This living shoreline project will improve water quality and restore coastal marsh and seagrass beds in west Pensacola Bay. The project includes 24,800 linear feet of rock and oyster reef breakwater, which will support an estimated 205 acres of fringe emergent marsh and seagrass beds. The project will benefit many wildlife species, including shorebirds, wading birds, and migratory birds as well as economically important species such as spotted trout, red drum, black drum, mangrove snapper, gag grouper, spot, croaker, mullet, blue crab, stone crab, and shrimp.
The living shoreline will also help prevent further erosion along the west shore of Pensacola Bay and will improve water quality and decrease turbidity. Specifically, the project will help protect NAS Pensacola from erosion and storm surge.
PROJECT COST: $14,000,000
LEAD ORGANIZATION: Escambia County
PARTNERS: Florida Department of Environmental
Additional Benefits:
- Potential Population Benefiting: 11,200
- Socially Vulnerable Population Benefiting: 4,400
- Critical Facilities in Vicinity: 3
