Posted on August 10, 2026
By Erica Thomas
Multiple organizations and individuals concerned with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) plans to continue open-water, thin-layer placement of dredge materials are asking for public hearings on the matter. However, no public hearings are planned.
Mobile Baykeeper said a July 30 letter from the Army Corps to several organizations stated that, after reviewing the requests, the USACE determined it had not identified “new factual issues, materially different information or unresolved matters” and denied the requests.
A new state law to curtail mud dumping in Mobile Bay allows the ship channel to be dredged but requires that at least 70% of the dredged material be put to beneficial use. That law will take effect in October.
On the federal level, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) worked over the past year to add provisions to the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) to protect the bay while ensuring economic opportunities at the Port of Mobile.
More recently, U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Montgomery) amended the WRDA to ban the Corps from using thin-layer placement unless under emergency circumstances or when there is no other timely option. The federal legislation is pending in Congress.
With bipartisan support from both state and federal lawmakers, environmental organizations are hopeful. The USACE has published plans, but Baykeeper Cade Kistler said he wants to see more detailed and updated plans of how the Corps plans to dispose of dredge material. That’s why he said a public hearing is needed.
“All we have is from previous plans that show they’re going to dispose of as much as 90 million cubic yards of dredged sediment through this mud dumping practice directly into Mobile Bay,” Kistler said. “The Corps denied that public hearing request by numerous community groups, by Mobile Baykeeper, by several elected officials and others, plenty of citizens and community members. So, we don’t have any more information as to how they’re going to make sure they comply with the state law that was passed last year to make sure that we have 70% beneficial use, as to how they’re going to protect Mobile Bay and answer these concerns.”
Mobile Baykeeper said citizens are watching and want to be heard. Concerns include impacts on commercial fishing, oysters, shrimp and other fish, as well as the quality of life for residents and visitors.
“Decisions that could affect Mobile Bay, our fisheries, and our coastal communities for decades should not be made without giving the public an opportunity to ask questions and hear the Corps’ answers on the record,” said William Strickland, executive director for Mobile Baykeeper. “I am unsure what the Corps is thinking here. They requested that Baykeeper get the public involved in this comment period to review the damage done by mud dumping in Mobile Bay. This is another example of the federal government needing to be reminded that they work for the citizens of this country, not the other way around.”
Mobile Baykeeper has tracked more than 35,000 emails sent asking for a federal ban on in-Bay disposal.
“They just said, ‘We’ve seen these and we don’t think it changes anything and we’re going to move forward with our plan,” Kistler added. “So, we’re really concerned by that. It’s confusing. The Corps, on the one hand, seems to want more public involvement, but then when there’s an opportunity to give more detail about the plan, to hear from the public directly, they’re not going to do that, so we’re really disappointed by that.”
Kistler said Baykeepers are hopeful the federal legislation will be passed to protect Mobile Bay.
1819 News reached out to the USACE for a response.
