The public is invited to learn about the future of the Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar Watershed Management Plan during an open house event Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 5:30 p.m. the Bayview Community Center, located at 2000 E. Lloyd St. The event is free to attend but registration is encouraged. One or more Escambia County Commissioners may be in attendance.
The plan was developed over several months of planning, citizen input, data collection and analysis. The open house will showcase the final Watershed Management Plan which outlines specific improvements, policy changes and benchmarks to restore the Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar watershed. In addition, the open house will feature three projects voted on by the community as priorities for the waterway. The open house will also include opportunities for citizens to learn about and join community organizations supporting the watershed restoration.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson, who championed the project as Escambia County Commissioner and as City of Pensacola Mayor, said the event was the culmination of months of work by the project team, and years of work by stakeholders, community and elected leaders to bring attention to improving and restoring the unique urban watershed.
“The Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar watershed has been an important part of our community’s economy and history. Now we need to protect its future. The open house event will give the community a chance to learn about what it will take – and more importantly, what we can all do – to preserve that future and restore this watershed for future generations to enjoy.”
Escambia County District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender, whose district encompasses Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar, noted that while the Watershed Management Plan was coming to completion, the work of restoring the watershed was just beginning.
“Now that we have a road map for restoring this watershed, it’s time to get to work. It won’t happen overnight, and it will take all of us at the City, the County, the environmental agencies and community organizations to fulfill this vision. I hope everyone will join us at this open house event and find your own place and your own way to participate in restoring this watershed.”
For more information or questions, please contact team@restorethewatershed.com or the Escambia County RESTORE Coordinator at 850-595-0820.