FOLEY, Ala. — The city’s new nature preserve and three waterfront communities presently face minimal risk from the ongoing oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. But that hasn’t stopped residents from being concerned, according to Foley Environmental Manager Leslie Lassitter.

Lassitter said Tuesday that residents in Bay Forest Estates, Graham Creek Estates and Wolf Bay Pines - Foley’s three waterfront communities - continue to have concerns about the potential for oil damage in Wolf Bay. But the oil’s threat to “more inland areas” such as those neighborhoods is minimal at this point, Lassitter said, citing the opinion of the Unified Command Center in Mobile.

“It’s too early to panic,” Lassitter said, noting that boom has been placed in the area of Graham Creek and Sapling Point.

“I haven’t heard of a true reasoning for it,” Lassitter said of the present deployment of boom at those points, noting that Unified Command has numerous lines of defense they are looking at, one of which is keeping the oil spill in the Gulf and out of the Intracoastal Canal. Also, a contingency would be to place boom over the mouth of the bay, she said.

Lassitter said the Town of Elberta is still looking at a plan of action should a worst case scenario develop and oil make its way into Wolf Bay.

Much concern has been expressed by citizens concerning Graham Creek Nature Preserve, Foley’s new 483-acre park that includes a canoe launch, Lassitter said.

Again, the environmental manager said the threat of oil damage at this point in time is minimal for the preserve.