Orange Beach, Ala. — (GSN) — Orange Beach is taking direct action to evaluate and improve how stormwater moves through the Bear Point neighborhood. At a recent City Council meeting Marshall Hayden, the hydraulic and hydrologic engineering group leader at Thompson Engineering, presented the findings of a comprehensive drainage basin study and a stormwater master plan for the area. The initiative, which has been in development for a year and a half, is designed to help municipal leaders map the neighborhood's drainage systems and address long-standing flooding risks.

To build an accurate model of the 280-acre drainage area, Thompson Engineering utilized aerial lidar to map local topography. The team completed an extensive survey mapping hundreds of existing stormwater infrastructure assets, including inlets, manholes, pump stations, and miles of underground conduits and pipelines.

This physical data was integrated into a hydraulic and hydrologic model to analyze how the drainage system performs under current and future storm scenarios. The model evaluates the combined effects of rainfall, topography, land use, soil conditions, and impervious surface areas. To combine technical data with resident experiences, a community outreach survey was also hosted on an internal GIS server to map ground-level observations and flooding concerns.

The modeling and resident feedback highlighted critical areas of concern, such as homes situated in low-elevation "bowls" with inadequate drainage, ineffective pumps, ponding on open lots, and clogged or undersized conduits.

To mitigate these issues and enhance community resiliency, the master plan recommends several structural and non-structural improvements, including:

• Upgrading existing pump stations and installing new ones.
• Executing regulatory updates and ditch improvements.
• Improving primary outfalls and pipeline capacity.
• Implementing flow diversions to protect at-risk homes.
• Establishing detention ponds and green infrastructure solutions.

The total estimated cost for the priority solutions recommended for immediate design is approximately $5 million.

Funding for the drainage basin study and master plan was split between two sources. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, covered 80% of the cost, while the City of Orange Beach contributed the remaining 20% match.