Advisory Service, MS/AL Sea Grant Legal Program

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program Advisory Service is a legal research service provided free of charge to the Sea Grant College Program and its constituents on the Gulf of Mexico. The Legal Program is prohibited from providing legal advice or becoming involved in litigation. The information provided by Legal Program attorneys is intended for informational purposes only. Organizations requesting legal information should always seek independent, professional legal advice prior to taking action.

Recent Advisory Requests and Legal Research Results (Organized by Topic)
	Beaches: Public Access
	Questions about seawall and beach access on Dauphin Island. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in June, 2004. (PDF) Questions: 1) What rights do non-landowners have to access the public shore on the west end of Dauphin Island? 2) What authority does the Town have to restrict parking on the west end rights-of-way to property owners? 3) Who owns renourished beaches? Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in February, 2005. (PDF) Questions about beach access on Dauphin Island. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in February, 2005. (PDF)
	Break Water
	Advisory request, liability for breakwaters at Alonzo Landing Salt Marsh Habitat Restoration. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in August 2004. (PDF)
	Establishing Nonprofits in Mississippi
	How can nonprofits be established in Mississippi? Response prepared by Terra Bowling, Research Counsel, in May 2007. (PDF)
	Facility Security
	Question about generic plans for smaller facilities. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in February 2004. (PDF)
	Fishing
	Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rulemaking questions. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in September, 2004. (PDF)
	Florida Severability Memo
	When an amendment to the Florida constitution, which has been approved by voters, contains a section that is inconsistent with the rest of the amendment, how can the inconsistent section be legally challenged and removed? Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in March 2007. (PDF)
	Lake Surface Water Rights
	Who owns the surface rights to a manmade lake? Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in March 2007. (PDF)
	Oil Drilling
	Questions about proposed oil drilling in Grand Bay, AL. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in February, 2005. (PDF)
	Oxbow Lakes
	Question about public/private status of oxbow lakes that were formerly part of navigable waters. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in June 2005. (PDF)
	Personal Watercraft
	What arguments were put forth by the parties in the litigation over the National Park Service’s regulation of personal watercraft (e.g., Jet Skis, Sea-Doos) in areas the Service administers, including Gulf Islands National Seashore? Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in May 2004. (PDF)
	Photograph Use on Websites
	What are the potential legal proglems with using photographs (especially of children) on websites to highlight Sea Grant Activities? Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in August, 2007. (PDF)
	Wetlands Mitigation
	A question about the Wetland Mitigation Ordinance for the City of Orange Beach, Alabama. Response prepared by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel, in April 2004. (PDF)