Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences Mentioned on Capitol Hill

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Posted on January 30, 2024

Lance Crawford

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The University of South Alabama Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences has been in the forefront of recent Congressional activity. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Christopher Blankenship recently testified in front of the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee on energy and environmental policy in the Gulf of Mexico. 

He discussed the University’s Healthy Ocean's Initiative, a $3.5 million investment in the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences that is focused on water and seafood quality.

“The school is a great asset to Coastal Alabama and will train students to improve our fisheries and coastal processes for generations to come,” Blankenship said in his testimony. “It will also provide critical scientific data needed to better manage our resources.”

Ben Raines, a University environmental fellow and writer in residence, also testified in front of the same House subcommittee on the importance of preserving and protecting the underwater forest off the Alabama coast as a National Marine Sanctuary. 

The ancient, drowned river valley with its countless cypress stumps and logs represents a unique ecosystem that supports an incredibly bio-diverse and ecologically productive ecosystem. 

USA researchers have helped Raines and other universities document its biological importance and history. 

“It’s been an incredible scientific effort. The entire ecosystem is intact,” Raines testified. “We’ve collected everything from the ecosystem, pollen, seeds and even insects that were alive 70,000 years ago. It’s an incredible peek into the past and there’s really nothing quite like it on earth.”

The Committee is considering a bill proposed by U.S. Congressman Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, and others to make the Alabama underwater forest the country’s 15th National Marine Sanctuary. The purpose of the bill is to protect the habitat against degradation and will not restrict recreational or fishing opportunities.

“The vision of the Stokes School has been to perform world class research, educate the next generation of marine and environmental sciences and impact marine and environmental policy in a positive meaningful way,” said Dr. Sean Powers, professor and director of the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences. “Few universities had such a prominent positive impact over the last two weeks in D.C. – just another illustration of how the University of South Alabama is the Flagship of the Gulf Coast.”

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