Community Groups Are Committed to Conservation in Okaloosa County, FL

Davista Photography

In Okaloosa County, sustainability and environmental responsibility are more than popular catchphrases. This western Florida panhandle enclave has much to protect – a sprawling white-sand shoreline, avian life that draws birdwatchers from all over the world and infrastructure that supports local communities and waves of tourists.

Luckily, a forward-thinking plan, executed through strong partnerships, community engagement and conscientious leadership, has set Okaloosa on a path that respects and honors the integrity of the environment and its wildlife. 

Davista Photography

Leadership Behind Preservation 

The Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program (CBEP) has taken the lead in collaborating with community organizations and facilitating partnerships with local groups, schools, businesses and government agencies to leverage resources and increase outreach. 

“We’ve developed and implemented a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) that will serve as our game plan for protecting the Choctawhatchee Bay watershed,” says Sabina Pennington, CBEP environmental public outreach specialist. “We have a long-term vision of priorities and projects for our waterways, and throughout the planning and implementation process, we involve local groups and our citizens to ensure everyone’s efforts connect to a larger, sustainable future.” 

The program engages the community by providing education on the importance of clean waterways for the environment, wildlife and human health. 

“It helps that our citizens can see how waterway improvement directly benefits the local community with cleaner water, better health and more recreational opportunities,” Pennington says. 

Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program

Protecting Okaloosa’s Ecosystems 

CBEP recognizes that partnerships lead to greater change. The organization joined forces with entities like the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Choctawhatchee Audubon Society to further protect waterways and wildlife. 

“Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is a great partner for our water quality, living shorelines, education and outreach,” Pennington says. “The Choctawhatchee Audubon Society helps ensure we focus on the land as well as the waterways. With our common goals and community-based engagement, these partnerships extend our reach to a much larger population.” 

CBEP works with these partners to hold technical, educational and citizen workshops, capture and catalog projects, and determine future endeavors that will help provide a healthy watershed for citizens and visitors. 

“This collaboration stretches across four counties in Florida and 10 counties in Alabama and is key to identifying important initiatives and environmental concerns, thereby maximizing efforts and reducing redundancy of resources,” Pennington says. 

Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program

Creating Lasting Effects 

Pennington says the primary impact of these environmental initiatives is educating the public on how small changes in individual behavior make a collective, significant and lasting difference for everyone. 

Residents learn about responsible waste disposal, proper use of fertilizers and the impact of everyday activities on water quality. And they are reminded of their nonhuman companions who share their space. 

“We recently highlighted bird conservation with several partners, including the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society. They helped us choose the least tern bird (threatened in Florida and endangered in the central U.S.) for our logo,” Pennington says. 

Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program

“We’ve also added educational signage at Veterans Park Rookery, which is a highly visited site on our bay and one we hope to add to the Great Florida Birding Trail.” 

Expanded education has empowered citizen involvement in cleanup events and data collection, such as the monitoring of pollution levels and cataloged sightings of manatees, for example, which helps the community understand the importance of seagrass beds to waterways. CBEP also focuses outreach on the next generation, the future stewards of the planet. 

“We seek to make meaningful impacts on students’ lives by fostering a love of science and nature through real-world learning opportunities and community-based projects,” Pennington says. “We want to mentor our future citizens to protect our natural resources and value the importance of community.”