Last updated: March 2025
The Three Mile Creek Watershed project is part of the City Council watershed management plans (Ref 2) to stabilize the banks and the stream along the Twelve Mile Creek and Langan Park Lake, both of which drain into Three Mile Creek and Mobile Bay (Ref 1). The project aims to address the issues of degradation of the banks and destabilization of the creek, undercutting of sanitary sewer crossings and sedimentation in the creek and Langan Park Lake because of the increased water flow speed due to stormwater conveyance (Ref 2). Besides, major pollutants from run-off and sewage water contribute to the degradation of Three Mile Creek (Ref 5). Key initiatives include stabilizing the banks and streambed of the Twelve Mile Creek, dredging and restoring Langan Park Lake, and implementing instream structures to reduce erosion and protect infrastructure (Ref 2). The project also emphasizes reducing pollutants from stormwater runoff, improving water quality, and helping to protect the area’s estuarine and marine water resources (Ref 1). The project will increase natural habitat and contribute to regulating biodiversity by aiding in the abatement of invasive species such as the apple snail (Ref 2). It is expected to contribute to enhancing recreational access through the development of trails, educational programs, and water sports facilities. The overall goal is to restore ecological health, support flood control, improve the quality of life in the Mobile and Prichard communities and make the Three Mile Creek a recreational destination (Ref 6).
Three Mile Creek Watershed Restoration in Mobile (US)
Official website of tje project (accessed 19/08/2024) https://mapformobile.org/3mcwatershed/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- River flooding
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Invasive alien species
- Poor water quality
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, River rehabilitation/ restoration, Restoration, protecion and sustainable manage floodplains, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Ecological restoration of existing green spaces, Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Strategy, plan or policy development, Creation of city-wide or neighborhood green and blue infrastrcuture protection or enhancement strategies/plans, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Clearing out invasive alien species and allow natural regeneration maintaining the functionality the ecosystem, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems)
Project objectives
The project included the following goals:
1) Supporting flood control (Ref 2)
2) To improve water quality and reduce pollutants, that were producing algal blooms (Ref 5, 3)
3) Restore ecological health (creation of habitat, reducing invasive species, protection of marine water resources) (Ref 1)
4) Improve the quality of life and enhance recreational access (Ref 1)
5) Restore the heritage and cultural connection between the watershed and the community (Ref 5)
6) Plan and prepare for climate resiliency (heavy rains and sea level rise) (Ref 5)
Implementation activities
1) Stabilizing the banks and streambed of Twelve Mile Creek by restoring riparian buffers and natural connections to flood plains (Ref 3) 2) Dredging and restoring Langan Park Lake (Ref 2)
3) Implementing instream structures (new trunk sewer and new tanks to increase sewer system capacity (Ref 6 video)) to reduce stream velocity/energy, reduce erosion, protect existing sanitary sewer crossings, and increase natural habitat (Ref 1)
4) Eliminate all know illicit connections/sanitary inputs (Ref 3)
5) Creating three access points, five portage enhancements for recreational access in the creek (Ref 3)
6) Install environmental education signage in six existing or proposed parks (Ref 3)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
- Restore rivers and other fresh water bodies to reduce flood or drought risk
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Low-income neighborhoods, Communities near industrial areas, Communities located in floodplains
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Clear and control invasive alien species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Project Lead: City of Mobile
Partners: University of South Alabama, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (NGO), MAWSS (Mobile Area Water & Sewer System), The Village of Spring Hill (a group of citizens)
Funding: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, RESTORE Council
Publicly-owned utility: Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS)
Consultants:
Phase 1 and 2: McCrory and Williams
Phase 1 Construction: James H. Adams & Son Construction
Phase 3: Geosyntec Consultants
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Three Mile Creek Watershed project is part of the City Council watershed management plans (Ref 2))
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Expected more sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Expected improved social cohesion
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Expected increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
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.
Map for Mobile (n.d.). Three Mile Creek Watershed Restoration - Official Website. Mobile, Al: Map for Mobile, p. 5 Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
2.
City of Mobile (n.d.). Capital Improvement Plan. Mobile, Al: City of Mobile, p. 17. 88. Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
3.
City of Mobile (n.d.). Restoring Three Mile Creek One Neighborhood at a Time - Summary. Mobile, Al: City of Mobile, p. 12 Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Reynier, W. (2017). estoring Three Mile Creek via a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. Mobile, AL: Cakex.org, p. 5 Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Dewberry Consultant (2014). Three Miles Creek Watershed Management Plan. Mobile, Al: Dewberry Consultant, p. 1-13 Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (n.d.). Mobile Bay National Estuary Program - Three Mile Creek + video. Mobile, Al: Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, p. 1 Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Data-census.gov (2022). Demographics Mobile - Data-census.gov. Mobile, Al: Data-census.gov, Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.