The Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) is the lead recovery and restoration program serving the tri-state area of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Our service area includes all drainages to the Perdido and Suwannee River Basins in Florida and promotes recovery of all listed aquatic species in those drainages.

About Us

Adam Kaeser holding a Gulf sturgeon
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the nation's wildlife management and conservation agency. The Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, established in 1970, is in the Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The office is currently led by Project Leader Chris Metcalf and five additional biologists, as well as two biologists at a sub-office stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. The office is the recovery lead for the Gulf sturgeon and Okaloosa darter. Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office staff conduct research and restoration projects to promote long term conservation benefits for those species. The office provides expertise in monitoring and recovery objectives to upland and aquatic environments for additional listed and at-risk species.

What We Do

Biologists identifying freshwater mussels in Yellow River, FL.
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The Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office designs and implements the monitoring and evaluation of fisheries information to our partners and coordinates our efforts to further conservation in the Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office supports a dynamic aquatic restoration program that addresses limiting factors for target species using a threats assessment road map to prioritize key life history bottlenecks, target critical locations, and identify restoration actions for important aquatic resources.

Services
woman holding survey equipment
Fish Passage Technical and Planning Assistance

The National Fish Passage Program provides financial and technical assistance for projects that improve the ability of fish or other aquatic species to migrate by reconnecting habitat that has been fragmented by a barrier such as a dam or culvert. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists...

Service
Consultation and Technical Assistance
Land Management and Conservation Assistance
Dozens of silver fish swim over a rocky stream bed.
National Fish Habitat Partnership Coordination

The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a national investment strategy designed to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to address the nation’s biggest fish habitat challenges and projects are identified and completed...

Service
Consultation and Technical Assistance
Land Management and Conservation Assistance

Our Organization

Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
Program
Falls Church,VA
A person is walks through a large wide culvert that passes under a gravel road. A small river runs through the culvert.
Across the country, millions of barriers are fragmenting rivers, blocking fish migration, and putting communities at higher risk to flooding. Improving fish passage is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species while building safer infrastructure for communities and...
Program
A view of the Sacramento River. Its flat, blue water is lined by bright green trees and vegetation. Blue skies are overhead.
The National Fish Habitat Partnership is a comprehensive effort to treat the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms. The Partnership is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Funds are leveraged through regional partnerships to...
Program

Our Species

Projects and Research

An Okaloosa darter hovers in clear stream water.
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Working with others is at the core of our operations. The Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation office uses applied sciences and innovative technology to drive today's management practices and enables the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to work effectively with our partners to meet today's complex conservation challenges. Whether it is river and coastal restorations, project planning, working with federal, state, non-governmental organization, or private landowners, effective partnering delivers results. Learn more about our efforts currently underway.

Latest News

Group presentation with powerpoint
Our Partners
Ochlockonee Lunch and Learn
Community members gathered at a local library in Grady County, Georgia to learn about natural resource protection in the Ochlockonee River watershed with staff from Golden Triangle RC&D, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Southern Regional Technical College.
Crayfish in hand
Our Partners
Claws for Celebration
Successful partnership between the City of Panama City, Florida and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will allow for habitat improvement and augmentation of protected Panama City Crayfish on several public city park sites.
Boat on river
Our People
Helping Hands - Region 4 Dive Team
Learn how a collaborative effort between divers and conservationists successfully relocated freshwater mussels in preparation for a riverbank restoration project at Eglin Air Force Base, supporting the health of the Yellow River ecosystem.
Photo of Crooked Creek after a dam removal
Habitat Restoration
Fish Passage and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Fish passage barriers, like a dam removed in Gadsden County, prevent fish, mussels, and other aquatic wildlife from moving freely through waterways. Endangered freshwater mussels can now do their jobs of helping purify the water along Crooked Creek a bit better now that a longstanding dam has...
Staff talking to students on beach
Get Involved
Florida State University Student Career Shadow Day
Students from Florida State University visited the Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office for a career shadow day to learn about agency programs and job opportunities.
Freshwater spring
Recreation
Adventures on the Water
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service meets with Florida Paddling Trails Association members to discuss aquatic conservation, species recovery, and watershed barriers in the Florida panhandle.
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Get Involved

Tagging Gulf sturgeon in Cooper's Basin, FL
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Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. Panama City Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office provides many opportunities for you to help your community and fish and wildlife by doing what you love. We partner with volunteers, youth groups, landowners, neighbors and residents of both urban and rural communities to make a lasting difference. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved!

Location and Contact Information