Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection

Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve - Wildlife Protection and Habitat Restoration

Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve is an important natural resource for both wildlife and the people of Florida. From an ecological perspective, the aquatic preserve has an abundance of flora communities that provide excellent habitat for Florida's native fauna. Resource management continues to be one of the most important strategies in maintaining the overall health and success of Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve. Although many resource management needs have remained fairly similar over the last decade, additional needs do arise.

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Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve - DEP Staff - Johnson's Seagrass

Biscayne Bay contains critical habitat for Johnson’s seagrass (Halophila johnsonii), the first and only marine plant listed under the Endangered Species Act

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Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve_DEP Staff_View of marsh at Pellicer Creek

A view of the water at Pellicer Creek

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Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve - Water Quality Monitoring

Water quality is one of the primary issues of importance for Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve. Without adequate safeguards, historical land use or changes in current land uses often lead to degradation of water quality through increased nutrient loads. The aquatic preserve has experienced changes in water quality that have negatively impacted natural habitats and wildlife, as well as decreased the aesthetic benefit for public use.

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Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve - Sustainable Public Use

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.

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Rainbow Springs Aquatic Preserve

"Our springs have been referred to as 'liquid bowls of light.' When you visit Rainbow Springs you never leave unchanged."

-Jeff Sowards, Aquatic Preserve Manager

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Beaches Funding Audits

2015 Economic Evaluation of Florida’s Investment in Beaches

Office of Economic and Demographic Research: Economic Evaluation of Florida’s Investment in Beaches (January 2015)

At the request of the Legislature, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research completed an economic analysis of Florida’s statewide Beach Management Program. The scope of the evaluation included the following:

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Clean and Resilient Marina

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Beaches Funding Documents

The Beach Management Funding Assistance program maintains reports and documents that are available for download. For inquiries or to obtain documents from previous years, contact Beaches_Funding@FloridaDEP.gov.

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Apalachicola Reserve Wednesday Talk - Wildflowers

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2015 Economic Evaluation of Florida’s Investment in Beaches

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