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“We do understand the concern of the community and want people to know that we fully take our responsibility.”
Photo Credit: iStock
After a storm dropped more than 7.5 inches of rain in 24 hours in Orange Beach, Ala., murky water outside the Margaritaville Resort construction site sparked accusations that the development had sent runoff into nearby water.
According to WEAR-TV, residents in Orange Beach posted photos of cloudy water beside the development at the Wharf following the storm, labeling it as runoff and raising questions about whether safeguards at the waterfront project were strong enough.
Jason Alley, development principal for the new resort, told WEAR-TV that the cloudiness cleared in less than 24 hours. “We do understand the concern of the community and want people to know that we fully take our responsibility,” Alley said, adding, “To be very clear, we had no breaches. We had no loss of dirt. None of that actually. None of that happened.” 
According to Alley, the stormwater system at the construction site performed as intended during the heavy rain, and the murky appearance was turbidity — water clouded by suspended sediment.
“What happens when you have an event like we had yesterday is that there’s so much water in the system it moves through the system without being able to be below those sediment pieces, and so while most of the bit-larger sediment particles do settle, some of the finer particles get through, which causes the cloudiness of the water,” Alley said.
The Margaritaville Resort Orange Beach at the Wharf is scheduled to open in late 2027.
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After reports about the murky water came in, the company notified the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and reached out to local environmental groups. Alley also confirmed that crews were sent to the site.
Alley told WEAR-TV that with more rain in the forecast, the site was adding extra silt fencing, hay stacks, and rock to help keep sediment from washing into nearby water.
Alley said, “We are part of the community, and we have always taken those extra steps to make sure we go above and beyond. We will continue to do so.”
Here are a few more stories on the effects of heavy rain involving runoff controls, pollution disputes, cleanup efforts, and flooding.
• A homeowner turned a garage into a green roof with native plants that helps slow runoff.
• Cooke Aquaculture is expected to face a massive pollution lawsuit over waste in waterways.
• In Brighton, England, an urban nature reserve tested a solution to toxic runoff through aquifers.
• After heavy rain, a homeowner watched garden beds float away as the yard washed out.
• On one beach, volunteers launched a cleanup for plastic pollution after polystyrene beads spread.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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