St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program

09/29/2026

A super huge thank you to all of our Race for the Bays 2026 sponsors! As we wrap up Race for the Bays 2026, we want to give one more shoutout to all the businesses that went above and beyond to support this year’s event. Your generosity not only helped make this race a success but also supports the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program's work throughout the year. Through partnerships like yours, we can continue to protect and restore our bays while inspiring stewardship across our community. Your investment creates lasting impacts that reach far beyond race day.

Thank you for helping us run for the bays!

09/25/2026

Were you waiting to see what the weather had in store before signing up for Race for the Bays?

Well… looks like it’s time to lace up! We're in for a beautiful autumn morning, so there’s no better time to join us. Grab a friend, enjoy a beautiful morning at Conservation Park, and Race for the Bays!

Sign up here: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/PanamaCityBeach/5KForTheBays

09/24/2026

Celebrate National Estuaries Week this Saturday with a Race for the Bays. Whether you’re racing for a personal best, enjoying a morning outside, or just looking for a fun way to support our local area, there’s an option for everyone.
It’s not too late to sign up! Lace up, bring a friend, and let's celebrate our bays together.
Register Here: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/PanamaCityBeach/5KForTheBays

09/21/2026

It’s National Estuaries Week!
Every year, we celebrate the estuaries that connect our communities to the water and support the places we call home. This year, we’re taking a closer look at what our estuary does for us.
From supporting our local economy and protecting shorelines to providing important nursery habitat for fish and other wildlife, our estuary provides benefits that support our communities, wildlife, and way of life.

09/18/2026

Our coastlines and waterways are connected, and keeping them clean takes all of us! This International Coastal Cleanup Day, get outside and join a cleanup near you to help remove litter and keep it from making its way into our local waters.
We’ve rounded up several cleanup events happening throughout Gulf and Bay counties, and there are plenty of opportunities to get involved! Grab your friends and family and spend a little time giving back to the places we all enjoy.
Lake Powell Community Alliance Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves

09/09/2026

Gulf County friends: looking for a way to get involved this International Coastal Cleanup Day? The Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves is hosting cleanup events at 5 locations! What park will you choose?

🌎 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿.

Litter left along our beaches, parks, roadsides, and waterways can eventually find its way into our coastal environment. On 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟵, we have an opportunity to do something about it.

Join the 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁. 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 for the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗽 and become part of a worldwide effort to reduce marine debris and protect our oceans and waterways.

📅 Saturday, September 19
⏰ 8–11 a.m.
📍 Five local cleanup locations

Every bag filled and every piece of litter removed adds up. 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲! 🌊💙

09/02/2026

This September, your b**r can help support our bays! Every b**r you purchase at History Class Brewing Company throughout the month helps support the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program and our work to protect and restore our bays. Explore Historic Downtown Panama City, grab a b**r, enjoy good company, and support a great cause while you’re at it. Cheers to our bays!

In September, 25¢ from every History Class b**r you buy, goes directly to St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program

06/10/2026

Want to play a direct role in protecting our bays? We're looking for volunteers to help collect water samples for two different programs! 1) to support monitoring of harmful algal blooms and 2) to track overall water quality conditions throughout the watershed.
Whether you're interested in volunteering occasionally or taking on a more regular monitoring role, we can help match you with the program that fits your availability and level of commitment. Your efforts will help provide valuable data to support decision-makers and protect the health of our local waterways.
Ready to get involved? Apply today at:
https://sasjbep.org/water-monitoring-volunteer-form/

06/03/2026

Have you ever noticed what looks like a silvery blade of grass gliding near the surface of the water? That might be a juvenile Atlantic Needlefish! These sleek, shiny fish can reach lengths of up to 2 feet. They begin their lives in rivers and estuaries like ours and may return to spawn. These predatory needles prey on shrimp and small fish with their razor-sharp teeth. Check out the graphic below for more fun facts about the Atlantic Needlefish!

06/01/2026

Our Safeguarding Our Bays project was recently featured by Enviropod! Funded by NOAA and utilizing Enviropod products, this project is helping reduce litter in the St. Andrew Bay watershed through stormwater improvements and community engagement efforts. Check out the article to learn more about the project and its impact on our local waterways:

Explore EnviroPod case studies showing how LittaTrap and EnviroBasin capture plastic, trash, sediment. Real-world results for cleaner waterways and compliance.