Protecting land that protects our quality of life
In its 30-year history, South Alabama Land Trust has protected more than 10,800 acres of environmentally-sensitive land and habitat in Baldwin and Mobile counties. These lands will be preserved forever, and will continue to shelter wildlife and marine life, keep waterways clean, and offer the outdoor recreation that define coastal Alabama.
Fish River Nature Preserve
In 2019, South Alabama Land Trust acquired a 60-acre parcel on Fish River, just north of the Rio Vista Preserve. Alta Fish River has more than 3,200 feet of river frontage, and helps create a conservation corridor between County Road 48 and County Road 32 in Baldwin County.
Rangeline
The Rangeline property is located at the intersection of Rangeline and Laurendine Roads in Theodore, Alabama, along a tributary to the Deer Fork River. This 70-acre property was once slated to be a subdivision before it was transferred to the South Alabama Land Trust in 2014.
Rio Vista
Get your kayak and camera ready—this Fish River site is a beautiful testament to the importance of watershed health. Located on Fish River in Baldwin County, Rio Vista is a 25-acre nature preserve approximately one mile south of Bohemian Park (on County Road 48).
Crowder
The Crowder conservation easement south of Fairhope covers 160 acres of seasonal wetland as well as uniquely open pine stands with ground coverings of netted chain ferns. The property has an on-site pond and access to Mobile Bay as well as an exceptional location in one of Alabama’s most desired areas, Point Clear.
Laraway
The Laraway conservation easement is a 5-acre parcel adjacent to Baldwin County’s Bohemian Park. The property has frontage on Fish River with historic remnants from the Bohemian settlement established in Baldwin County in the early 1900s. The parcel is part of a flood plain that the Fish River watershed drains into. The landowner wanted this donation to serve as a catalyst for other waterfront owners to create a riparian buffer on Fish River and promote good stewardship of the area’s natural resources. The property exhibits high-quality wetlands. SALT hopes to work with the owner to retain the area’s natural state.
Owen's Bayou
The Owen’s Bayou parcel encompasses 55 acres of mixed hardwood bottomland wetland habitat in an area of high development. This is an important area deserving of protection that provides green space and stream buffer along a main tributary to Wolf Bay.
Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary
In 2001, South Alabama Land Trust partnered with the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries (DIBS) to place a conservation easement on 28 parcels owned by DIBS, each of which are birding preserves. This added an additional layer of protection so the land would have highest and best use as birding preserves. Dauphin Island has been recognized by the National Audubon Society as one of the top four migratory birding stop-over sites in the United States. Our goal is to assist DIBS in providing long-term protection and stewardship of the preserves, along with the wetlands, plants and wildlife.
Bailey's Creek
The Bailey’s Creek Preserve, 18.5 acres in Point Clear, Alabama, was donated to South Alabama Land Trust in 2007 by the developers of The Boardwalk at Bailey’s Creek subdivision, to which it is adjacent. Bailey’s Creek Preserve is one of the last remaining undeveloped areas of Caldwell Swamp, and features a forested wetland and maritime forest. Prior to the Clean Water Act of 1972, a drainage ditch was constructed on the property to drain the wetlands. Additionally, a man-made canal was constructed in the adjacent subdivision to give the residents water access. This canal drains into Bailey’s Creek which, in turn, drains into Mobile Bay.
McAleer
The South Alabama Land Trust-owned 11-acre McAleer property is located on County Road 17 adjacent to the Weeks Bay Reserve Pitcher Plant Bog. The undeveloped shoreline on this property provides natural scenery, erosion control, and storm resiliency for properties around it, as well as habitat for roosting egrets and herons. Frontage on Fish River also provides water access for reptiles and amphibians.
Oyster Bay
The City of Gulf Shores partnered with South Alabama Land Trust in 2020 to preserve 836 acres surrounding Oyster Bay. This environmentally-sensitive land consists of wetlands, coastal habitats, and wildlife species. In addition to protecting it from development, conserving this land will protect the water quality in the surrounding waterways.
Crescent Point
Along the western boundary of Weeks Bay sits 4 acres of marshlands and coastal wetlands that provide pristine nesting grounds for fish, shrimp, and crabs, as well as breeding grounds for migratory and shoreline birds. Having never been commercially developed, this land has no man-made structures other than the canal.
Juniper
Home to numerous pitcher plants and white-fringed orchids, this 32-acre property in Summerdale, Alabama, has been restored to its natural beauty, thanks to a dedicated group of SALT volunteers.
Stone Creek
In 2011, 181 Properties (Rance Reehl and Pat Achee) donated a 26.1-acre parcel in Stone Creek parcel to South Alabama Land Trust. This mostly woody wetland along the Cowpen Creek corridor provides long-term protection and stewardship of the wetlands along Cowpen Creek. The property is in close proximity to Stone Creek Village, Stone Creek Subdivision, Quail Creek Golf Course ,and Alabama State Highway 181.
