GRAHAM PIT Stormwater Outfall, Bay Minette, Alabama | United States

GRAHAM PIT is a stormwater outfall located on Morris Road in Bay Minette, Alabama, within Baldwin County. As a stormwater outfall, it discharges collected stormwater runoff from the surrounding urban and industrial catchment into local waterways. The facility is operational and falls under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, specifically the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits, which govern stormwater discharges in Phase I and Phase II municipalities. In Alabama, stormwater management is overseen by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), which implements the NPDES MS4 program. The facility's NAICS code 212321 indicates an industrial catchment related to mining or quarrying, which may influence the characteristics of the stormwater runoff. Typical stormwater outfalls in this region manage runoff from impervious surfaces, with treatment often limited to basic sedimentation or detention before discharge. The environmental significance of GRAHAM PIT lies in its role in managing stormwater quality and quantity in Bay Minette. Proper operation helps reduce flooding risks and minimizes pollutant loads to receiving waters, which is critical for maintaining local water quality and ecosystem health. The facility contributes to community resilience against storm events and supports compliance with federal and state water quality standards.

Bay Minette is located in the Mobile Bay watershed, a region with significant ecological importance. Stormwater runoff from urban and industrial areas can carry pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons into local streams and rivers, ultimately affecting Mobile Bay. The area experiences a subtropical climate with frequent heavy rainfall, increasing the potential for runoff-related water quality issues. Effective stormwater management at outfalls like GRAHAM PIT is essential to protect aquatic habitats and support recreational uses of water bodies.