Magnolia Springs, Alabama, gains additional resilience from flood reduction and water quality improvements

Relevance:

The Magnolia River, a primarily agricultural sub-watershed in Baldwin County, Alabama, identified flood mitigation as a need for many years. Community members consider flooding a high concern - and an increasing one - as land cover changes, sea levels rise and heavy rain events occur more often. Further, the increasing risk of flooding is a double-edged sword as residents are also noting a growing concern with pollution in their river and streams.

Response:

Inspired by an idea co-developed with community members and local specialists, the Baldwin County Soil and Water Conservation District (BCSWCD) partnered with the Town of Magnolia Springs and Friends of Magnolia River Committee to obtain a $60,000 small grant and support from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported Program for Local Adaptation to Climate Effects: Sea-Level Rise's (PLACE: SLR) Resilience to Future Flooding project. With the support and funding, they assessed multiple sites for constructed wetland design, flood detention capacities, feasibility, costs and benefits.

Results:

After BCSWCD identified the most feasible and beneficial site for a constructed wetland, it used that information to successfully obtain funding to begin moving forward with construction of a wetland. The Baldwin County engineer of record applied for $12,000,000 for acquisition, planning and design, and construction. They have currently been awarded the Phase One funding of $4,000,000 for acquisition and planning and design. This multi-phased project was possible as a direct result of PLACE: SLR's support.

Recap:

With assistance from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported Program for Local Adaptation to Climate Effects, the Baldwin County Soil and Water Conservation District and local partners have secured funding for a constructed wetland to transform a borrow pit into a regional detention site, thus mitigating flooding and improving water quality. (2021)