The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) offers the Living Shoreline Assistance Program to help waterfront property owners and community groups address shoreline erosion in the Pensacola and Perdido Bay watersheds.
With this program, we aim to promote nature-based solutions for shoreline stabilization. We provide financial and technical support to chosen applicants, making it easier for landowners to create a living shoreline on their waterfront property. Our program is designed to simplify the process of creating a living shoreline for landowners by providing guidance on benefits, suitability, design, and navigating the permitting process, as well as offering financial assistance to chosen applicants.
We ask that all applicants read our Homeowner's Guide to the Living Shoreline Program Booklet before applying as it contains information about eligibility, priority selection into the program, and cost-share breakdown.
Learn More
Join us at an upcoming open house near you to learn more about the program, meet with staff and discuss your project, and schedule a site assessment. Scheduled open houses are below.
March 19th, 2026
2 PM – 7 PM
Bagdad Community Center
6872 Pooley St, Milton, FL 32583
Attending an in-person open house is recommended when possible.
For questions, email [email protected]
Department of Environmental Protection Northwest Florida Aquatic PreservesA "living shoreline" is a nature-based solution to protect coastal shorelines. It uses elements like native plants or oyster shell to keep shorelines stable and mimic natural shoreline ecosystems. In some cases, "hybrid shorelines," which combine natural elements with non-living materials like rocks, or artificial oyster reefs are also included in the program. Both living and hybrid shorelines help prevent erosion, create habitats for wildlife, and improve water quality.
While bulkheads and other “hard” structures have been traditional solutions for erosion, living shorelines are more effective, sustainable, and typically more cost-efficient over time. They better withstand storms and provide added benefits like flood mitigation, shoreline stabilization, and habitat creation.
Explore a fish eye view of a living shoreline in Pensacola Bay from underwater footage collected by researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to see the benefits living shorelines have for wildlife!
Take a Virtual Snorkel Tour
Enhanced Support for Select Project Sites
Our enhanced support is available for a limited number of projects, selected based on their priority ranking and the availability of time and resources. This support extends beyond basic services, offering hands-on assistance throughout the entire process. It includes handling permitting, design, and installation (up to 500 feet), as well as covering a portion of the material costs. Projects selected for enhanced support will be chosen after site assessment phase is complete by Summer 2026.
Interested residential or commercial waterfront landowners, homeowners’ associations, neighborhood associations, and community groups located on tidally influenced waterbodies in the Perdido and Pensacola Bay watershed are invited to apply. If an application does not meet the initial qualifications, applicants will be informed promptly. Applications may be submitted directly by waterfront landowners, by an authorized representative acting on behalf of one or more landowners, or by a community group interested in creating shared waterfront spaces.
Perdido Bay Watershed: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025*
*Due to the large number of applications received, we are no longer accepting new applications for the Perdido Watershed.
Pensacola Bay Watershed: August 1, 2025 - December 31, 2026
Extensions may be granted depending on available resources.
Eligibility is based on the following:
