AWF Opens Delta & Bay Conservation Center at 5 Rivers

By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

After a year of upgrades, the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s (AWF) Delta & Bay Conservation Center at 5 Rivers, the former 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, was officially reopened last week with dignitaries and local and state officials hailing the new direction of the property.

AWF Executive Director Tim Gothard welcomed a large crowd to cut the ribbon on the 70-acre property located on the Battleship Parkway (Causeway) on the headwaters of Mobile Bay.

Gothard recalled the 20-year journey of ideas that included the building of the AWF Nature Center at Lanark near Millbrook to last week’s festivities at the Delta & Bay Center.

“Our organization had really identified the importance of connecting youth with the outdoors in a very material way,” Gothard said. “We realized, as many of you have, there is a lot more competition for their time. We felt like we were losing that fundamental connection to the outdoors.”

After the great success of the AWF Nature Center, the AWF board was searching for ways to expand the conservation group’s outreach to other areas of the state, especially south Alabama.

“I’m excited to see this many people here to help us celebrate the beginning of the second part of our journey with the AWF Delta & Bay Conservation Center at 5 Rivers,” Gothard said.

Former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson represented the Stimpson family, which played a pivotal role in the birth of the AWF. Fred T. Stimpson, Sandy’s grandfather, was one of the founding members of AWF.

“What a privilege it is to be here today and see this crowd, because every one of you have a story about why you’re here,” Stimpson said. “Probably something, as a child, touched your heart either to protect the resources or be a hunter or fisherman and realizing you needed to be engaged in that process to make sure your children and grandchildren could also hunt and fish. I use the word privilege, but I also use the word obligation. As a third generation, our family feels the obligation to perpetuate the culture that we were so fortunate to participate in by sharing the things we have learned.

“I think there an awareness of so many people of how imperative it is that business, industry and nature co-exist. There’s got to be a voice for wildlife conservation to balance the conversation.”

Another family prominent in the growth and outreach of AWF and its numerous programs (www.alabamawildlife.org) is the Cooper family of Mobile, who was represented by Angus Cooper III, who served two terms as AWF President.

“Most conservation groups want to give back, and we saw a trend of young people not getting to experience all the things that we loved,” Cooper said. “Taking that big step (Lanark) ended up being bigger than our wildest dreams with people coming through the doors when it opened. There are not many times in life when you get to be part of something special, and the AWF is special.”

Cooper said AWF has chapters in every county in the state and has increased its outreach for outdoors programs accordingly. He said after Lanark turned out to be a success, they started looking at the different regions in the state, including the Mobile area.

“Our state is blessed with different regions with different geographics when it comes to wildlife and fisheries with different rivers and deltas,” Cooper said. “We started this journey about 15 years ago to get to where we are today. Today is a special day, but truly the best is yet to come. Mobile is a special place, and the resources we have here are phenomenal. Being able to educate children about how lucky they are to be in this region and for us adults to be able to enjoy what we have. It’s really a great day.”

Current AWF President Tim Wood of Selma thanked the south Alabama community for being so receptive to the ideas for the Delta & Bay Center.

Wood said the AWF was formed 91 years ago with a mission to tend to the state’s natural resources, protect the hunting and angling heritage and promote conservation throughout the state.

“I can’t think of any better representation than these kids sitting in front of us,” Wood said. “That’s the people we want to target for the future. When we cut the ribbon, we’re opening a lot of doors to a lot of people. These young people are going to experience what we did growing up in the country in everyday living. We’re looking forward to a lot of great things here.”

ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship said the 5 Rivers property has been a great asset to the people of Alabama and welcomes the next chapter that AWF will write.

“The 5 Rivers facility that was constructed by our State Lands Division a couple of decades ago has been a great source of education and access into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta,” Commissioner Blankenship said. “We had kind of reached a ceiling on what we could provide here at this facility. By partnering with AWF and them being able to expand the recreational and educational offerings as well as put some capital into the facility, it’s really going to be even more of a jewel than it was before by getting students out here to learn about the environment and providing additional access into the lower Mobile-Tensaw Delta, which is one of the most fantastic places in our state.

“They’ve done a great job with their facility at Lanark with public education, environmental education and public access. I think they’re going to be able to replicate that here at the 5 Rivers Delta and Bay Center and really grow this. Coupled with all the work being done in Spanish Fort to all their city parks and areas along the Causeway that were invested in with GOMESA. Plus, the work we’ve done at Meaher State Park by adding the new campground and adding the cabins is really turning this part of Mobile and Baldwin counties into a great mecca for enjoying the Delta and upper Bay. It’s a great partnership that will provide great benefit to the public.”

Former ADCNR Marine Resources Director Scott Bannon, now Delta & Bay Center Director, addressed the kids in attendance from the home school program and talked about his role as Director.

“The Director’s job is to make sure our staff get to stand there with a smile on their faces, knowing they are equipped; they are prepared; the facility and people are ready to provide the most amazing educational and fun experience that these kids can have,” said Bannon, who said extensive work has been done on the property with more to come.

Bannon said the building that was formerly the gift shop at the entrance has been transformed into a conference center that will accommodate 80-100 people with two large-screen TVs and a refreshment center.

The hiking trails have been refurbished with a base layer of aggregate donated by Vulcan Materials. The trails have been leveled and covered with wood chips.

“The trails are strong and stable and in excellent shape for people with physical challenges who are using walkers and wheelchairs,” Bannon said. “The Bartram Kayak Launch is still available with signage that provides links to local boat ramps and fishing regulations. Blakeley State Park does boat tours that dock at the launch.”

The Exhibit Hall is undergoing renovation as well as the Discovery Hall, which will hold graphics that tell the story of Mobile Bay and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The center’s live animal display will also be in the Discovery Hall. The pavilions on the property are available to rent.

“The Delta Hall has been remodeled to a science-based area with a theater and classrooms,” Bannon said. “The Blakeley Hall will be used for summer camps, which will start this summer.

“We also cleared some of the property to provide better views of the Delta, and we are hosting school field trips daily. We will have about 600 kids from the area here this week alone.”

Visit www.alabamawildlife.org/delta-bay-conservation-center/ for more information.

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