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Aquatic Preserves

St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve

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St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve is situated on the northwest coast of Florida, approximately 35 miles southeast of Panama City and 100 miles southwest of Tallahassee. The bay is nestled between Cape San Blas to the south and the tip of the St. Joseph Peninsula to the north, opening into the Gulf of America through a relatively narrow passage. 

History

The history of St. Joseph Bay is deeply intertwined with the rise and fall of the town of St. Joseph, founded in 1835 and once the largest in Florida's territory. Despite its rapid growth and significance as the host of Florida's first Constitutional Convention in 1838, the town was devastated by a yellow fever outbreak in 1841 and subsequently abandoned. A hurricane in 1843 further destroyed the remnants of the city. In the early 20th century, tourism began to emerge in the area, with fish camps and a bathhouse at Eagle Harbor. The peninsula also served as a military training ground during World War II. In 1967, the area was dedicated as T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, and in 1970, St. Joseph Bay was officially designated as an Aquatic Preserve.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer Opportunities 

Volunteer opportunities at St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve are primarily coordinated through the Friends of the St. Joseph Bay Preserves, a nonprofit citizen support organization. Activities include clean-up events, turtle patrol and bird surveys.

Events

  • International Coastal Cleanup
  • Bay Day

Educational Opportunities

Staff members distribute informational pamphlets and brochures about the preserve's resources and conservation efforts. An informational kiosk has been installed at Stump Hole Kayak Launch to enhance visitor awareness. 

Scientific Information

St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve holds significant archaeological and historical value, with the Division of Historical Resources identifying 27 sites and structures in the vicinity, suggesting the presence of even more undiscovered sites. These include the Confederate Salt Works, the Black’s Island Lighthouse and the shipwreck of the S.S. Florida, a mid-19th century steamer. The Old Cedar site, a well-preserved Weeden Island shell midden, stands out for its abundance of conch and whelk remains, unusual for this type of site in northwest Florida. Richardson Hammock, another notable site, represents a large shell midden spanning various cultural periods from 300 BC to 1500 AD.

Geologically, St. Joseph Bay is part of the Gulf Coast Lowlands, characterized by low elevations, poor drainage and evidence of historical sea level fluctuations. The onshore terrain is predominantly flat with a gentle slope toward the coast, composed of Pleistocene and Holocene deltaic and marine sands over Upper Miocene limestone. Offshore, the submarine plain slopes seaward. The bay itself is formed by a narrow spit extending from Cape San Blas, shaped by fluvial deposition and shore zone processes. The presence of extensive offshore shoals plays a significant role in influencing wave energy and controlling the wave climate in the region. 

St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve boasts a vibrant and diverse ecosystem, characterized by clear, high-salinity waters and a unique blend of habitats. Lush seagrass meadows, covering approximately one-sixth of the bay bottom, serve as crucial nurseries and foraging grounds for numerous fish and invertebrate species. Extensive salt marshes fringe the bay, providing vital habitat and contributing to the bay's productivity. Scattered coral and mollusk formations and newly established patches of mangroves further enrich the habitat diversity, supporting a wide array of marine life, including commercially and recreationally important species like scallops, blue crabs, shrimp and various finfishes. 

Wildlife Habitat and Ecosystem Types
Seagrass beds, saltmarsh, unconsolidated benthic substrate

Nesting and Migrating Birds
Osprey, brown pelicans, egrets, herons and several species of plovers. Winter migratory species include loons, gannets and white pelicans.

Mammals
Florida manatees, bottlenose dolphins

Reptiles
Green sea turtles, Kemp's ridley sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles 

Fish
Sheepshead, spotted seatrout, tarpon, mullet, spotted eagle rays, Atlantic stingrays, bonnethead sharks

Other Species
Blue crabs, horse conch, lightning whelks, pen shells, bay scallops and variegated urchins. 

A full list of species can be found in the management plan.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts at St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve focus on protecting water quality, preserving seagrass habitats, managing listed species and mitigating the impacts of human activities. Water quality monitoring programs track key parameters like nutrients, turbidity and salinity to assess the bay's health and identify potential threats. Seagrass monitoring programs track the distribution, abundance and health of seagrass beds, a vital component of the bay's ecosystem. Management efforts for listed species like sea turtles and shorebirds involve nesting surveys, habitat protection and public outreach to minimize human disturbance. These conservation efforts are crucial for maintaining the bay's ecological integrity, supporting its diverse wildlife populations and ensuring the long-term sustainability of its valuable resources.

  • Seagrass Restoration and Monitoring: Restoration of seagrass lost due to propellor scarring, followed by monitoring, is essential to understanding and mitigating the impacts of boating activity on the local seagrass habitat.
  • Propeller Scarring Prevention: Measures to reduce propeller scarring, caused by boats damaging seagrass beds, include education and outreach initiatives and potential marking of shallow areas.
  • Water Quality Monitoring: Ongoing monitoring of water quality parameters, including nutrient levels, helps to assess the health of the ecosystem and identify potential threats from pollution.
  • Stormwater Management: Collaborations with local and state agencies aim to improve stormwater management practices and reduce runoff pollution into the harbor. 

Ongoing Research

  • Seagrass Mapping: Using aerial imagery, scientists map the distribution and abundance of seagrass beds to understand their changes over time and guide conservation efforts.
  • Water Quality Analysis: Researchers analyze water samples to monitor nutrient levels, algal content and other water quality parameters to assess ecosystem health.
  • Benthic Community Studies: Studies of the organisms living on the seafloor provide insights into the overall health and biodiversity of the harbor ecosystem.
  • Shorebird Monitoring: Ongoing monitoring of shorebird nesting sites and populations helps to understand their habitat use, breeding success and potential threats.
  • Sea Turtle Monitoring: Researchers and volunteers track sea turtle nesting activity, monitor nests and gather data on sea turtle populations to aid conservation efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions

Year-round

No

Yes. Aquatic preserves often are adjacent to other conservation areas that may have nesting birds or other easily disturbed wildlife. Please do not let your pet run free in areas not designated for pets, and please pick up after your pet to avoid hazardous pathogens in our coastal waters. 

Follow current FWC saltwater fishing regulations.

Follow current FWC boating regulations.

Seagrass is protected within aquatic preserves; avoid shallow waters and raise motor if over seagrass. Damage to seagrass can result in a fine up to $1,000. 

Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

ADA accommodations are specific to each access point and the managing entity for that site.

There are no fees required by the preserve, but specific access points may charge access fees to those sites.  

Partner Groups

  • St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Florida Park Service
  • Northwest Florida Water Management District
  • Friends of St. Andrew Bay
  • Friends of St. Andrews State Park
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program