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"Ft. 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."
United States Congressman Jeff Miller
Management activities at Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves have been discontinued as of
July 1, 2011.
Although the aquatic preserves will remain designated, all coastal education and resource monitoring programs at closed locations have
been eliminated. The Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves office serves four aquatic preserves: Fort Pickens Aquatic Preserve,
Rocky Bayou Aquatic Preserve, St. Andrews Aquatic Preserve and Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve. These areas are no longer actively
managed and the resource management, research and monitoring, and outreach and education programs at these aquatic preserves has ended.
Permit review by DEP regulatory offices will still be active
through the Northwest District office.
Although seven aquatic preserve offices remain open, it is
not possible for the remaining staff to absorb the closed
programs into the organizational structure.
This page describes former management programs which will be restarted should revenue streams improve.
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Seagrass Restoration Project
The Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves office was awarded a Prop
Scar Restoration grant from NOAA through the Gulf of Mexico Foundation.
A small amount of the seagrass, Halodule was transplanted within
the preserve in the eastern portion of Big Lagoon, adjacent to the Gulf
Island National Seashore. Educational signs consisting of large maps of
the area, showing grass flats, restricted areas, and landmarks were made
and placed at local boat ramps.
Continuous Water Quality Monitoring
The NWF Aquatic Preserve office worked with the Gulf Islands National
Seashore to maintain a water quality monitoring station near the pass at
Ft. Pickens. This station constantly recorded temperature, salinity,
water clarity, PH, and dissolved oxygen. |
2012 State of Florida