Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve - Sustainable Public Use
Aquatic-Preserve Quick links
- Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve
- Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Banana River Aquatic Preserve
- Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve
- Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves
- Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve
- Cape Romano-Ten Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve
- Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve
- Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Fort Pickens Aquatic Preserve
- Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve
- Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- Indian River-Malabar to Vero Beach Aquatic Preserve
- Indian River-Vero Beach to Fort Pierce Aquatic Preserve
- Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve
- Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve
- Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve
- Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve
- Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve
- Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve
- Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve
- Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve
- Nassau River-St. Johns River Marshes and Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserves
- Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve
- North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve
- Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserve
- Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve
- Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve
- Pinellas County Aquatic Preserves
- Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve
- Rocky Bayou Aquatic Preserve
- Rookery Bay Aquatic Preserve
- St. Andrews Aquatic Preserve
- St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve
- St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve
- Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve
- Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve
- All Aquatic-Preserve content
Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve encourages the sustainable use of natural resources while minimizing the user impacts. With only 150 submerged acres contained within the aquatic preserve boundaries, it is imperative to maintain the balance between needs of recreational users and the protection of the natural resource. Popular recreational uses include boating, fishing, tubing, swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking and canoeing, and birding and wildlife observing. Public support and interagency participation are increasingly important in the protection of the natural resource to ensure its existing conditions for future generations.
These are the primary strategies of Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve to encourage sustainable public use:
Facilitate research to identify human use conflicts with natural resources.
Maintain relationships with local law enforcement to understand, prevent, and deter any potential threats to the resources.
Attend meetings with regulatory, Rainbow Springs State Park, and SWFWMD staff to provide updates and discuss relevant issues within the aquatic preserve.
Work with Rainbow Springs State Park and FWC's Law Enforcement Division to ensure the proper use of entrance locations for the aquatic preserve, to discourage improper use and creation of unauthorized access points. This will also aid in the reduction of additional damage to the natural resources.
Work with local resource agencies and vendors to improve education on the responsible use of the unique recreational opportunities within Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve. Educational materials include kiosks and literature available to the public at various locations associated with the aquatic preserve.
Work with adjacent land managers and government agencies to promote expansion of non-consumptive activities (kayaking and nature viewing).