In 2004, Tampa Bay Watch, in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD), initiated the Living Shoreline Pilot Project at MacDill Air Force Base. The project aimed to evaluate various materials—Oyster Reef Balls, Oyster Shell Bags, and Loose Shell—and configurations to determine their effectiveness in halting shoreline erosion in the area. Later that year, coastal marshes were introduced behind the pilot project to assess whether the living shoreline could safeguard these critical habitats

In 2010, Tampa Bay Watch achieved a significant milestone by planting and restoring 500,000 sq ft (approximately 11.4 acres) of coastal marshes at MacDill AFB. By integrating hard substrates with coastal marshes, Tampa Bay Watch discovered an effective method for regenerating these marshes and preventing erosion.

In 2018, Tampa Bay Watch achieved another significant milestone by creating over 10,560 feet (more than 2 miles) of linear living shoreline at MacDill AFB.

In 2023, Tampa Bay Watch achieved a milestone by deploying over 10,000 Oyster Reef Balls at MacDill AFB as part of our Living Shorelines initiative. Each Oyster Reef Ball, once encrusted with oysters, can filter up to 50,000 gallons of water daily. This means that these 10,000 ORBs collectively have the potential to filter up to 500 million gallons of water in the Tampa Bay Estuary every day.