YEAR 2008 - CRP
Project #7005
Project #7005
Cessna/Mattie Kelly Parks Oyster Bay
and Salt Marsh Construction
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Mattie Kelly Park |
Project name: |
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Cessna/Mattie Kelly Parks Oyster Bay and Salt Marsh Construction |
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Project number: |
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7005 |
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Project status: |
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In Progress |
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Grant Administrator: |
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Gulf of Mexico Foundation (for NOAA) |
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Grantee: |
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Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance |
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Project location: |
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Okaloosa/Walton, Destin/Santa Rosa Beach, Florida |
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Grant period: |
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Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2020 |
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Grant amount: |
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$20,000 |
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Land Ownership: |
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Public |
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Lat/Long: |
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Types of Habitat: |
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Oyster reef, Estuarine Benthic, Salt Marsh |
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Project leader: |
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Allison McDowell
Grant Coordinator
Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance
Okaloosa-Walton College
100 College Boulevard
Niceville, Florida 32578
www.basinalliance.org |
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Species Benefiting From Restoration:
• Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)
• Mud crab (Panopeus herbstii)
• Blue Crab (Callenectus sapidus)
• Redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus)
• Mullet (Mugil cephalus)
• Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus)
• Marsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)
• Shoal Grass (Halodule wrightii)
Acres of Habitat To be Restored:
Approximately 0.11 acres
Project Summary:
CBA, in partnership with the City of Destin and Walton County, will initiate Cessna/Mattie Kelly Parks Oyster Bar and Salt Marsh
Construction — a community-based restoration project that will result in the creation of salt marsh habitat and fringing
oyster bars at Cessna Park and Mattie Kelly Park. Cessna Park is a Walton County-owned park situated on the shore of Hogtown Bayou.
Anthropogenic and storminduced destruction of salt marsh has led to severe shoreline erosion at Cessna Park. Similarly,
disturbance of salt marsh vegetation and recent storm events have led to erosion of the shoreline at Destin’s Mattie Kelly Park,
which is located at the mouth of Joe’s Bayou. Both parks are used extensively for fishing and recreational activities.
This project will construct oyster bars and plant salt marsh vegetation at these locations. The oyster bars will provide
diverse food sources and foraging areas for a variety of fish (redfish, mullet) and crustacean (blue crab, mud crab) species. Oyster bars will also
perform important ecological services, such as water filtration and bottom sediment stabilization, and the physical structure will act as a natural breakwater.
The salt marsh plants provide further sediment stabilization and water filtration, and act as an important food source for detritivores. In addition,
interpretive signage will be placed at the parks to provide continuing education.
Project Objectives:
- Protect and restore estuarine native shoreline habitat in Choctawhatchee Bay.
- Provide a framework for volunteer participation and education.
- Provide for ongoing public education about estuarine habitat.
- Monitor constructed habitat for success.
Community Involvement:
Community will be involved at every step of the construction.
These hands-on, educational volunteer opportunities will be
accompanied by educational training sessions. The monitoring
will also be accomplished through volunteer efforts and will
provide additional opportunities to educate the public.
Finally, the interpretive signage will ensure that park
patrons will be provided with valuable information on their
important local resources.
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