Management Programs of Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve

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Resource Management

Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve staff have helped identify appropriate locations and dredge depths for public navigation channels within the preserve as well as setting up two No Internal Combustion Motor Zones. Staff are also involved in mapping resources within the bay and helping to organize clean-ups to protect the bay and keep it beautiful.

Education and Outreach

Since staffing levels have been reduced, Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve staff focus their outreach efforts on educational signs (such as alerting users of seagrasses), participation in local events and organizing wading trips. During these wading trips, participants can meander through mudflats, explore seagrass beds and use nets and field microscopes to uncover and study animals such as starfish and seahorses. Aquatic Preserve staff have also helped educate local law enforcement on changes in seagrass protection legislation.

Research and Monitoring

With the help of partners and volunteers, Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve staff monitor water quality, seagrasses and wading and diving bird nesting colonies. Water quality monitoring includes three continuous water quality monitoring stations and a volunteer water quality monitoring network.

Last updated: June 17, 2010