Is the Water Clear in Gulf Shores?

Gulf Shores photo by
Courtney Richmond 

With is white sand beaches and white sand bottom, the water is typically clear and a beautiful blue-green color in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL. 

However, like most beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, the water's clarity is sometimes impacted by storms in the Gulf or by heavy rains inland from the beaches because silt runs down a systems of rivers and streams toward the Gulf, emptying into the water through Mobile Bay and Perdido Bay, but it most often clears up again within a few days. 

If you are planning a trip to the area and you notice it has stormed in the Gulf or rained heavily north of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in the days just prior to your arrival, you can check on the Gulf's water quality by visiting the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) website, where GREEN indicates high quality water, and by looking at it with your own eyes via this live beach camera.