A wetland restoration project in Foley is entering its next stage, with city officials aiming to transform the area into a protected nature reserve that also serves the public.

Foley City Council has approved the first phase of upgrades to the constructed stormwater wetlands in the headwaters of the Bon Secour River.

The area, which was originally designed to control flooding and improve water quality, will be reintroduced to the community as a passive recreation site named the Andrew James Wetland Reserve.

The first phase will include signage and work to protect the site and enhance the environment according to Leslie Gahagan, Foley's sustainability and natural resources director.

"We'll be looking at some fencing for security, as well as some wetland mats to do some water quality treatment on the pond that receives water from the agricultural areas from the west," she said. "We also plan some bird houses and an osprey tower as well."

City crews have been clearing debris from the area since Hurricane Sally caused significant damage in 2020. The wetland system, originally built as a floodwater mitigation and wildlife conservation site, was made possible through full funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The reserve is being named for Andrew James, an engineer who played a key role in designing the wetland system. James died in 2023.

Phase two of the project, scheduled for 2026, will bring roads and parking areas, paving the way for the official opening of the reserve.

In addition to the wetlands project, the city is moving forward with plans to develop a low-impact pedestrian trail along Wolf Creek. The trail would connect the Antique Rose Trail to Poplar Street, offering a scenic route through a portion of Foley's natural landscape.

To support the project, the council voted April 8 to apply for a grant from the Alabama Coastal Area Management Program. If approved, the funds would assist with the cost of designing the trail.