To assist with improving collaboration and coordination among the many entities working to manage the natural systems within the Apalachicola River and Bay System, the Apalachicola Watershed Coordination Blueprint Project (AWCB) was initiated to create a trusted source of information in the watershed and to change how interested parties work together within the watershed. The project is in its third year and has utilized a combination of methods to achieve these goals, including an inventory of interested parties; management and restoration plan review; multiple workshops and individual expert interviews; data compilation and analysis; literature review; and funding opportunities review. 

Results of the work to date include identification of restoration priorities, gaps, needs, resources, and team-building approaches for specific projects, such as long-term living shoreline monitoring, slough restoration, fire management, and others. The AWCB project has established a steering committee to facilitate collaboration and project development for Coastal Habitat, Hydrologic, and Upland Habitat Restoration focus areas. To further facilitate partnership-building and ensure gaps and needs are addressed, an online AWCB Information Hub has been created that provides maps, data, and other resources related to restoration projects, interested parties, literature, agency reports, funding opportunities, and other information relevant to ecological restoration activities and needs in the watershed. 

Results of this work help provide insights into collaborative ecological restoration approaches by showcasing innovative ecological restoration and conservation partnerships, projects, and resources in the watershed. The presentation will highlight collaboration success stories, provide attendees with opportunities to engage with the AWCB network, and illuminate opportunities for additional collaboration and partnership-building.