Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant is an important repository of knowledge for many important topics pertaining to the responsible use of ocean and coastal resources. One critical component of Sea Grant’s information exchange with coastal stakeholders and leaders is law and policy. If fisheries, ecosystem management and resilience are the lifeblood of Sea Grant, then law and policy is the container which gives shape and form to the actions undertaken to improve coastal ecosystems and economies.
Since the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program began publishing Water Log in 1981, it has been a valuable resource in helping coastal stakeholders understand the legal precedents and relevant pieces of local, state and federal legislation that affect coastal communities, businesses and the surrounding natural environment. Released quarterly, Water Log features regular contributions from legal program staff and student interns.
As an extension specialist in land use planning for the Legal Program, I am a regular contributor as well, writing articles tackling issues unique to the planning discipline and local government policymaking. Many of the Water Log issues are also tailored around a broad theme or topic that address emerging issues of concern for coastal regions and communities.
For example, the December 2022 issue dealt with municipal authority. What was the legislative scope and level of action cities could undertake to address quality of life issues? What actions could cities take to address public nuisances, such as overgrown yards or open scrap piles? What are variances and how can cities properly utilize them to ensure the land use code is efficiently administered? These are just some of the questions that are addressed in the December 2022 issue of Water Log.
Prior topics of interest covered in previous issues of Water Log include: fisheries management, sea turtles and invasive species. If you have a burning question on coastal law and policy, the odds are good that there has been a Water Log issue addressing it.
To date, there are 286 individuals who subscribe to Water Log. (You can sign up for the Water Log email list to receive notifications of new issues.)
In addition to the regular contributors, the Water Log publication also runs features from guest experts who have unique insights to offer on coastal resilience. In 2022, guest contributors to Water Log included: Renee Collini, with PLACE:SLR; Will Freeman, with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources; and Katriesa Crummie, an assistant city attorney with the city of Mobile. Aside from the articles compiled, the Water Log publication also includes a short list of upcoming events of note for professionals involved in coastal resilience.
If you like the MS-AL Sea Grant Legal Program on Facebook, you will see when new issues are released.
Meet the author
Stephen Deal
Extension Specialist (Land Use Planning)
Stephen works with floodplain managers, building officials, city officials, scientists and Sea Grant partners to provide information and training related to flood and storm resilience. He holds a... Read more
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