Alternative Text Description for Aquatic Preserves

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays Florida's Aquatic Preserves, which are state-owned sovereign submerged lands designated for protection due to their exceptional biological, aesthetic, and scientific value. The map shows the spatial distribution of these protected aquatic areas along Florida's extensive coastline and in some inland water bodies. The preserves are managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas for the benefit of future generations.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida and portions of adjacent states including southern Georgia and Alabama. Major cities labeled include Pensacola in the northwest, Tallahassee in the north-central region, Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa on the west coast, Palm Coast on the east coast, and Cape Coral and Miami in the southern portion of the state. The map extends south to include the Florida Keys and surrounding waters. The Gulf of America borders Florida's western and northwestern coasts, while the Atlantic Ocean borders the eastern coast. The Straits of Florida are labeled in the southern portion of the map. Notable protected areas labeled include Apalachicola National Forest in the northwest, Everglades National Park in the south, Dry Tortugas National Park west of the Keys, and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge in the lower Keys.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Aquatic Preserves are predominantly concentrated along Florida's coastal regions, with the most extensive coverage occurring along the Gulf of America coast from the Big Bend region (north of Tampa) extending northward and westward toward the Panhandle. A notable concentration of preserves appears in the Big Bend coastal area where the peninsula meets the Panhandle. Additional clusters occur around the Tampa Bay area, throughout the Florida Keys and southern tip of the peninsula, and in scattered locations along both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The interior of Florida shows minimal aquatic preserve coverage, with preserves focused primarily in coastal and near-coastal waters. This distribution reflects the concentration of exceptional aquatic habitats along Florida's extensive shoreline, particularly in estuarine and seagrass-rich coastal waters.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Aquatic Preserves Layer

This layer represents state-designated protected aquatic areas throughout Florida's coastal and some inland waters.

Aquatic Preserves (blue crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

Areas are depicted with a light blue diagonal crosshatch pattern overlaying the water bodies.

Distribution:

Preserves appear primarily along coastal waters on both the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean sides of Florida, with the highest concentration along the Big Bend region of the Gulf coast, scattered locations around Tampa Bay, areas near Pensacola, portions of the Florida Keys, and select locations along the Atlantic coast near Jacksonville and in southern coastal areas.

Notable locations:

The largest continuous coverage appears along the Big Bend coastline extending from north of Tampa toward the Apalachicola area. Significant preserve areas are also visible around the Tampa Bay region, throughout the island chains of the Florida Keys, near Cape Coral in southwest Florida, and in scattered patches along both coasts. Some small inland water body preserves appear in northern Florida near Tallahassee.

Spatial patterns:

Aquatic Preserves follow coastal contours and encompass estuaries, bays, and nearshore waters. They appear as elongated strips paralleling the shoreline in many locations, particularly along the Big Bend coast. In areas with complex coastal geography such as Tampa Bay and the Keys, the preserves form more irregular patterns that follow the intricate shoreline configurations and island formations.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All Aquatic Preserves shown on this map are also designated as Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWs), providing an additional layer of water quality protection. However, three Aquatic Preserves have OFW boundaries that differ from the Aquatic Preserve boundaries shown here. The Indian River Aquatic Preserve from Malabar to Vero Beach excludes portions of Sebastian and Turkey creeks from its OFW designation. The Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve's OFW designation does not include portions of the St. Johns River. The Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve has OFW exclusions for certain incorporated and unincorporated areas as specified in Florida rule 62-302.700. These preserves are established under Chapter 258.39 of Florida Statutes and represent areas set aside specifically for long-term protection and management.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, which manages these designated protected areas. Data source layer name: AQUAP_JUN25

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was provided for this map view.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a statewide scale showing the entire state of Florida and adjacent portions of neighboring states. This scale is appropriate for understanding the overall distribution pattern of Aquatic Preserves throughout Florida's coastal regions.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Albers

Time Period of Content:

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

Limitations:

While the map shows the general locations and extents of Aquatic Preserves, the boundaries of three preserves (Indian River - Malabar to Vero Beach, Wekiva River, and Big Bend Seagrasses) have Outstanding Florida Waters designations that differ from the Aquatic Preserve boundaries shown. Users should consult Florida rule 62-302.700 for specific details about OFW boundary differences. The map does not distinguish between individual named preserves, showing them only as a single thematic layer.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the Georgia and Alabama borders in the north to the Dry Tortugas in the south, and from the Gulf of America in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. Portions of southern Georgia and Alabama are visible for geographic context.

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