Largely impacted by the 2010 BP oil spill, Escambia County is slated to soon receive millions of dollars from BP to assist in restoration projects throughout the area. BP voluntarily committed $1 billion for restoration projects in the Gulf States, with most of the money going to the eight most impacted counties within the Panhandle. Exact dollar amounts for the following projects will be available this summer:
- Florida Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery/Enhancement Center
- Downtown Pensacola
- Approximately $18.7 million
- Florida Artificial Reef Creation and Restoration
- Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Bay counties
- Escambia already has several offshore sites permitted for the installation of prefabricated reef structures
- Approximately $11.4 million
- Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline
- Escambia County
- The money likely will expand Project Greenshores through Sanders Beach to Pensacola Naval Air Station and could be earmarked for living shorelines in East Bay
- Approximately $10.8 million
- Florida Oyster Reef Restoration
- Escambia, Santa Rosa, Bay and Franklin counties
- Approximately $5.4 million
- Scallop Enhancement for Increased Recreational Fishing Opportunity
- Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties
- Approximately $2.8 million
- Big Lagoon State Park Boat Ramp Improvement
- Escambia County
- Approximately $1.5 million
- Bob Sikes Pier Restoration
- Escambia County
- This project will improve access to the pier by improving the parking lot, road access and a bicycle trail
- Approximately $1 million
- Perdido Key Boardwalk Improvements
- Escambia County
- Construction of three dune walkovers at three public access areas and boardwalks will be built to support emergency vehicle access
- Approximately $600,000
- Perdido Key Dune Restoration
- Escambia County
- Restoring dunes along 4.3 miles of Perdido
- Approximately $600,000
- Gulf Islands National Seashore Enhancement
- Remove asphalt debris from a 386-acre area
- Approximately $10.8 million
- National Seashore Ferry Project
- Purchase two passenger ferry boats to take passengers from Fort Pickens to downtown Pensacola
- Approximately $4 million
