Gulf Power Company volunteers are helping restore nature trails at the Betty and Crawford Rainwater Perdido River Nature Preserve along Perdido River.

The restoration work is part of a long-term partnership with The Nature Conservancy aimed at helping mother nature and promoting eco-tourism in Northwest Florida.

The work by Gulf Power employees will take place Thursday at the 2,300-acre preserve which is part of a protected corridor along both sides of the Perdido River near U.S. 90. Long-term plans for the preserve include adding nature trails for hikes along the Perdido River and a kayak-launch facility with kiosks and boardwalks.

"Part of our mission is to help build strong communities by encouraging environmental stewardship,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power spokesperson. "By helping restore this beautiful preserve and helping restore the native longleaf pine we’re creating a legacy for future generations.”

The preserve is one of many projects receiving grants through Gulf Power and the Southern Company along with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other partners. More than 400 acres of the Perdido preserve has been targeted with grants in recent years.

Grant-funded projects in Florida have helped restore more than 17,700 acres of longleaf forests, planting 10.2 million seedlings, and enhancing more than 122,000 acres of critical habitat in Northwest Florida in areas such as Blackwater River State Forest, Apalachicola National Forest, Eglin Air Force Base, and on private and public lands.

This is the second time this year Gulf Power employees have donated their time at the preserve. In April employees installed a gate and trimmed trees and brush along a trail that also serves as a fire break. Previous efforts included the planting of longleaf pine seedlings and wiregrass.

Longleaf pine forests once blanketed 90 million acres of the Southeast until logging decimated it. Now, about 3 percent of that lush native forest remains. The longleaf ecosystem is a haven for biodiversity, with nearly 600 species of plants — half of those rare species — and is home to bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, gopher tortoises and other wildlife.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 430,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely provide exceptional customer value by delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity while strengthening our communities. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”

###