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PANAMA CITY BEACH – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP)
Northwest District today participated in the start of a multi-site habitat
restoration and stabilization project with the help of local volunteers
coordinated by Naval Support Activity (NSA) Panama City. The project, located at
NSA Panama City, will involve the installation of a Living Shoreline along 3400
feet of the base’s St. Andrew Bay shoreline.
“The NSA Living Shoreline Project will provide members of the public,
military and other support organizations a unique opportunity to contribute to
the restoration of this environmentally important resource” said DEP Northwest
District Director Ken Prest. “Efforts such as this serve as an example of how
public and private partnerships can work together to restore, protect, and
preserve Florida’s natural resources for future generations.”
Coastal salt marshes are regarded as one of the most biologically productive
ecosystems in the world. Salt marshes help to protect our shorelines from
erosion, provide a nursery and feeding grounds for approximately 70 percent of
Florida’s commercially valuable fish and shellfish fisheries and improve water
quality by filtering excess nutrients and pollutants. Salt marshes in Northwest
Florida were abundant in the past but due to severe storms and adverse human
influences have consistently degraded over time.
The project will involve installing more than 25,000 salt marsh grasses along
the shoreline and the construction of 193 oyster reefs to provide oyster and
fish habitat. It will also provide the shoreline with maximum protection from
damaging wave energy, allowing the upland and developing vegetation to become
established. The entire project is scheduled to take place from April through
November of 2010 via several volunteer supported events. Once completed the
project will provide stabilization of the shoreline in an effort to prevent
further erosion and reestablish much needed coastal marine habitat.
Funding for the project is the result of a grant obtained by DEP Northwest
District’s Eco-Restoration Section from the Fish America Foundation, American
Sportsfishing Association, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Restoration Center on behalf of NSA Panama City. Additional
support was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Since 1994, the Ecosystem Restoration Section of DEP’s Northwest District has
been working to restore coastal habitats throughout the Florida panhandle by
creating, restoring and enhancing coastal dune systems, oyster reefs, salt
marsh, and submerged aquatic vegetation. For more information, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/northwest/Ecosys/section/restoration.htm.
For more information on volunteer opportunities please contact Amy Baldwin at
850-595-8300 or amy.baldwin@dep.state.fl.us. |
2012 State of Florida