Escambia Breaks Ground On Perdido River Boat Ramp

February 11, 2015

Tuesday, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and  Escambia County officials attended the groundbreaking for the Perdido River Boat Ramp. The new boat ramp is the final project to be completed for Phase I of the state of Florida’s Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) early restoration projects.

All Phase I projects are located in Escambia County and include boat ramp restorations at Galvez Landing and Navy Point, the brand new Mahogany Mill Boat Ramp and Park, and an 8.1 mile dune restoration project on Pensacola Beach.

“The department is excited to wrap up Phase I of the NRDA projects,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “We look forward to continuing to work with local communities on the other phases of early restoration projects to ensure that damaged resources are restored and recreational opportunities are enhanced.”

In April 2011, BP agreed to provide $1 billion to the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees for early restoration projects. Each trustee, including the state of Florida, is able to access $100 million for early restoration projects that meet the criteria described in the framework agreement. Florida’s $100 million is allocated to Phases I, II, and III of early restoration, but there are also federal dollars available.

“We are happy to be breaking ground on the Perdido River Boat Ramp project and celebrating the finalization of the first phase of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment early restoration funds for Escambia County,” said Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson. “This will be one of the finest boat ramps to access Perdido River and will be a huge benefit to District 1 and Escambia County.”

The Perdido River boat ramp was designed by Pensacola-based Hatch Mott MacDonald and will cost approximately $1.2 million for actual construction, $2.3 million total with land acquisition costs.

Roads, Inc. of Northwest Florida, a Cantonment-based company, will construct the boat ramp. The boat ramp is expected to be completed by fall of 2015 and will be located on the north side of Old Highway 90 on the Perdido River.

Comments

10 Responses to “Escambia Breaks Ground On Perdido River Boat Ramp”

  1. Ginger on April 25th, 2016 12:01 pm

    We tried out the new launch for the first time yesterday and it was very nice!!!!!!

  2. Monty on August 11th, 2015 4:39 pm

    This is another crazy idea Florida has on how to spend money they don’t have. They are putting Palm trees up For some ungodly reason. I believe they just like to spend money they don’t have so they can raise taxes

  3. perdido fisherman on February 14th, 2015 11:58 am

    429SCJ, you don’t want to be in a tube past muscogee, the river becomes very deeop and slow with no place to stop just south of the interstate about half a mile. A canoe will be okay but like I said, there is no place to stop, no sand bars like you have North of Muscogee, south of Muscogee the river starts to change in a significant way just past the muscogee bridge down river.

  4. chris in Molino on February 13th, 2015 9:22 pm

    Why, is a boat ramp being built next to Rubys at all ? Drive the 2 miles to Seminole, Rubys, or go back towards Pensacola across from weigh station on Perdido WMA to a nice recreation and concrete boat lauch. Damn, put it in Molino or north.

  5. 429SCJ on February 13th, 2015 9:37 am

    I would like to see one up at Walnut Hill. It would be nice to be able to drop ones canoe, or tube, in and travel all the way down to Ruby’s. Currently you have to drag your gear through tick infested forest to get to the river near Brushy Creek in the Walnut Hill/Enon metro.

  6. William on February 11th, 2015 8:49 am

    >>>How come the county website says it will cost $2.3 million?
    That is a big difference then the $1.2 mil reported above.

    Thanks for pointing out that difference. The story above was based a press release yesterday from the Florida Department of Environmental management, which stated $1.2 million.

    I checked with the county…they are using $2.3 million to include the cost of land acquisition, which DEP did not.

    I”ve updated the story to reflect both numbers with an explanation.

  7. jeeperman on February 11th, 2015 7:44 am

    It is basically right in front of Ruby’s Fish Camp.
    Northeast corner of the Mobile Hwy bridge over the river.

    P.S.
    How come the county website says it will cost $2.3 million?
    That is a big difference then the $1.2 mil reported above.

  8. river runt on February 11th, 2015 7:43 am

    Lets see, story says Hwy 90 and Perdido River.
    How about beside Rubys Fish Camp. Ala/Fla line on Hwy 90.

  9. Resident on February 11th, 2015 6:50 am

    Where is the location of this new boat ramp? Amazing that all of the news stories I’ve seen fail to mention that…

  10. river runt on February 11th, 2015 5:09 am

    They need to look at the chain link fence as you come out from the location. It runs by Hwy 90 and creates a blind spot when entering onto 90.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News