FAIRHOPE, Alabama (GCN)— On Saturday, April 6, Baldwin County residents will have the opportunity to help build a living shoreline at Pelican Point as part of a wetlands restoration project.

The project is sponsored by a partnership of four major conservancy agencies: the Alabama Coastal Foundation, Mobile Baykeeper, The Nature Conservancy and the Ocean Foundation. The partnership is named 100-1000: Restore Coastal Alabama and has over 40 other partners from both Baldwin and Mobile counties.

The name of the partnership refers to the goals the group has set for itself.

“The name refers to our goal of building 100 miles of reefs and restoring and protecting 1000 acres of coastal marsh and sea grass,” explained Alabama Coastal Foundation Volunteer Coordinator Kandice O’Grady. “Mobile Bay is a critical part of our environment and our future. Volunteers can take part in a restoration project that will have a quick and long-lasting effect.”

During the event next Saturday, volunteers will deploy 20,500 interlocking blocks to create four reefs at Pelican Point. According to the 100-1000 group, Pelican Point is an area that has experienced significant habitat loss and erosion. The reefs, once constructed, will protect the shoreline and enhance the habitat for fish, shellfish and birds, O’Grady said.

The reefs will be set up about 50 feet from the shore where the water is about two-feet deep. The project aims to reduce the size and energy of the waves before they hit the shoreline.

The group is calling for volunteers to help build these oyster reefs next Saturday.

“We’re looking to have 500 volunteers,” said Mark Berte, head of the Alabama Coastal Foundation. “We’ll deploy all of the reef materials that Saturday starting at 8 in the morning.”

The event will take place at Pelican Point, at the mouth of Weeks Bay, located at 10299 County Road 1 in Fairhope and will last from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

"This project not only protects the shoreline, promotes healthy, clean water and supports our fish and shellfish population, we believe it also shows that restoring our environment restores our economy and our community,” said Casi Callaway, head of Mobile Baykeeper.

Volunteers will be provided with lunch, water, a visor and work gloves. They are encouraged to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants unless it is a warm day, then a T-shirt and shorts are acceptable. Closed-toe water shoes, waders or boots are also encouraged.

Volunteers are asked to sign up for the event at www.100-1000.org as soon as possible.