There are no better experts on the subject of Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar than those who have watched this watershed evolve for many years. That is why Escambia County’s Restore the Watershed team is asking the public to share what they know - and what they remember - about this unique urban waterway.
Now live on the Restore The Watershed website, there is an interactive map that shows the full length of the creek and bayou, and the extent of the surrounding watershed. Users can leave information about any place or location in the watershed by dropping a pin and typing a comment, suggestion, or memory. This feedback can range from flooding information and stream problems to areas that need general improvement and points that would be great public access opportunities. The team is also very interested in damage or flooding caused by Hurricane Sally, other major rain events, or development along the creek.
Residents can also add pictures of the creek to the map, to help the team find those particular reference points even more easily. If you have input not specific to a location, check out the Ideas Wall on the website. Each comment is displayed on a “wall” similarly to a post-it note. Photos can easily be added and residents can also have a discussion thread on each comment.
As the team continues to evaluate the rehabilitation needs of the creek, this public input will be extremely valuable.
“We want to make sure that we are as thorough as possible in this process, because the watershed and all those who are affected by it daily deserve that,” said Crissy Mehle, lead consultant on the project. “When the creek is healthy, so is the ecosystem around it, and so is our economy in terms of infrastructure, flood control, water supply, and quality of life. The creek has a tremendous impact on our ecological and sediment health.”
The Restore the Watershed project has been ongoing since 2019 and has included several public input sessions thus far.
Matt Posner, the RESTORE Program Manager for Escambia County, said that the project is off to a strong start, and that public involvement will be key to a successful watershed plan.
"Escambia County is extremely grateful for all of the stakeholders that have been engaged in the project thus far. From sharing stories growing up along the Creek to sharing their vision for the future, public input is critically important to developing a plan that is consistent with the community’s values. While the Watershed Team has a number of great ideas in the works, we need the public's help in documenting their priorities on restorethewatershed.com," said Posner.
More information will be released in the coming weeks, including a project update and our new videos series, “Creek Stories,” so stay tuned! For more information on the project and to leave your input, visit restorethewatershed.com.
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As part of an ongoing effort to restore the watershed and reclaim the waters for public use and enjoyment, Escambia County has embarked on a mission to create a resilient community by developing a Watershed Management Plan for Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar for the benefit of generations to come.
The Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar WMP will provide a roadmap for identifying, addressing, and recommending actions for the following objectives: Water Quantity & Quality, Fish & Wildlife Habitat, Public Access & Recreation, and Community Resiliency.