Bon Secour Bay
This 11.5-acre parcel near Bon Secour Bay was donated to South Alabama Land Trust in 2002. The property consists of woody and emergent herbaceous wetlands and has tidal influence due to a small tidal inlet that flows through the middle of the wetland parcel and on to Weeks Bay. These wetlands serve a critical role in protecting the high-quality tidal wetlands on the property. The parcel also serves as potential habitat for animals such as the Alabama red-bellied turtle and the eastern indigo snake.
Wirtes
This 100.3-acre conservation easement was donated to South Alabama Land Trust in 2011. The land adjoins a Baldwin County access to Mobile Bay on County Road 1 in Fairhope, Alabama, and contains historic remnants from the Naval Store turpentine industry that once dominated South Alabama. There are high-quality forested wetlands throughout the property that serve a critical role in maintaining the vast biodiversity found in Baldwin County. The protection of these wetlands also conserves the Caldwell Swamp area. The property owner wished for this donation to serve as an example to other land owners who were considering donating a conservation easement. It was the first conservation easement SALT accepted.
Alabama River
SALT holds a conservation easement on 478 acres in the Blacksher community of Baldwin County within the flood plain of the Alabama River. The property is generally flat, with higher ground near the river that slopes downward, very gradually, toward the southeast. It's forested throughout, primarily with mixed hardwoods such as large, mature willows oaks, water oaks, and bald cypress that dominates the southeast area. The habitat is suitable for wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, other mammals, and many species of reptiles and amphibians. It also provides critically-important habitat for neotropical migratory birds as well as wading birds and waterfowl. This property has significant conservation value in that it is relatively ecologically intact and is situated within a larger ecosystem that is undeveloped and will likely never be.
Cleverdon
Situated to the east side of Highway 31 in Bay Minette, this SALT owned 14-acre parcel boasts a relatively invasive free woody wetland. The lowland area consists of multiple small stream channels that network through abundant tupelo and slash pine. Moving south from the roadside, the vegetation transforms into a dense titi forest before opening into a beautiful upland area consisting of sweetbay magnolia, southern magnolia, slash and longleaf pine. Although the property is one of our smaller parcels, the mixed terrain and vegetation has proved a perfect home for a large population of white-tailed deer and red-headed woodpeckers.
Koontz
The Koontz Conservation Easement is a 52-acre property in Elberta that represents remnants of Alabama’s pre-European self. With widely spaced pine trees and sandy soils, Gopher tortoises roam free in their natural environment. Trees have been responsibly cut for lumber and is an example of how to maintain a diverse ecosystem whilst managing the lands natural resources.
McPherron
Protecting Dauphin Island’s ecology is directly related to how current landowners choose to manage their properties. The McPherron’s did this by donating the forested portion of their land to South Alabama Land Trust. This protected pine savannah can now continue its role as part of a globally significant bird sanctuary. With bald eagles nesting nearby and fox squirrels frequenting the pines, the McPherron parcel is an example of how individual efforts make Dauphin Island the ecological hotspot it is.
Wiese
In honor of Peter and Marty Wiese, who’s kind contribution made this purchase possible, the 124-acre track located at the intersection of Upper Fish River and Corn Branch was named the Wiese Family Nature Preserve. The couple’s passion for protecting the environment was a great fit for this property boasting almost a mile of water frontage. Multiple ecosystems are at play from seasonal flood zones with the odd alligator sighting to uplands that support a dense population of gopher tortoises. The importance of such tracks cannot be emphasized enough. With surrounding agriculture and devolvement, this wetland corridor is nature’s most efficient filter, trapping harmful nutrients from entering waterways so that residents can maintain the quality of life they are accustomed to.
Balzli
In this highly desirable bayfront area, sandwiched between Scenic 98 and other SALT protected lands, is the Balzli Nature Preserve. The Preserve is 21-acres but combines with two neighboring parcels to total over 140 acres. Wetlands such as these are not only perfect lookouts for birds of prey such as ospreys but are instrumental in keeping Coastal Alabama’s water safe. When the opportunity presented itself, SALT purchased the property to combine several parcels and safeguard the water quality of Mobile Bay.
Shine Nature Preserve
At approximately 20 acres, and to the immediate north of Balzli Nature Preserve and Wirtes Conservation Easement, the Shine Nature Preserve was the perfect compliment to its protected neighbors. Osprey, white tailed deer, and box turtles are often spotted around these woods. Through this land donation, SALT was able to combine over 140-acres of high-quality wetlands and allow the natural filtering capabilities of such ecosystems remain in place to safeguard the native animals and human residents alike.
