Escambia to build living shoreline

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Escambia County, Fla., is seeking input from boaters, fishermen, and those who use the water around Naval Air Station Pensacola for a living shoreline project to improve water quality. The county’s Natural Resource Management Department has developed a 40-question survey asking residents about water quality, environment and issues related to waterways around NASP. Brent Wipf, a project manager for Escambia County, indicated that the survey is part of a larger plan to build oyster reefs, plant sea grasses, and additional changes to improve some 24,800 linear feet of shoreline along the eastern and southern perimeters of the base. The design is being funder to the tune of $217,000 from restitution funds paid out by BP in the aftermath of the 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill. After the design is completed, the county will look for more grant money to build the shoreline. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 07/24/18)