A recently completed stormwater master plan recognizes nearly $16.7 million in potential drainage improvements for Bear Point in Orange Beach, giving officials a pathway for addressing old drainage infrastructure, flooding and stormwater runoff.

The Bear Point Drainage Basin Study & Stormwater Master Plan, completed by Thompson Engineering, identified flooding and drainage issues in the community and developed a plan with potential improvements.

"This project was paid for in part with federal funding from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast State Act of 2012, or RESTORE Act," Coastal Resources Deputy Director Nicole Woerner said.

The study identified several drainage problems in Bear Point, including homes in low-lying areas, clogged infrastructure, standing water in yards and ditches and tidal conditions that can alter drainage.

"The primary causes are general geography as Orange Beach is an island, which means that several areas sit close to sea level making them susceptible to flooding," City Engineer Chris Pappas said. "Other causes include existing drainage infrastructure, low elevations development and impervious surfaces. These issues aren't unique to Bear Point, but the severity of these issues in Bear Point needed to be addressed."

In order to better address these issues, engineers at Thompson developed a computer model of Bear Point's current drainage system and tested it for different levels of rainfall and other coastal conditions. The study used two-year, 10-year and 100-year potential rainfall events to test the model, while also using other events like Hurricane Sally, past flash floods and a significant flood event in 2014 to validate the results.

From the results given by the study, engineers identified potential areas of risk and also suggested potential solutions. Based on the results, they also provided priority rankings and cost estimates.

"While the comprehensive implementation of all recommended improvements is estimated at $16,694,000, certain adjustments may not be practically or operationally feasible," Woerner said.

Pappas emphasized that although the recommendations address current drainage issues, they should not be taken as projects the city has already agreed to build.

"The improvements in this study are data driven suggestions and suggestions only," he said. "The mayor, city council and city staff can use this study as a guide to see where funding and efforts could be used to address drainage in Bear Point. Not all improvements are feasible."

The plan also suggests other low-impact techniques that aim to reduce runoff by allowing more rainwater to drain naturally instead of flowing off impermeable surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, although that does not mean that current residents would be required to replace their paved driveways, Pappas said.

The mayor and city council are now reviewing the master plan to determine which project should be prioritized first. 

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.