The Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline Project is a large scale living shoreline to be constructed in southwestern Pensacola Bay. Project goals include the creation of approximately 20,000 linear feet of emergent and submerged reef breakwaters and 200 acres of emergent marsh and submerged aquatic vegetation habitat. The Project includes three distinct segments: Site A – White Island, Site B – Naval Air Station Pensacola Eastern Shore, and Site C – Sherman Inlet at NAS Pensacola. Please reference the Project Location Map below.

Project design has been funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection via the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council from RESTORE Act Pot 2 funding, and by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity through a Defense Infrastructure Grant. The Project will not only create and restore aquatic habitat, it will also enhance the coastal resilience of the surrounding community and NAS Pensacola.

Living shorelines enhance coastal resilience and address erosion by providing long-term protection, reducing wave energy and restoring vegetated shoreline habitats through strategic placement of plants, rock, and oyster reefs. Living shorelines also stabilize sediment, improve water quality, and enhance habitats for oysters, fish, shrimp, crabs, birds, sea turtles and other estuarine species. 

Escambia County is pleased to partner with Naval Air Station Pensacola, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and community stakeholders to implement this critically important coastal resilience project. 

Watch a video tour of the Pensacola Living Shoreline Project online here.