Message From The Manager

Each of the aquatic preserves within the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves offers a unique visit of protected submerged state lands. The Indian River Lagoon is a lagoonal estuary with several small freshwater tributaries and a limited connection to the ocean through broadly spaced inlets. The Indian River Lagoon region, which comprises more than a third of Florida’s east coast, includes three major water bodies: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and the Indian River. The combination of water bodies results in a long narrow lagoonal estuary system approximately 156 miles in length. Within the Indian River Lagoon region, a broad variety of natural community types, watershed and drainage features, connections to the Atlantic Ocean and complex hydrodynamics combine to create a complex landscape unique among Florida’s estuaries.  

A visit to one of the seven managed aquatic preserves and you may see healthy mangroves, seagrass beds, spoil islands, mudflats, oyster bars and freshwater river systems. The overlapping boundaries of two biotic zones, the temperate Carolinian zone and the sub-tropical Caribbean zone occur within the Indian River Lagoon region. The combination of these two zones, along their associated plants and animals, distinguishes the Indian River Lagoon as one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. Biodiversity, habitat mosaics, aesthetic value and recreational opportunities are among many of the reasons worthy of the continued protection for the enjoyment of future generations.  From the office of The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves, we hope you enjoy your aquatic preserve experience. While you’re out on the water, you may even see Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve staff out bird monitoring collecting oyster data or assisting with spoil island recreational needs.

Sincerely, 

Matthew Anderson