Leave Only Footprints has a mission to keep our beaches clean and healthy for visitors and wildlife, and we’re proud to work alongside other groups that share that mission.

You may not know the names of these organizations, but if you enjoy the beauty of our coast, you benefit from their work.

The Alabama Coastal Foundation, started in 1993, works to find the balance between protecting priceless coastal resources and the pressure of economic growth and construction. They research issues, provide well-documented data, educate the public, and work with stakeholders to find solutions.

The Alabama Coastal Heritage Trust acquires and protects land, restores dunes and habitats, and educates people on how they can protect the coast. One of their larger purchases was a 113-acre tract with 2,700 feet of beachfront, bought in 2016 with money from the BP oil spill settlement.

If you’re concerned about water quality, look to Mobile Baykeeper, which monitors water at dozens of coastal locations. Results are posted on Facebook and on The Swim Guide app. Mobile Baykeeper also serves as an environmental watchdog and advocate, working to build partnerships and awareness of multiple environmental concerns.

If you’re a frequent visitor to the beach, you may know about Share the Beach, a program that protects sea turtles, their nests and their hatchlings. Volunteers monitor nests, watching for the eggs to hatch and little sea turtles to make their way to the water.

Get involved with those or more than a dozen other conservation groups that protect our coast through volunteer work, advocating for the environment and educating the public.