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Natural storm water infrastructure protects people and local ecosystems

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) — When it rains, we often have to deal with flooding concerns here on the Gulf Coast. Storm water infrastructure is vital to guiding the flow of water away people and property. Morgan Wallen's 'Sand In My Boots' music festival: crime drops, travel breaks records The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program has been working with homeowners, local government, and other organizations to help create natural storm water infrastructure within the D'Olive Watershed in Baldwin county. 'When you're dealing with storm water, you can do gray infrastructure, which is your traditional pipe infrastructure, or you can do green infrastructure where we're working and trying to mimic with nature,' said Jason Kudulis, the deputy director of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program. Green, like this D'Olive Watershed project. Engineers purposefully place each stone or other piece of natural infrastructure in order to steer the water. Kudulis said, 'We use all native vegetation; we plant pollinator blends. So, all the insects and the critters they're all using these avenues, including the fish and wildlife.' This watershed has been tested by several flooding events. 'Over the last 15 years, we've been able to do over three miles of stream work, and that includes handling events like the 2014 flood, Hurricane Sally and most recently this April 2025 event,' said Kudulis. Land and homeowners along the watershed help by allowing the MBNEP to access their property to improve the infrastructure. 'These landowners who we partner with, this protects their property and gives them improved the esthetics and a nice what is a liability, an actual amenity,' said Kudulis. By reducing sedimentation, water quality improves throughout the watershed and downstream. 'Locally into the bay that's going to allow for submerged aquatic grass, all the seafood and fish that we like to catch and eat. So, this is something that's bigger than just the area we're working in,' said Kudulis. Baptist Hospital now offers latest heart valve treatment The MBNEP is helping to protect people, preserve ecosystems, and is Growing the Gulf Coast. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.