June 28, 2021 (Choctawhatchee Watershed). The Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program (CBEP) was established by an interlocal agreement between Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes and Washington Counties to create a regional effort to address the issues concerning the Choctawhatchee Bay and its watershed. The goals of the program are to use scientifically sound, community-based approaches to protect and restore natural resources and water quality for the Choctawhatchee Bay, River and watershed. The CBEP also strives to strengthen community resiliency and environmental education to maintain a vibrant economy and high quality of life around the bay and within the region.
To accomplish this, the CBEP is developing a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), which serves as a blueprint to restore and protect the natural resources and economic health of our waterways. This plan will use input from local, state, federal, private and non-profit stakeholders to address the needs and concerns of our waterways. The Technical Advisory Committee, made up of scientists and researchers, have helped identify some of the goals and objectives for the CCMP based on the best available scientific data. To gather more input from residents and visitors on the perceptions, concerns, values and uses of the Choctawhatchee Bay watershed, the CBEP has teamed up with the University of West Florida to launch a Community Survey. The input gathered from the survey will help further inform the development of the CCMP and future actions. The CBEP also plans to form a Citizens Advisory Committee this fall, consisting of concerned citizens that would like to be further involved in the development of the CCMP and work closely with the Estuary Program development. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your voice and shape the future goals of the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program. Together we can work on improving our water and our quality of life.
The survey is available at: http://myokaloosa.com/cbec/public_participation.html
For more information on the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program visit: http://myokaloosa.com/cbec/index.html
For more information, contact Chelsea Conley, Public Outreach Specialist at 850-609-5390.