Alternative Text Description for Aquatic Preserves

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the locations of Aquatic Preserves across Florida. Aquatic Preserves are state-owned sovereign submerged lands that have exceptional biological, aesthetic, and scientific value and are set aside for the benefit of future generations. The map shows these protected areas as blue hatched polygons distributed along Florida's extensive coastline and within major water bodies, illustrating the geographic distribution of areas managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the state of Florida and portions of the northern Gulf of America coast. Major cities labeled on the map include Pensacola in the northwest, Tallahassee in the north-central panhandle, Jacksonville on the northeast Atlantic coast, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the central west coast, Orlando in the central interior, Miami in the southeast, and Cape Coral in the southwest. The map extends from the Alabama-Florida border in the northwest to beyond Miami in the southeast, and from Georgia in the north to the Florida Keys and Straits of Florida in the south. Neighboring states visible include portions of Alabama and Georgia to the north.

KEY INSIGHTS

Aquatic Preserves are predominantly located along Florida's coastal areas, with significant concentrations along the Gulf of America coastline and Atlantic coast. The largest and most prominent preserve area appears along the central and northern Gulf of America coast, extending from the Tampa Bay region northward through the Big Bend area toward the panhandle. Additional notable concentrations occur around Tampa Bay, along portions of the Atlantic coast near Jacksonville, scattered locations along the southwest Gulf coast, and smaller preserves around the Florida Keys and southeast coast. The distribution reflects Florida's extensive coastline and the presence of ecologically significant estuarine and marine environments throughout the state's coastal waters.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Aquatic Preserves

This layer represents state-owned sovereign submerged lands designated as Aquatic Preserves under Chapter 258.39, Florida Statutes.

Aquatic Preserve Areas (blue hatched polygons)

Appearance:

Blue diagonal hatching pattern filling polygon boundaries that delineate preserve areas.

Distribution:

Preserves appear primarily along Florida's Gulf of America and Atlantic coastlines, with the most extensive coverage along the Big Bend region of the Gulf coast from approximately the Tampa area extending northward toward the panhandle.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

Aquatic Preserves follow the irregular coastline and are concentrated in areas with estuarine systems, bays, and seagrass habitats. The preserves generally occupy nearshore waters, coastal embayments, and river systems that connect to coastal areas. The distribution pattern suggests prioritization of areas with significant marine and estuarine ecological value, particularly shallow coastal waters and areas with complex coastal geomorphology.

Overlapping Patterns

The map does not show overlapping features, as it displays only the Aquatic Preserves layer against a base map showing city labels and state boundaries.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All Aquatic Preserves shown on this map are also designated as Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWs). However, three Aquatic Preserves have OFW boundaries that differ from their Aquatic Preserve boundaries: Indian River - Malabar to Vero Beach (which does not include portions of Sebastian and Turkey creeks), Wekiva River (which does not include portions of the St. Johns River), and Big Bend Seagrasses (which excludes certain incorporated and unincorporated areas as specified in OFW rule 62-302.700). These boundary differences are not visually represented in this map. The map focuses on the Aquatic Preserve boundaries and does not display the varying OFW boundary distinctions.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data represents state-owned sovereign submerged lands designated as Aquatic Preserves under Chapter 258.39, Florida Statutes, managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas. Data source layer name: AQUAP_JUN25.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied to this layer. The map displays all Aquatic Preserves in the dataset.

Scale Information:

The map displays a statewide view of Florida showing preserve boundaries at a regional scale appropriate for understanding the overall distribution of Aquatic Preserves across the state.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The data is current as of June 2025 based on the data source layer name.

Limitations:

Three Aquatic Preserves have Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) boundaries that differ from the Aquatic Preserve boundaries shown on this map, as described in OFW rule 62-302.700. The specific boundary differences for Indian River - Malabar to Vero Beach, Wekiva River, and Big Bend Seagrasses are not visually distinguished in this representation.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the western panhandle to the Florida Keys, including both Gulf of America and Atlantic coastal waters where Aquatic Preserves are located. Portions of neighboring Alabama and Georgia are shown for geographic context.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.