Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance

For 30 years, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance has worked alongside our community to protect and restore the waterways that make Northwest Florida such a special place to live, work, and explore. Now, we’re growing that work.

Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is becoming the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Estuary Program (CBAEP), reflecting an expanded role in bringing together science, restoration, education, and community partnerships across the Choctawhatchee watershed.

Our commitment to healthy local waterways remains the same.

We’ll continue the hands-on work you know us for, restoring habitat, monitoring water quality, conducting watershed research, educating students, and creating opportunities for our community to get involved. What’s growing is our ability to connect that work across the watershed.

As CBAEP, we’ll help bring local governments, scientists, nonprofits, businesses, residents, and other partners together around shared priorities, helping resources go further, and conservation projects move forward more effectively. Healthy waterways support healthy communities, and protecting the Choctawhatchee watershed takes all of us.

Welcome to the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Estuary Program. Learn more at basinalliance.org

Meet July's Fish of the Month: the Flagfin Shiner! 🐟

Don't let its small size fool you, this colorful native fish plays an important role in the health of our local waterways. Found in clear, slow-moving streams throughout the Choctawhatchee watershed, the Flagfin Shiner thrives in areas with clean water and healthy aquatic vegetation, making it a great indicator of a healthy ecosystem.

Learn more about this fascinating native species and why protecting its habitat matters at https://basinalliance.org/july-fish-of-the-month-flagfin-shiner-pteronotropis-signipinnis/

We’re thrilled to share the incredible lineup for the 2026 Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Photo Contest Calendar! 📸✨ Each month features breathtaking photography from our talented community members:

January: Bill Horn
February: David Bailey
March: David Bailey
April: Sarah Brock
May: John Cooper
June: Jessica Temple
July: Jennifer Pawlik
August: Anna Brotzman
September: Whitney Walker (3rd Place Winner)
October: Richard S. Ives (1st Place Winner)
November: Richard S. Ives
December: Randal R. Ketchem (2nd Place Winner)

A huge congratulations to all of our featured photographers! Your work helps us celebrate the beauty and importance of our local environment. 🌿

Campers from Unplugged Adventures' Camp Terra Fauna spent the day making a difference for our local waterways through hands-on conservation work alongside CBA. 🌊🌿

As part of their field experience, middle school students helped maintain living shorelines by bagging oyster shell, caring for plants at CBA's plant pond, creating and placing smooth cordgrass plant bags, and adding to the oyster reef at Cessna Landing.

Along the way, campers learned about water quality, living shorelines, and the important role these restoration projects play in protecting our coastal ecosystems. Thank you to these young environmental stewards for helping create a healthier future for our watershed! 💙

On National Nonprofit Day, we’re proud to share CBA’s mission: to promote swimmable, fishable waterways in our community through monitoring, education, restoration, and research. 💙🌊

But this work is only possible because of supporters like you. Your donation helps CBA continue protecting the rivers, lakes, and Bay that make our community special. Donate today at https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/8090/donations/new?a=2780446/

Fishing line belongs on the reel—not in our waterways. 🎣♻️

CBA’s Monofilament Recycling Program has expanded throughout Fort Walton Beach with new recycling bins at local fishing spots, including:
•Bay Drive Access
•FWB Landing Park
•Hollywood and Bay Access
•Liza Jackson Park
•Sound Park
•Walkedge Boat Ramp

Discarded fishing line can harm wildlife, but recycling your used line helps keep our waterways safer.

Next time you’re fishing, look for a recycling bin and help protect the Choctawhatchee Basin. 💙

Students at the Walton County 4-H Deep Dive Summer Camp spent time giving back to our local waterways through a hands-on conservation project. They created smooth cordgrass plant bags that were added to the living shoreline at Cessna Landing, helping strengthen the shoreline while supporting important coastal habitat. 🌿

Campers also explored the area's marine life by collecting and identifying local species while learning about fish identification, water quality, and the importance of protecting our coastal ecosystems.

Looking for a fun day outdoors with the family? 🌊

Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day is filled with hands-on activities that make learning about our local environment exciting for all ages. Try fish printing, meet local conservation organizations, explore interactive exhibits, and discover simple ways to help protect our waterways.

Make plans to join us on Saturday, September 26!