Aquatic Preserve Program

St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve

St. Joseph Bay is a large body of water mostly enclosed by St. Joseph Peninsula. The St. Joseph Peninsula is 17 miles long and has an average width of 1,000 feet. It is formed from the Cape San Blas shoals and the historical migration of the Apalachicola River. The cape and the spit sediments are quartz sands originally supplied by the Apalachicola River. Waves and other shore zone processes have put the beaches in a constant state of change over the last hundred years.

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Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve - Water Quality

Water quality monitoring plays a major role in the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserves' (BBSAP) understanding of natural and human impacts on coastal waters. Researchers use water quality data to document short- and long-term changes within the water column in an effort to quantify the spatial and temporal variability and trends. These are applied both seasonally and as a function of tidal forcing, of the selected abiotic parameters (e.g. establish baseline data) within BBSAP.

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Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve- Management and Protection of Seagrasses

Seagrass beds are one of the most productive habitats found in the world. The rich biodiversity that makes up seagrass habitat plays a critical ecological and environmental role to Florida's coastal communities. Seagrasses improve water clarity by stabilizing bottom sediments and absorbing nutrients from the water column. They reduce coastal erosion by helping to diffuse wave energy during storm events. Economically, seagrass beds are of critical importance to Florida's commercial and recreational fisheries.

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Oklawaha River Aquatic Preserve

The Oklawaha and Silver rivers offer us a unique glimpse into our past that must be protected for future generations to cherish." - Jeff Sowards, Aquatic Preserve Manager

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Rocky Bayou Aquatic Preserve

Map of 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.

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Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve

"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

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Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve

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Apalachicola Bay Aquatic Preserve

"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

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Fort Pickens Aquatic Preserve

"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

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St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve

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