Stronger Together
Working with committed organizations like yours, the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) is making great strides in restoring, protecting, and preserving our region’s beautiful beaches and wandering waterways. No matter your organization’s mission or purpose, we need your help in this important work.
Small Changes Can
Make a Big Difference!
Protecting, restoring, and preserving our waterways is going to take all of us doing our part, in ways big and small. Below are a few tips for how you and your organization can support conservation efforts in your everyday life.
Opt for reusable or recyclable materials
Whether it’s the office water cooler or the company lunch, choose containers and utensils that you can reuse or recycle. Single-use plastics and styrofoam are a major source of litter in our waterways.
Watch what you flush
Anything more than toilet paper and human waste should be put in the trash, not the toilet. This is especially important for those “flushable wipes,” which wreak havoc on our sewer systems. Sewer systems can clog and overflow, eventually polluting our waterways. That stinks…literally.
No fats, oils, or grease down the drain
Fats, oils, and grease can clog your sewer line, just like cholesterol can clog your arteries. Don’t pour them down the drain. Dispose of them in a sealed container, either in the trash or at a local disposal center.
Keep shorelines soft and “living”
Consider a natural or “living” shoreline instead of seawalls or bulkheads for waterfront property. These softer, more natural, shorelines filter stormwater runoff, absorb storm surge and reduce runoff, and provide habitat for estuary creatures and critters. Plus they’re cheaper and require less maintenance!
Maintain septic systems, or convert to sewer
Septic systems that aren’t maintained can cause major problems for homeowners and the environment. Ensure that your septic system is inspected every few years, or consider connecting to a sewer system.
Walk off or zoom away the run-off
Cars and trucks leave trace amounts of oil, gas, and other chemicals on our roadways that eventually run off into our waterways. Look for ways to reduce transportation impacts from your organization. Proper maintenance, carpooling, walking, and videoconferencing can add up over time!
Opt for reusable or recyclable materials
Whether it’s the office water cooler or the company lunch, choose containers and utensils that you can reuse or recycle. Single-use plastics and styrofoam are a major source of litter in our waterways.
Watch what you flush
Anything more than toilet paper and human waste should be put in the trash, not the toilet. This means those “flushable wipes,” too. Sewer systems can clog and overflow, eventually polluting our waterways. That stinks…literally.
No fats, oils, or grease down the drain
Fats, oils, and grease can clog your sewer line, just like cholesterol can clog our arteries. Don’t pour them down the drain. Dispose of them in a sealed container, either in the trash or at a local disposal center.
Keep shorelines soft and “living”
Consider a natural or “living” shoreline instead of seawalls or bulkheads for waterfront property. These softer, more natural, shorelines filter stormwater runoff, absorb storm surge, and provide habitat for estuary creatures and critters. Plus they’re cheaper and require less maintenance!
Maintain septic systems, or convert to sewer
Septic systems that aren’t maintained can cause major problems for homeowners and the environment. Ensure that your septic system is inspected every few years, or consider switching to a sewer system.
Walk off or zoom away the run-off
Cars and trucks leave trace amounts of oil, gas, and other chemicals on our roadways that eventually run off into our waterways. Look for ways to reduce transportation impacts from your organization. Carpooling, walking, and videoconferencing can add up over time!
Other Ways
to Get Involved
From beach clean-ups to habitat restoration, after-work happy hours to educational opportunities for kids, there is no shortage of ways you can get involved with the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program.
Other Ways
to Get Involved
From beach clean-ups to habitat restoration, after-work happy hours to educational opportunities for kids, there is no shortage of ways you can get involved with the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program.
Looking to partner with the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program?
We’d love to hear from you!
Explore Our
Estuaries!
Become an Estuary Explorer today and not only will you get to learn about and interact with some of our region’s most spectacular natural habitats, you’ll get some cool swag, too!
Save Our Waterways, Save Hu-Manatee
Show your local pride with merchandise to benefit the Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program!