Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Reserve, Florida
State
Florida
State Partner
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Acres
73,352
Est. Date
1999
The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve protects more than 73,000 acres in Northeast Florida, including the northernmost mangrove habitat on the East Coast and some of the state’s highest dunes. The Reserve offers an oasis for sea turtles, eastern and Amrican oysters, and roseate spoonbills. The waters along the Reserve’s coast also offer winter calving grounds for the endangered right whale. The Reserve is dedicated to the conservation of Florida’s unique biodiversity and its natural resources and combines education, research, and monitoring programs to reach this goal.
Explore the impact of GTM Reserve’s educational programs in 2019, including their GTM for All initiative focused on expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in estuary education.
Did You Know…
Community volunteers donate more than 10,000 hours each year to support the Reserve and its work.
Latest News from the GTM Reserve
Catching up with Storm Stories
Reserves are always monitoring their estuaries and now, they’re using this data to tell a visual story about the impact of major storms to help communities plan for the future.
Reserves Ready to Keep Tabs on HABs
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a perennial threat to public health and coastal economies dependent on fishing and tourism. A new study has positioned the NERRS System-Wide Monitoring Program to support algal bloom research, management, and education through enhanced chlorophyll monitoring.
A Case for Oysters
Can restoring oysters really clean up polluted waters? That’s the $1.5 billion dollar question that scientists and restoration practitioners around the country want to answer.