Success Stories

Piney Woods Spring Restoration
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife program completed habitat restoration of Piney Woods Spring, Washington County, with the help of several partners: Citizens Preservation Council of Washington County, Northwest Florida Water Management District, the Washington County Commissioner and EnSafe Environmental Management Consultants.

The objective was to restore the spring’s natural water flow and biological function. The project took approximately four days to complete and included removal of woody debris, silt and muck sediment and foreign objects blocking the spring vent. After physical restoration of the spring was completed, native vegetation was added to the banks to stimulate natural growth.

View before and after pictures

Stallworth Preserve Habitat Conservation
In 1995, the Howard Development Group the development of a single-family residential subdivision, Stallworth Preserve, in the habitat of the endangered Choctawatchee beach mouse. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a 30-year incidental take permit to the group and helped it complete a Habitat Conservation Plan [PDF] to protect the beach mouse. Key conservation efforts involved in this project:

• Protection of 75 percent of the dune habitat property



• Restoration of damaged dune habitat from Hurricane Opal in 1995



• Designation of land to be undeveloped to promote natural resources



• Landscape with native dune plants



• Construction of dune walkovers to provide beach access while protecting the dunes



• Low-level lighting to protect beach mice and sea turtles



• Restriction of free-roaming cats



• Funding for a five-year study of beach mouse habitat

As of early 2004, five homes on the 14 lots have been completed, with another currently under construction. View pictures of the Stallworth Reserve.

State Parks Sea Oat Planting
The Panama City Field Office has a grant agreement with the Florida State Parks Service to plant sea oats for sand dune restoration. By trapping sand, sea oats form and preserve sand dunes, which serve as the habitat for many endangered and threatened species in the Panhandle. More than 80,000 sea oat seedlings have been planted in Camp Helen and Shell Island, both recreation areas in Bay County, and St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Gulf County. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has provided more money to fund additional sea oat planting, as well as construction of two boardwalks in state parks to protect sand dunes and bird nesting areas.