Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance

Cub Scout Pack 553 recently put environmental stewardship into action by creating smooth cordgrass plant bags to support a living shoreline at Ross Marler Park. 🌱

After placing the plant bags along the shoreline, the scouts learned how living shorelines help improve water quality, reduce erosion, and create important habitat for local wildlife. It was a great opportunity to combine hands-on learning with meaningful community service.

See the bay from a whole new perspective at Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day! 🚣

Guided kayak tours give visitors the chance to experience the beauty of Choctawhatchee Bay while learning about the habitats and wildlife that make our local waters so unique.

After your paddle, enjoy interactive activities, food vendors, fish printing, and booths from local organizations. Join us on September 26 at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park!

The Gulf Sturgeon is one of the most unique species found in the Choctawhatchee watershed. These prehistoric fish can live for decades, traveling between the Gulf and freshwater rivers throughout their lives.

During warmer months, they’re known for their famous leaps—launching out of the water in a spectacular display!

Conservation efforts have helped strengthen Gulf Sturgeon populations, but continued research and habitat protection are essential to keeping these incredible fish thriving. 💙

📸: Ryan Hagerty with USFWS

Through CBA’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program, used oyster shells from local restaurants are reused to rebuild oyster reefs in Choctawhatchee Bay.

These reefs provide important habitat, improve water quality, and help protect shorelines from erosion.

Last year, our community recycled more than 215 tons of shells—helping restore the Bay one shell at a time. 💙

Thank you to our amazing restaurant partners who make this possible:
AJ's Oyster Shanty
Austons on 98
The Back Porch in Destin, Florida
Boathouse Oyster Bar
Brotula's Seafood House & Steamer
Hightide Island Grill
Hurricane Oyster Bar & Grill
North Beach Social
O'Quigley's Seafood Steamer
Rick's Seafood & Sports
Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar

Mark your calendars for Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day! 🌿

Join us on Saturday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park for a day of outdoor fun, environmental education, and hands-on activities for all ages.

Admission is free with the park entrance fee of $5 per vehicle. We hope to see you there!

Grab this sticker and more at Amavida Coffee ☕

Each purchase gives back to our organization, helping the waterways we work so hard to protect. Thank you for your support, Amavida!

The Gulf Sturgeon is one of the Choctawhatchee watershed's most remarkable residents. 🐟✨

These ancient fish spend much of their lives in the Gulf before returning to rivers like the Choctawhatchee to spawn. During the warmer months, they're famous for their spectacular leaps completely out of the water.

Once threatened by habitat loss and historical overfishing, local Gulf Sturgeon populations have begun to stabilize thanks to decades of conservation efforts. While this progress is encouraging, there is still much to learn about these remarkable fish. Ongoing research continues to uncover new insights into their biology, life cycle, and habitat use, helping scientists and resource managers make informed decisions to ensure Gulf Sturgeon remain a thriving part of our watershed for generations to come.

📸: Ryan Hagerty with USFWS

We loved getting to partner with Emerald & Forgotten Coast Adventures Inc for this summer camp service project doing dune restoration!

These kids got a first hand experience that with fieldwork comes the elements and they handled it like pros💪🏼 We can thank Tropical Storm Bertha for keeping everyone cool!🌧️