs, each filtering up to 20,000 gallons per day.[REF 1, REF 4]
-Rebuild fish and crab populations by providing artificial habitats and nursery grounds under docks and piers.[REF 1, REF 3, REF 5]
-Engage and educate the community, including youth, private property owners, and local governments, in environmental stewardship and coastal restoration.[REF 3, REF 6, REF 7]
-Support scientific research and monitoring through partnerships with the University of South Alabama to assess water quality and reef performance. [REF 1, REF 4, REF 6]
Implementation activities
-Design and manufacture of mini reefs made from plastic, PVC pipes, and rope to mimic natural habitats [REF 5].
-Purchase of preassembled mini reefs from Ocean Habitats, a Florida-based manufacturer [REF 6].
-Installation of reefs under docks, wharfs, and piers in Mobile and Baldwin counties, tied between four pilings and floating with the tide [REF 1, REF 7].
-Initial deployment of 175 reefs by John Shell with volunteer support, surpassing the original goal of 50 reefs [REF 3, REF 5].
-Fundraising efforts by John Shell and later by PEP, raising over $52,000 to support reef deployment [REF 3, REF 6].
-Community engagement and volunteer mobilisation, including Boy Scout participation and individual homeowners offering locations for reef placement [REF 3, REF 6].
-Partnership development with the University of South Alabama for reef site identification, deployment, maintenance, and water quality monitoring [REF 1, REF 4].
-Expansion goal of deploying 1,000 reefs by the end of 2024, led by PEP and supported by local government and corporate sponsors [REF 4, REF 6].
-Educational outreach activities, such as using reef sites to teach students and visitors about marine ecosystems (e.g., Pelican’s Nest in Fairhope) [REF 7].
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters
- Protect and restore coastal ecosystems, to address loss of land and livelihoods, due to rising sea levels
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Coastal communities
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
- Restore endangered species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Coastal-dependent communities (e.g. small-scale fishers, coastal farmers, and indigenous peoples)
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen science
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was initiated by John Shell, a Boy Scout, as part of his Eagle Scout service project [REF 3, REF 5].
The initiative is primarily coordinated and expanded by the Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP), a non-governmental environmental organization [REF 1, REF 4, REF 6].
The University of South Alabama, an academic institution, plays a supporting role in deployment, research, and monitoring [REF 1, REF 4].
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
No
... a local policy or strategy?
No
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation, Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
- Corporate investment
- Crowdfunding
- Private funding by citizens
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Donations
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Achieved reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Achieved increased presence and recovery of wild species
Economic impacts
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP) (n.d.). Eagle Reef (PEP Mobile). [Source link];
2.
PEP Mobile (2024). Eagle-Reef-Installations. [Source link];
3.
PEP Mobile (n.d.). John Shell – Eagle Reef Project. [Source link];
4.
(2023). Mobile Bay artificial reef project expands beyond Boy Scout’s original goals. [Source link];
5.
AL.com (2023). Boy Scout raises $52,000 for 175 artificial reefs to support ocean life in Mobile Bay. [Source link];
6.
Science 98 Coastal (2023). Eagle Reef Project Update. [Source link];
7.
FOX10 News (2023). Fairhope supports Eagle Reef Project with placement of 14 reefs under city piers. [Source link];
The Eagle Reef project
Ref. 1
The Eagle Reef project
Ref. 1
Installed reef locations
Ref. 2, by PEPMobile
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.