Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Waters that Work, Play and Live
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection manages more than 5.3 million acres of submerged lands and coastal uplands in Florida.
Much of Florida's distinctive character lies in the beauty of its coastline. The best of our coastal landscapes as well as several inland waters is set aside for protection as aquatic preserves. Florida's natural beauty is a major attraction for both tourists and residents. Ironically, these coastal and inland resources that draw people to Florida are potentially endangered by the increased population pressures. Aquatic preserves protect Florida's living waters to ensure they will always be home for bird rookeries and fish nurseries, freshwater springs and salt marshes, and seagrass meadows and mangrove forests.
These aquatic preserves — located throughout Florida — offer a window into the state's natural and cultural heritage. Local leaders long recognized and worked to protect these critically important and ecologically sensitive areas and in 1975, with growing appreciation for their environmental diversity and alluring beauty, Florida enacted the Aquatic Preserve Act. This Act brought together existing and future aquatic preserves under one management program to ensure "their aesthetic, biological and scientific values may endure for the enjoyment of future generations."
Artist Joan Matey joined education staff at the monthly nature-journaling class. The subject this month was the animal effigies or adornos in our archaeological display: a pelican, a turtle, and an owl. First, sketches were made of an animal on display in the nature center that meant something to the journaler, then paritcipants gathered natural materials to use as tools.
On Sept. 23, staff from the Coral Protection and Restoration Program (CPR) and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) conducted a site visit to Keys Marine Lab (KML). The tour consisted of a brief history of the origins of the grounds and a look at the various holding systems at KML. The facility is a hub that provides the tools and infrastructure for academic, research and restoration groups to conduct their work.
Out of hundreds of photographs submitted from National Estuarine Research Reserves across the country, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Eco Tour partner Rising Tide Explorers proudly brought home top honors in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) 2026 National Estuaries Week Photo Contest.