The Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve encompasses about 16,000 acres of the Yellow River, Blackwater Bay and East Bay, in the western panhandle of Florida. This preserve was designated in 1970 for the primary purpose of preserving the biological resources in the area and maintaining these resources in an essentially natural condition. This pristine preserve is fringed by forested wetlands, marshes, and submerged grasses that provide food and habitat for numerous species of wildlife.

The aquatic preserve is a vital component in the Pensacola Bay System because it has been the least impacted by development and pollution. There are over 3,000 acres of salt and freshwater marshes and approximately 5,000 acres of forested wetlands, which provide filtration from pollutants and serve as natural flood control. The remainder of the preserve isThe uplands bordering the aquatic preserve consist primarily of residential areas and public managed areas. Eglin Air Force Base and the Northwest Florida Water Management District manage almost half of the uplands adjacent to the preserve which help buffer impacts to water quality.

• Yellow River Marsh Aquatic Preserve Map (pdf - 1.84 MB)