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Media Contact: Logan McDonald
Phone: 850-595-1479
E-mail: [email protected]
The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program is pleased to announce the launch of the Living Shoreline Assistance Program to help waterfront property owners and community groups address shoreline erosion in the Pensacola and Perdido Bay watersheds.
Across the Pensacola and Perdido Bay Watersheds, coastlines are threatened by erosion and shoreline hardening, impacting both coastal residents and our local waters.
A "living shoreline" is a nature-based approach to protecting coastal shorelines. Living shorelines use elements like native plants or oyster shell to keep shorelines stable while replicating natural shoreline ecosystems. "Hybrid shorelines" are also used, blending natural elements with non-living materials like rocks or artificial oyster reefs when needed. Both living and hybrid shorelines help prevent erosion, create habitat for wildlife, and improve water quality.
While bulkheads and other “hard” structures have been traditional solutions for erosion, living shorelines are more effective, sustainable, and typically more cost-efficient over time. They better withstand storms and provide added benefits like flood mitigation, shoreline stabilization, and habitat creation.
Increased shoreline hardening has dramatically altered the Pensacola and Perdido Bay Watersheds, with roughly 55% of Pensacola Bay and 27% of Perdido Bay shorelines now hardened. Through this Program, PPBEP aims to reduce additional shoreline hardening across the bays and promote the use of living shorelines.
The PPBEP Living Shoreline Assistance Program empowers coastal property owners to implement a living or hybrid shoreline to benefit both their property and our local waters. Program assistance includes technical resources, expert design guidance, help navigating the permitting process, and financial assistance to make projects more affordable. Through the Living Shoreline Assistance Program, PPBEP aims to restore residents’ connection to their coastline.
The Program will provide assistance in two phases. The first phase will support projects in the Perdido Bay Watershed and will run from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025. The second phase will support projects in the Pensacola Bay Watershed and will take place from Aug. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026.
Interested commercial or residential property owners, neighborhood associations, and community groups are invited to attend an open house to learn more about the program, meet with staff and discuss their project, and schedule a site assessment. Scheduled open houses are below:
Individuals that are unable to attend an in-person open house are invited to join a virtual informational webinar:
Interested property owners can find more information on eligibility and application details at ppbep.org/livingshorelines.
The Living Shoreline Assistance Program is made possible with funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
About the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program
The mission of the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program is to restore and protect the Pensacola and Perdido Bay watersheds through restoration, education, and unbiased monitoring of the health of our bays, estuaries, and watersheds.
The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program serves as a trusted source for residents, businesses, industry, and the community on issues relating to preserving, restoring, improving, and maintaining the natural habitat and ecosystem of the bays, estuaries, and watersheds of Pensacola and Perdido Bays.
Dive in at ppbep.org or follow us @ppbepflal on Facebook and @pensacolaandperdidobaysprogram on Instagram. Learn about simple steps you can take to protect our waters at estuary101.com.
The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.
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