This Friday, December 12, Escambia County Community and Environment Department with the Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves, Harborview Marina, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coastal Service and Keep Pensacola Beautiful invites the public to assist the staff of Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves with the installation of a series of five near shore oyster reefs in Bayou Chico.
The installation will begin at 9 a.m. at the Mahogany Mill Boat Ramp located on the banks of Bayou Chico at 1200 Block Mahogany Mill Road, Pensacola.
Living shorelines enhance estuarine habitat, stabilize sediment and improve water quality. The oyster reefs that create the living shoreline will be placed along 100 linear feet of the western bank of Bayou Chico in between the recently constructed public boat ramp at Mahogany Mill and Harborview Marina.
The National Resource Damage Assessment early restoration funds allowed for the installation of the state-of-the-art boat ramp adjacent to the living shoreline site. During the planning and design phases, constituents were able to incorporate the plan to install a living shoreline project as an educational tool, as well as a valuable enhancement to the Bayou Chico watershed system.
The oyster reefs will be constructed out of recycled oyster shells that have been collected from local restaurants, weathered and pre-bagged for deployment. The reef structures are designed to provide substrate for live oysters to settle and grow, as well as habitat for a variety of marine and near shore organisms. The oyster reefs also provide protection for the shoreline so intertidal grasses can grow.
The oyster reef installation along this stretch of bayou shoreline is the first stage of a permitted living shoreline project, which will eventually include the installation of native, salt-tolerant, intertidal vegetation.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome, but participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Participants must wear closed-toed shoes and are encouraged to bring a pair of work gloves and a refillable water container. Drinking water will be provided on-site. Some work gloves will be provided for use by volunteers without a pair. Registration is requested at (850) 595-0599.
For more information, please contact Zachary Schang at (850) 595 - 0599 or [email protected].
