What is the mission of CBA?

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance 

is a non-profit organization responsible 

for sustaining healthy local waterways 

through monitoring, education, 

restoration, and research. For 20 years, 

CBA has promoted water stewardship 

within the Choctawhatchee watershed, 

growing the network of supporters who 

join in CBA’s mission to provide a future 

for these precious, natural resources.

Why is it important to monitor the 

waterways?

The health of our water resources is 

the foundation for our identity and our 

economic security. Whether it’s fishing, 

tourism, or our quality of life, everything 

depends upon a healthy watershed. 

As natural and human-caused threats 

continue to impact our local waters, 

citizens need to become active stewards 

of these precious resources to ensure that 

future generations can enjoy them. Water 

quality monitoring empowers citizens to 

collect data on their favorite places within 

Choctawhatchee Bay and the coastal dune 

lakes, and allows CBA to monitor the 

watershed for problem areas. Once areas 

of poor water quality are identified, steps 

can be taken by the community to rectify 

the issues.

How is CBA funded?

CBA is a program of Northwest Florida 

State College. While we receive in-kind 

services from the college, including 

office space and financial audit, all our 

programs and staff are grant, donor, 

and contract funded. We are able to 

accept tax-deductible donations through 

the Northwest Florida State College 

Foundation.

What is the most rewarding part 

of your involvement with the 

organization?

As a native of Fort Walton Beach, I 

grew up wading, swimming, and fishing 

in Cinco Bayou. When I grew older, I 

worked at my family’s marina on Destin 

Harbor, where I arrived at work in the 

morning and watched the sun rise above 

Holiday Isle as the charter boats stopped 

to get fuel and bait as they headed out into 

the Gulf of Mexico. These experiences 

form the foundation of my identity as 

a water person. Working with CBA, I 

experience all of the other wondrous 

creeks, bayous, lakes, and rivers that make 

up our watershed. I am privileged to be 

able to care for these local treasures and to 

share my love of them with a community 

of people who are passionate about 

making sure that future generations can 

enjoy our waterways, too.

Is CBA involved in any upcoming 

events?

We have weekly Bag & Build events 

for volunteers who would like to build 

brand new oyster reefs with their own two 

hands. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy 

time outside in our beautiful watershed 

with your friends and family.

We are also on the lookout for new 

Oyster Gardeners. If you have a dock, you 

have everything you need to grow your 

own oysters to be transplanted into one of 

our restoration sites. Email cba@nwfsc.

edu for more information.

What is one thing you want readers to 

know about CBA?

The Choctawhatchee Bay is the heart of 

our community, our environment, and our 

economy. Whether it’s through becoming 

a member, volunteering, or taking special 

care of their waterfront property, people 

of all ages can work towards a cleaner 

watershed.

Interview with Alison McDowell 

Director – Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance

Be it fishing, tourism, or quality of life,

everything depends upon a healthy watershed. 

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