The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) offers the Living Shoreline Assistance Program to help waterfront property owners and community groups address shoreline erosion in the Pensacola and Perdido Bay watersheds.
With this program, we aim to promote nature-based solutions for shoreline stabilization. We provide financial and technical support to chosen applicants, making it easier for landowners to create a living shoreline on their waterfront property. Our program is designed to simplify the process of creating a living shoreline for landowners by providing guidance on benefits, suitability, design, and navigating the permitting process, as well as offering financial assistance to chosen applicants.
Department of Environmental Protection Northwest Florida Aquatic PreservesA "living shoreline" is a nature-based solution to protect coastal shorelines. It uses elements like native plants or oyster shell to keep shorelines stable and mimic natural shoreline ecosystems. In some cases, "hybrid shorelines," which combine natural elements with non-living materials like rocks, or artificial oyster reefs are also included in the program. Both living and hybrid shorelines help prevent erosion, create habitats for wildlife, and improve water quality.
PBS News Feature on Living Shorelines
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.
Explore a fish eye view of a living shoreline in Pensacola Bay from underwater footage collected by researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to see the benefits living shorelines have for wildlife!
Take a Virtual Snorkel Tour
Our basic support empowers you to implement a living shoreline on your property! We’ll provide you with easy-to-follow info packets with design templates, examples of permits, and other helpful resources to guide you through the process. And the best part? Once your project is approved, we’ll reimburse you for a portion of the cost of plants and materials you used. It’s all about giving you the tools you need to bring your shoreline to life!
Support Provided:
Site visits to discuss criteria, explore design options, clarify procedural steps, and assess existing site conditions
Provide list of marine contractors for living shoreline installation
Permitting examples and templates for the landowner
Guidance on designs or feedback on proposed designs from other sources
Cost reimbursement for a portion of material costs
Post-installation assessments to ensure design requirements are met
Minimum of one year of quarterly post-construction monitoring
Enhanced Support for Select Project Sites
Our enhanced support is available for a limited number of projects, selected based on their priority ranking and the availability of time and resources. This support extends beyond basic services, offering hands-on assistance throughout the entire process. It includes handling permitting, design, and installation (up to 500 feet), as well as covering a portion of the material costs.
Interested residential or commercial waterfront landowners, homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, and community groups located on tidally influenced waterbodies in the Perdido and Pensacola Bay watershed are invited to apply. If an application does not meet the initial qualifications, applicants will be informed promptly. Applications may be submitted directly by waterfront landowners, by an authorized representative acting on behalf of one or more landowners, or by a community group interested in creating shared waterfront spaces.
Curious if your shoreline would be considered? Eligibility is based on the following:
Erosion
Your shoreline experiences a slight to high degree of erosion.
Location
Your shoreline is part of a tidal waterfront property within the Pensacola or Perdido Bay watershed, and you are submitting your application during the specified funding phase.
Funding Phases:
Perdido Bay Watershed: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Pensacola Bay Watershed: August 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026
Extensions may be granted depending on available resources.
Permitting
You are able to pay all permitting application costs associated with a living shoreline project (costs vary depending on location and permitting type required).
Suitability
You are open to having PPBEP staff assess your shoreline to determine its suitability for a living shoreline project. Only projects that are determined suitable by PPBEP staff for a living shoreline will qualify. PPBEP staff will determine suitability via desktop analysis or during a site assessment.
Design
You are willing to utilize a design created or approved by PPBEP. PPBEP must approve the living shoreline designs for your property to qualify.
While your shoreline may be considered, priority will be given to the following:
Priority Areas
Properties that are located within the priority areas. (See Homeowner's Guide to the Living Shoreline Program).
Collaboration
Collaborative applications with neighbors or for a public use property.
Financial Need
Landowners experiencing financial hardship will be prioritized for assistance.
Soft Solutions
Projects that only require soft solutions such as planting and biodegradable materials. PPBEP staff will determine this during a site assessment.
We ask that all applicants read our Homeowner's Guide to the Living Shoreline Program Booklet before applying as it contains information about eligibility, priority selection into the program, and cost-share breakdown.
Send all inquiries to [email protected] and one of our staff members will get back to you a soon as possible.
Join us at an open house near you to learn more about the program, meet with staff and discuss your project, and schedule a site assessment. Scheduled open houses are below:
February 28, 2025
1 PM – 7 PM
Perdido Beach Town Office
9212 Co Rd 97, Elberta, AL, 36530
March 27, 2025
2 PM - 8 PM
Graham Creek Nature Preserve
23030 Wolf Bay Drive, Foley, AL, 36535
May 1, 2025
2 PM - 8 PM
Perdido Key Community Center
15500 Perdido Key Dr., Pensacola, FL 32507
If you’re unable to attend an in-person open house, we invite you to join one of our informational webinars. Please see the scheduled webinar dates below:
April 4th, 2025
5:30 PM CT- 7:00 PM CT
Register Here
