About Us

Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) is a regional organization dedicated to keeping our waterways clean and safe for generations to come.

PPBEP serves as a trusted source for residents, businesses, industry, and the community on issues relating to preserving, restoring, improving, and maintaining the natural habitat and ecosystem of the bays, estuaries and watersheds of Pensacola and Perdido Bays.

Protecting What Matters Most

With support from dedicated individuals like you, PPBEP is making great strides in raising awareness, improving water quality, restoring important natural habitats, and building a network of committed partners to protect, improve, and preserve our waterways.

745 volunteer hrs

(and counting) dedicated
to estuary projects

$7 million

secured in funding for local
environmental projects

2,000 +

students educated about our estuaries

Becoming
a National Estuary Program

Authorized by the Clean Water Act of 1987, the National Estuary Program (NEP) is an EPA program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. Currently, there are 28 estuaries along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts, and Puerto Rico designated as estuaries of national significance, focused on a specific study area that includes the estuary and surrounding watershed. Each receives annual funding, national guidance, and technical assistance from the EPA.

PPBEP is in the process of pursuing designation as an NEP by Congress. A critical step of this process is developing and implementing a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMP), which is long-term plans that contain actions to address water quality and living resource challenges and priorities. You can help PPBEP achieve designation as an NEP by advocating for PPBEP with your local and state representatives.

Check Out Our CCMP

contact your representative

PPBEP strives to achieve a healthy and collaborative environment by:

Elevating and increasing the importance, awareness, and understanding of environmental quality.

Employing rigorous, unbiased, and sound science to inform and guide decisions, policies, and initiatives.

Funding programs and projects that protect the environment and increase ecological resilience.

Building a network of inclusive, multi-stakeholder partnerships that takes into account factors affecting the environment, economy, and the community at large for the benefit of improving the quality of life for all.

PPBEP partnered with the University of West Florida (UWF) Haas Center to survey residents and visitors about watershed use, values, challenges, and funding.