The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program has received a $101,000 grant from Impact 100 Pensacola Bay Area to expand public awareness and engagement surrounding local waterway restoration efforts.

The grant will fund “Stories from the Bay: Inspiring Stewardship through Estuary Encounters,” which will include two short films and digital resource libraries highlighting the Pensacola Bay Oyster Restoration Initiative and Carpenter Creek Restoration Project. Funding also will support the launch of a Pensacola Oyster Festival and the purchase of a second vehicle to expand community outreach and monitoring.

The projects address significant environmental challenges in the region. Pensacola Bay has lost much of its historic oyster population, while Carpenter Creek has been affected by erosion, flooding and stormwater pollution.

Since 2022, the Estuary Program has secured $25 million for oyster restoration, including an effort to restore 1,500 acres of reef habitat. It also has secured $4.5 million for the design of a comprehensive Carpenter Creek restoration project.

“People protect what they care about, and people care about that they understand,” said Matt Posner, executive director, in the release. “Through this project, we hope to reconnect our community to the heritage of our waters and turn restoration into a shared community story that supports lasting stewardship.”

Established in 2018, the Estuary Program works to restore and protect the Pensacola and Perdido Bay watersheds through restoration, education and monitoring.

More information is available at ppbep.org.