Title
Resolution in Support of the Weeks Bay Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
Summary
Description of Topic: (who, what, where, when, why and how much)
Request a resolution of support for the Weeks Bay Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan
Budgetary Impact: N/A
Non-Capital Item:
____ Budgeted under account #_______________ (discussion item)
____ Not budgeted, requesting transfer of $__________ from Account #______________ to Account #_____________.
____ Not budgeted requiring increase to account #___________ in the amount of $____________.
Capital - Departmental
____ Budgeted under account #______________ for $___________ and described in budget as __________________________________.
Additional amount needed, if any: Increase in budget of $_____________ OR, transfer of $___________ from Account #____________ to Account #_______________
____ Not Budgeted - account #____________ requires budget increase of $_____________.
Capital Project - **THE PRE-PROJECT CHECKLIST AND BUDGET CHECKLIST MUST BE ATTACHED TO THIS FILE**
In current year Capital Projects Plan:
_____ Yes, planned amount $___________, requesting $_________ as total project estimate, including contingencies, under account #_________________
_____ No, requesting $___________ as total project estimate, including contingencies, under account #____________________
Body
Whereas, the Weeks Bay Watershed, draining western portions of the City of Foley and adjacent, unincorporated areas of Baldwin County, Alabama, encompasses 130,000 acres and contributes to the health and vitality of its receiving waters of Mobile Bay, and
Whereas the landscape of this watershed ranges from gently rolling terrain in headwaters downstream to low coastal plains, tidal marshes, and historic wooded wetlands, and
Whereas Baldwin County is the fastest growing county in Alabama and population within the Watershed is projected to increase 99% by 2040 with increasing conversion of agricultural and forest lands to developed land area resulting in additional impervious surface cover, and
Whereas conversion of the natural landscape to impervious cover has caused increases in volume and velocity of stormwater runoff in this watershed, resulting in increased flooding; non-point source pollution impacts that include trash and litter, pathogens, and nutrients; channel erosion; degraded habitats and infrastructure; and deteriorated water quality in its tributaries and creeks that ultimately transport non-point source pollution and sediment into Mobile Bay, and
Whereas one tributary in this Watershed - Baker Branch- is listed on the 2018 Alabama 303(d) list for impairment by organic enrichment, and a Total Maximum Daily Load for pathogens has been approved by U.S. EPA for Fish River, and
Whereas two waterbodies- Magnolia River and Weeks Bay- carry special-use designations of Outstanding Alabama Water and Outstanding National Resource Water, respectively, applied to high quality waters to allow added protection, and
Whereas, a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the Weeks Bay Watershed, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund and completed in January 2018, documented the current state of the water quality and ecological impairment in the Watershed; described major pollutants; assessed future climate change scenarios; evaluated potential improvement measures and practices; and recommended a prioritized list of watershed improvement actions, and
Whereas, recommendations to protect open space and environmentally sensitive areas stated in Foley’s Comprehensive Plan include “As a condition of rapid development, Foley’s farmlands will increasingly be converted to impervious surfaces further complicating issues related to stormwater runoff, nonpoint source pollution, filtration of flood waters and other impacts on the natural habitat. Preservation of open space and natural systems should be balanced with the need for development.”, and
Now, therefore be it resolved by the legislative body of the City of Foley, Alabama that it endorses the Weeks Bay Watershed Management Plan, and
Be it further resolved that the City of Foley, willingly and in full support, agrees to partner with the Baldwin County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program to focus on implementation of specific measures and actions contained in the watershed management plan that coincide with goals and strategies stated in the Foley Comprehensive Plan.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption as required by law.