Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Learn to raise chickens PAGE 3 Blakeley reopens The Baldwin Times PAGE 10 APRIL 24, 2020 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Oil spill Protecting what was nearly lost marks Alabama turns tragedy to triumph in newly protected coastal regions decade anniversary By ALLISON MARLOW
[email protected] By GUY BUSBY
[email protected] When 200 million gallons of crude oil flowed into the ORANGE BEACH — Gulf of Mexico 10 years ago A decade after the first this week, life on the water oil washed up on Gulf stopped. Coast sands, Baldwin The beaches were closed to County beaches are visitors as the slick washed again quiet as residents ashore and scientists rushed and officials deal with to save marine life covered in another emergency. the goo. Orange Beach Mayor The coastal communities of Tony Kennon said the Baldwin County were left with closing of the beaches an uncertain future. and stay-at-home orders Now, a decade onward, intended to slow the environmental stewards say spread of COVID-19 lessons from the catastrophe have slowed the econ- have been learned and the omy again. Gulf Coast has shifted from “I looked out on the simply profiting from nature FILE PHOTOS beach today and it to preserving it. Crews work to clean the beaches in Gulf Shores following the 2010 BP oil spill. “I think the oil spill caused SEE DECADE, PAGE 2 us to look at a lot of things. settled under the Clean Water Maybe we took for granted Act gave $356 million to the OUR COMMITMENT the beauty we have here,” state through the National said Chris Blankenship, Com- Fish and Wildlife Foundation, TO OUR READERS missioner of the Alabama paid over five years through Wind, rain or quarantine, we’ll keep Department of Conservation 2018.