Foley, Ala. — (OBA) —  A major stormwater drainage project in southeast Foley is nearing completion after nearly two decades of work. The Beulah Heights Regional Stormwater Facility has received funding from multiple grant sources to reach this point. The project is expected to improve drainage for hundreds of acres in the area. It will also reduce the amount of pollution flowing into nearby Wolf Creek.

On June 29, 2026, the Foley City Council voted to accept an additional grant from the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program to help complete the project. Leslie Gahagan, Foley's sustainability and natural resources director, briefed council members on the project's status.

"We've been working with them on the Beulah Heights Stormwater Management Facility," Gahagan said. "To date, they've given us about $320,000 in grant funds. They added another $70,000, which will bring us to $390,000 to complete that project."

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management had also previously provided a grant to cover a portion of the project's costs. That funding helped support the earlier phases of work, which have been ongoing in the Beulah area since 2008.

The completed facility will improve drainage across 480 acres in southeast Foley. City officials say the project will expand drainage capacity, improve water quality, and reduce the risk of flooding in the community.

Before drainage improvements began, stormwater runoff flowed directly into Wolf Creek without filtration. The updated system diverts water into retention basins, reducing damage from uncontrolled runoff. That change helps protect the creek and the surrounding environment.

The new facility will also include a system designed to trap sediment before it settles in the retention pond. The system is built to allow sediment removal without requiring crews to dig it out manually. That feature is expected to make long-term maintenance easier and more cost-effective for the city.

Gahagan told council members that the Beulah Heights Regional Stormwater Facility should be fully completed this fall. Once finished, the city plans to continue drainage improvement work in the broader Beulah area. Foley officials say the project reflects the city's ongoing commitment to managing stormwater and protecting natural waterways.