FOLEY - The City of Foley has approved an increase to the Bon Secour water quality project in order to purchase five acres on the 94-acre parcel that will not be included within the project scope. Recently a closing date for the property, located on Barner Road, was given, bringing construction of the wetland that much closer. Along with the increase in budget, the council has approved Mayor John Koniar to sign on the deed.

At the start of 2019, Foley received a $1.5 million grant to improve water quality in Bon Secour River from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. With the purchase of the undeveloped property, situated along the western side of the Bon Secour River headwaters at the southern end of Barner Road, the city plans to create wetlands to treat urban runoff impacting downstream fisheries. Once complete, the wetlands will address nutrient, sediment and debris flow, improving habitat quality in the lower Bon Secour River and Bon Secour Bay.

According to the initial release, “This section of the river encompasses major headwaters and the main channel immediately downstream from Foley. Rapid development of the city over the past two decades has contributed to nutrient and sediment loading to the Bon Secour River and Bay.”

Five critical issues were specified within the Bon Secour River Watershed Management Plan completed in January 2017: stormwater management, litter control, water quality, erosion and sedimentation, and invasive species. The constructed wetlands are being designed to address all five issues.

“Next year we’ll be applying for the federal funds to begin construction,” said City Environmental Manager Leslie Gahagan. “I’ve asked Volkert to get me an estimate on construction costs, and they’ve already been talking with the RESTORE Council on the funding of the construction.”