Press Release

Dauphin Island Boat Ramp to be Improved

January 15, 2003

Renovated boat ramps, new loading and unloading docks and a beautiful park area will soon be a part of the public access facility at Little Billy Goat Hole on Dauphin Island. A major benefit of the project is improved public boating access to Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. The improvements will be the result of a cooperative effort between several entities.

Speckled trout, white trout, redfish, flounder and a variety of reef fish abound in the bays and near offshore waters. “Alabama is blessed with some of the best saltwater fishing in the Gulf of Mexico Region,” said Conservation Commissioner Riley Boykin Smith. “Demand for access to these valuable resources increases every year, so this improved boating access facility is greatly needed.”

The Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources dedicates a portion of its funds each year to enhance public boating access to the estuarine and marine areas. This is often accomplished through partnerships with local owners such as cities or counties. The boat ramp at Little Billy Goat Hole is a partnership between the State Lands Division, Marine Resources Division, State Lands Division Coastal Section, Mobile County Commission, and the Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board.

Funding for this project is being provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), NOAA Coastal Programs and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sportfish Restoration Program.

“These facilities should provide service for many years to come and enhance the coastal experience for Alabama’s citizens and visitors,” said Smith.

###