Santa Rosa County's First Living Shoreline at Floridatown Park

Santa Rosa County officials cut the ribbon today on a $1 million living shoreline project at Floridatown Park, marking the county's first use of natural materials and vegetation to combat erosion along Escambia Bay.

The project installed roughly 1,000 feet of planted shoreline designed to slow erosion, filter pollutants and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. Hurricanes Ivan and Sally had severely damaged the park's shoreline in recent years, threatening both its recreational function and buried archaeological sites.

A 2002 University of West Florida survey identified Native American villages, cemeteries and artifacts at Floridatown Park. The Old Spanish Trail once passed through the area. Erosion had left these cultural resources vulnerable.

Living shorelines differ from traditional seawalls by using plants and organic materials instead of concrete barriers. State grants covered $900,000 of the project cost through three programs: the Resilient Florida Planning grant, FDEP Coastal Resiliency Implementation grant and Coastal Resiliency grant. Santa Rosa County contributed $101,000.

"This project protects the shoreline, helps preserve important cultural resources, and improves the bay for future generations," Commissioner Bobby Burkett said.