Restoring Pensacola Bay
penascola bay connects us all
Our History, Our Heritage, Our Future
Long before Pensacola became known for tourism, festivals, or waterfront development, it was known for its maritime commerce. For generations, Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, Perdido Bay, Bayou Texar, Bayou Chico, and the many creeks that feed them supported one of the richest fisheries on the Gulf Coast. Families made their living harvesting oysters, shrimp, blue crabs, mullet, and a remarkable variety of fish. Commercial fishing, deep port trade and boat building helped shape the culture and economy of Pensacola long before many of today's industries existed.
Healthy seagrass beds, oyster reefs, salt marshes, and tidal creeks created ideal nursery habitat for countless marine species. Pensacola earned a reputation as a fisherman's paradise, where residents and visitors could launch a boat, paddle a kayak, cast a line from shore, or spend the day exploring miles of productive waters.
Over time, that ecosystem has faced growing challenges. Urban development, stormwater runoff, habitat loss, erosion, and pollution have degraded many of the natural systems that once filtered and protected our waterways. Too often, our response has been to move stormwater away as quickly as possible instead of treating it before it reaches our bays and bayous.
Pensacola has the opportunity to lead a different way.
As Mayor, Ann Hill will build on years of work restoring our waterways by treating every creek, bayou, wetland, and shoreline as an opportunity. Healthy waterways reduce flooding, improve water quality, strengthen our fisheries, support local businesses, expand outdoor recreation, and make Pensacola more resilient. Restoration is not simply an environmental investment, it is an investment in our economy, our neighborhoods, and our quality of life.
The goal is to restore the natural systems that made our bay one of the Gulf Coast's greatest resources while ensuring future generations can enjoy cleaner water, healthier fisheries, thriving waterfront businesses, and expanded opportunities for boating, paddling, swimming, and fishing.
By working with scientists, fishermen, neighborhood organizations, conservation groups, and regional partners, we can once again make Pensacola Bay known not only for its beauty, but as one of America's premier waterfront communities.
Ann's Record
✔ Founding Board Member, Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program
✔ Led the reopening of Bruce Beach and its living shoreline restoration
✔ Expanded the Pensacola Bay Paddling Trail and Blueway Community
✔ Added new ADA kayak launches and waterfront access
✔ Championed regular water quality monitoring
✔ Supported living shorelines and native habitat restoration
✔ Protected historic public waterfront access
✔ Helped expand public marinas and boating opportunities
✔ Advocated for restoring Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar
✔ Proposed creating a Bayou Texar Restoration Board
✔ Supported projects that improve both flood protection and water quality
✔ Worked to strengthen Pensacola's commercial fishing and maritime economy
✔ Promoted science-based environmental planning through regional partnerships
✔ Protected parks, wetlands, and public access to Pensacola Bay
