Santa Rosa County's First Living Shoreline at Floridatown Park

Santa Rosa County officials opened the Floridatown Park Living Shoreline Project on Tuesday, the county's first project using natural materials and vegetation to protect 1,000 feet of eroding shoreline along Escambia Bay while preserving Native American archaeological sites.

The $1 million project replaces traditional hardened barriers with native plants and oyster reefs. Storms including Hurricanes Ivan and Sally had eaten away at the park's shoreline, threatening historical resources and public amenities including a boat ramp.

A 2002 University of West Florida archaeological survey identified Native American village sites, cemeteries, and artifacts within the park vulnerable to erosion. The Old Spanish Trail once passed through Floridatown.

State grants funded $900,000 of the project through the Resilient Florida Planning grant, the FDEP Coastal Resiliency Implementation grant, and the Coastal Resiliency grant. Santa Rosa County provided $101,000.