West Bay to East Walton
Regional General Permit

The Panama City Field Office assisted with the development of Corps of Engineers Regional General Permit #86 (RGP-86). RGP-86 was cooperatively developed by several State and Federal agencies to address the cumulative effects of existing and anticipated development pressures within a fast growing region of the Florida Panhandle.

The area addressed by the permit is approximately 47,500 acres in southwest Bay County and southeast Walton County. RGP-86 provides a mechanism for addressing the cumulative effects of many potential dredge and fill permits by influencing the extent and intensity of development across the landscape. It is accompanied by a State regulatory mechanism, which is known as an Ecosystem Management Agreement (EMA) and is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Over 28,000 acres in the area will be permanently protected and will benefit several federally listed species. Impacts will be avoided on almost all of the high quality wetlands in the area. Water quality in the West Bay area will be protected. For more information, see the web site of the Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.