Foley Council Approves Bon Secour Headwaters Work

The Foley City Council recently approved the first phase of the project to enhance the constructed stormwater wetlands in the Bon Secour River headwaters as a publicly accessible passive recreation area. The site will be designated the Andrew James Wetland Reserve after a late engineer who helped design the project. Leslie Gahagan, Foley sustainability and natural resources director, said the first phase will include signage and work to protect the site and enhance the environment. “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.” The second phase, planned for next year, will include roads and parking for the site before the reserve officially opens. The project was designed and constructed as a floodwater mitigation structure, a natural water quality treatment system and a wildlife reserve. It is fully funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.