Geography
The Island is 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) and is configured in a triangular shape. It is located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Theodore Industrial Park Complex and approximately 11 miles (18 km) to 12 miles (19 km) southwest of downtown Mobile, AL. Thirty-one million cubic yards of dredged material pulled from the bay and nearby land was used to form the island. The excavated material consisted primarily of hard red clay from the land and silty sand infused with small amounts of shell and gravel from the bottom of the bay.
The dredged material was transported by barge and hydraulically pumped to the island site to make the dikes. Tests were performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to determine how to maintain the island and not allow it to dissipate into the bay. A triangular shape was designed and floating tire breakwaters were used to protect the island from erosion due to wave action. Marsh plants were used to develop an established root system to assist with long term integrity of the island. This was a state-of-the-art technique which has been widely studied, found to be effective and is now used nationwide.
Read more about this topic: Gaillard Island
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