Mobile, AL: April 7, 2025 – The Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS) today announced the initiation of a process that will expand public recreational access at Big Creek Lake while continuing to protect the sole source of drinking water for the 350,000 residents of Mobile and Baldwin Counties.

At today’s MAWSS Board of Directors meeting, the board voted to move forward with seeking a private-sector partner that would operate a boat rental facility at the reservoir. Once this facility is in place, MAWSS will then open more of the reservoir to fishing and leisure activities, increasing the number of days it is available for public use—all while safeguarding this vital natural resource.
 

In response to community interest and numerous conversations with area stakeholders, MAWSS is initiating the following steps to make Big Creek Lake more accessible for fishing and outdoor recreation:
 

• A new recreational facility will be developed through a partnership with a private operator. This facility will offer boat rentals, including fishing boats and kayaks, as well as shoreline fishing, picnic areas, and family-friendly leisure spaces.
• Once this rental facility is operational, up to an additional 1,100 acres of the lake will be opened for fishing, more than doubling the current fishing area to 1,800 acres.
• MAWSS intends to increase public lake access from 3 days to 5 days per week, allowing more opportunities for families and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the lake. The remaining two days will be used for MAWSS to treat the lake for invasive species.

MAWSS will soon begin soliciting potential operators of this rental facility through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The overall timeline for enacting these changes is contingent upon RFP responses and the procedural and logistical steps required over the coming months.
 

“By opening up more of the lake and offering new ways to enjoy it, we’re creating better access for our residents,” said Bud McCrory, MAWSS Director. “At the same time, we’re focusing on our top priority: ensuring clean, abundant, and affordable water for our 350,000 customers across Mobile and Baldwin Counties.”
 

To maintain the integrity of the water supply, Big Creek Lake will remain closed to outside boats. Invasive species such as Giant Salvinia and Russian zebra mussels - known for their rapid spread and damage to both water and infrastructure - pose a serious threat to water quality and system operations. Since the first invasive species entered the lake in 2021, MAWSS has worked diligently with environmental experts to identify and manage these threats.
 

MAWSS is particularly focused on preventing the introduction of the Russian zebra mussel to the reservoir. These invasive mussels have spread rapidly from the Great Lakes to as far south as Tuscaloosa. They multiply rapidly and can block pumps, pipes, and other infrastructure, saddling ratepayers with millions of dollars in mitigation and repair costs.
 

Boats traveling between water bodies are the most common means by which invasive species – especially zebra mussels – are introduced. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, preventing zebra mussels from spreading requires boat owners to fully drain their boats (including live wells and bilges), wash all of their boats and trailers with a 140-degree heated wash, treat certain surfaces with bleach, and allow the boat to dry for one to two weeks. This cleaning regimen is impossible for MAWSS to verify for privately owned boats.
 

“Allowing outside boats would expose the lake to unacceptable risk,” said McCrory. “Instead, we’re following a proven model like what’s done at Birmingham’s Lake Purdy—another utility-owned reservoir that remains closed to outside boats, but thrives as a popular, well-managed recreational destination.”
 

Lake Purdy is a reservoir owned by the Birmingham Water Works, one of its sources of drinking water for customers. Through the smart use of rental boats and other recreation options, it has become a popular site for fishing and other outdoor activities while still preserving the quality of its water.
 

Big Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir that provides clean, abundant drinking water to more than 350,000 residents in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, including Mobile, Spanish Fort, Chickasaw, Prichard, and Semmes, as well as to industries, fire departments, schools, and hospitals in the region. MAWSS owns the entirety of Big Creek Lake and its shoreline, a rare advantage that enables tighter protection of the water supply and greater flexibility in management.