Living Shorelines address the need for coastal habitat enhancement and “green stabilization” of coastal properties in the Florida Panhandle based in two watersheds, Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay. Enhancement and green shoreline stabilization occur under the auspices of three current enhancement programs: oyster reef, salt marsh/emergent plant enhancement and uplands/dune plant enhancement. The goal of the project is to return coastal habitats to ecological functionality, increase species diversity and to work with and educate coastal property owners and the public about the advantages and protection offered by non-hardened green stabilization techniques and native vegetation. By working with public land managers, coastal property owners, many of whom contact the FDEP Northwest District directly via the permitting process, and others via community environmental organizations, these locations were identified. Through these communications, we are able to gain access to private coastal properties, which allows us to proactively improve habitat and species diversity in Northwest Florida estuaries. Several sites have been identified throughout the Florida Panhandle where degraded shorelines exist.
