The Baldwin County Commission has entered into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) and Dauphin Island Sea Lab to enhance Stream Gauge Monitoring in Baldwin County and to develop a Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater review tool. The agreement, effective May 20, 2025, through April 30, 2026, marks a continued investment in Baldwin County’s long-term water resource management strategy. This project has been funded through a financial partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program.

In 2024, Baldwin County partnered with MBNEP to install several stream and rain gauges across local watersheds, laying the foundation for the County’s comprehensive hydrologic modeling initiative. This agreement expands the comprehensive hydrologic modeling initiative by installing four additional gauges: three at strategic locations along the Styx River and one in the Magnolia River.  

The hydrologic modeling initiative supports the implementation of Mobile Bay NEP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan as well as action items recommended in the Baldwin County regional Watershed Management Plans (WMPs). This program provides beneficial hydrologic data for watersheds within the County that can be used for long-range planning to properly guide future growth and restoration projects within each watershed of the County. 

The Baldwin County Subdivision Regulations that were adopted by the Baldwin County Commission on January 7, 2025, require LID stormwater design for higher density developments within the County. The LID stormwater review tool funded through this agreement will assist engineers and designers with evaluating stormwater designs which are required to reduce the post-development stormwater runoff rate and improve the water quality of stormwater runoff.

This tool will provide a resource for the County to properly evaluate engineering stormwater design and ensure compliance with the Subdivision Regulations. This agreement will also fund LID stormwater training for the engineering design community as well as County and City staff.

Baldwin County is proud to partner with MBNEP, a leader in restoring and protecting our coastal waters and natural resources.