HIGGINS BORROW PIT Stormwater Outfall, Fort Payne, Alabama | US Stormwater Facility

HIGGINS BORROW PIT is a stormwater outfall located in Fort Payne, De Kalb County, Alabama, United States. The facility manages stormwater runoff from the surrounding area, discharging into local waterways. As a stormwater outfall, it is part of the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) that collects and conveys stormwater from urban and industrial catchments. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for stormwater discharges. In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) administers the NPDES program, including MS4 permits for Phase I and Phase II municipalities. The outfall likely serves an area with mixed land use, including residential, commercial, and industrial zones, given its proximity to Interstate 59 and Glenn Boulevard. Stormwater outfalls like HIGGINS BORROW PIT play a critical role in preventing localized flooding and managing runoff quality. They help reduce the risk of combined sewer overflows and protect downstream water bodies from pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, and heavy metals. The facility's location in a county with mining activities (NAICS 212321, 212399) suggests potential industrial runoff concerns, requiring proper erosion and sediment control measures.

Fort Payne is located in the Appalachian foothills of northeastern Alabama, with a humid subtropical climate that produces frequent, intense rainfall events. The area's karst topography, characterized by limestone bedrock and sinkholes, makes stormwater management particularly important to prevent groundwater contamination. Local waterways, including Big Wills Creek and the Coosa River basin, are sensitive to urban runoff. The presence of mining operations (construction sand and gravel, crushed stone) in the region adds potential for sediment and heavy metal loading in stormwater discharges.