Naval Support Activities Panama City Shoreline Restoration
Located in St. Andrews Bay, the Naval Support
Activity Panama City is owned by the United
States Navy/Department of Defense and
consists of property suitable for shoreline
restoration. This mid-energy shoreline will
benefit from the placement of oyster reefs and
emergent vegetation to prevent further erosion
and to re-establish habitat along the existing
barren shoreline. St. Andrew Bay is located in
Bay County, Florida and is home to one of the
only remaining pristine seagrass habitats in
the Florida panhandle, containing turtle grass
(Thalassia testudinium), shoal grass (Halodule
wrightii), and manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme). The seagrass beds provide
essential nursery habitat and foraging grounds for over 70% of commercial and
recreational finfish and shellfish species. The sportfishing economy in this area is an
essential component to the community with numerous charter fishing businesses and
commercial fishermen operating within the Bay. The community has a long history of
fishing activities as this was once the main staple of family economics in the area.
Loss of shoreline habitat is a problem that is experienced throughout Florida’s coastline.
The Naval Support Activity is located less than five miles northwest of St. Andrew Bay
Aquatic Preserve and is experiencing significant shoreline erosion from natural and
anthropogenic causes. The loss of shoreline habitat presents an imperilment for local
fish, including sportfish and other finfish species. Partnering oyster reefs with emergent
plant re-vegetation will protect the shoreline from further erosion, and is in great
interest to the sportfish and commercial fishing industries by providing juvenile habitat
and foraging grounds for fish of St. Andrew Bay.
Direct access by land to the site is for military personnel, however, several boat ramps
and marinas are in close proximity to NSA property. The shoreline restoration will
provide habitat for the fish of St. Andrew Bay and does stand to benefit all sportfishing
activities within the water body. Local fishermen, while not able to access the site
directly, will be able to benefit from the project through enhanced fishery in the Bay.
Sportsfish species that stand to benefit include but are not limited to: Black drum
(Pogonias cromis); red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus); summer flounder (Paralichthys
dentatus); southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma); spanish mackerel
(Scomberomorus maculatus); gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus); lane snapper (Lutjanus
synigarus); mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis); red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus);
black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci); gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis);
sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus); sand seatrout (Cyanoscion arenarius) and
spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus).
Project FAQs

Installation of 25,000 native salt marsh plants
o All plants are grown in FDEP’s native plant nursery in Pensacola, Fl. Plant
stock is sourced from within the panhandle.

Construction of 193 oyster reefs
o Reefs will be constructed from ~345 yd3 of recycled oyster shell. Majority of
shell was purchased by NSA from a local shucking house. FDEP is
contributing 20 yd from the OYSTER (Offer Your Shell To Enhance
Restoration) Recycling Program.

Project Completion Date: 7/31/2011
Related Links
http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/Bay_County_Naval_Base_Restores_Shoreline_104484719.h
tml
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/working-87525-newsherald-navy-panama.html
http://www.panhandleparade.com/index.php/mbb/article/navy_base_begins_shoreline_restoratio
n/mbb7726098/
Funding Sources
Fish America Foundation, American Sportsfishing Association, NOAA Restoration Center,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coastal Program