The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) is pleased to announce the launch of the Living Shoreline Assistance Program to help waterfront property owners and community groups address shoreline erosion in the Pensacola and Perdido Bay watersheds.
Across the Pensacola and Perdido Bay Watersheds, coastlines are threatened by erosion and shoreline hardening, impacting both coastal residents and our local waters.
A "living shoreline" is a nature-based approach to protecting coastal shorelines. Living shorelines use elements like native plants or oyster shell to keep shorelines stable while replicating natural shoreline ecosystems. "Hybrid shorelines" are also used, blending natural elements with non-living materials like rocks or artificial oyster reefs when needed. Both living and hybrid shorelines help prevent erosion, create habitat for wildlife, and improve water quality.
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.
Increased shoreline hardening has dramatically altered the Pensacola and Perdido Bay Watersheds, with roughly 55% of Pensacola Bay and 27% of Perdido Bay shorelines now hardened. Through this Program, PPBEP aims to reduce additional shoreline hardening across the bays and promote the use of living shorelines.
The PPBEP Living Shoreline Assistance Program empowers coastal property owners to implement a living or hybrid shoreline to benefit both their property and our local waters. Program assistance includes technical resources, expert design guidance, help navigating the permitting process, and financial assistance to make projects more affordable. Through the Living Shoreline Assistance Program, PPBEP aims to restore residents’ connection to their coastline.
The Program will provide assistance in two phases. The first phase will support projects in the Perdido Bay Watershed and will run from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. The second phase will support projects in the Pensacola Bay Watershed and will take place from August 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026.
Interested commercial or residential property owners, neighborhood associations, and community groups are invited to attend an open house to learn more about the program, meet with staff and discuss their project, and schedule a site assessment. Scheduled open houses are below:
Individuals that are unable to attend an in-person open house are invited to join a virtual informational webinar:
The Living Shoreline Assistance Program is made possible with funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
