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Estuary program outlines regional restoration, aims to restore 1,500 acres of oyster habitat
Summary
Matt Posner told the Restore Council the Pensacola Bay estuary program is pursuing large-scale oyster restoration supported by federal and foundation grants and is advancing living shorelines, monitoring, and community science across the watershed.
Matt Posner, representing the regional estuary program, described multiyear work on education, monitoring and habitat restoration across watersheds from Baldwin County, Ala., to Okaloosa County, Fla. He said the program has secured federal and foundation funding to support a broad oyster-restoration initiative and related programs.
Posner cited program goals and funding: the estuary program’s management plan sets a goal to restore 1,500 acres of oyster habitat over 10 years; the program secured a $10.9 million NOAA grant and a $10 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to help start the effort. He also described a 30% design completion for phase 1 oyster work, ongoing living shorelines assistance, community science efforts (Eyes on Seagrass) and a new, monthly water-quality monitoring collaborative whose results will be posted on a public dashboard. Posner said Congressional recognition of Pensacola Bay as an estuary of national significance will help draw federal resources but "does not" increase federal regulatory oversight.
