Rocky Bayou Aquatic Preserve
Rocky Bayou State Park Aquatic Preserve is recognized as an exceptional water resource of the state. The aquatic preserve is the smallest of the 42 aquatic preserves in Florida, encompassing 367 acres.
Rocky Bayou State Park Aquatic Preserve is recognized as an exceptional water resource of the state. The aquatic preserve is the smallest of the 42 aquatic preserves in Florida, encompassing 367 acres.
Coastal management is implemented through a network of programs and 24 statutes administered by the eight agencies and five water management districts listed below.
"A trip on the Yellow River is like going back in time.
Its tall-forested banks, pristine water quality and productive fishing create a place one can go to be completely surrounded by nature.
The Yellow River Preserve is one of Florida's most precious contributions it has for its future generations."
- Ernie Rivers, River Keeper and Bream Fisherman Associate of Northwest Florida
This part of Florida's Gulf Coast is fringed by bays and inlets, low-energy expansive shallow salt marshes, creeks, mangrove swamps and barrier islands with miles of the whitest sand beaches found anywhere. Ideal for canoeing and kayaking, several Florida rivers empty into the Gulf of Mexico, the ninth largest body of water in the world and one of its most productive fisheries.
Since Colonial times, Americans have depended on the coastal areas for commerce, transportation, food supply, recreation and scenic beauty. By the late 1960s, more than half the nation's population was located near the coasts. User groups competed for access to the nation's coastal resources, and conflicts increased dramatically. Recreational anglers competed with their commercial counterparts. Resorts and residential developments limited the access previously enjoyed by local residents. Declining coastal water quality led to closings of shellfish beds and swimming beaches.
"The Apalachicola River, floodplain and bay comprise one of the most biodiverse and productive riverine and estuarine systems in the northern hemisphere. The historic natural function and cultural heritage of the surrounding communities remain intact much of the way it has been for generations of commercial fishermen on one of Florida's last working waterfronts. This ecosystem and its people are truly an American treasure."
— Dan Tonsmeire, Apalachicola Riverkeeper
"Fort Pickens is a rare taste of old Florida, and its undisturbed natural beauty makes it one of my favorite places to visit on the Gulf Coast." - former U.S. Representative Jeff Miller
Interested in subscribing to DEP newsletters or receiving DEP updates through email?
Sign UpThe Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems.
Learn More