Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes and Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserves

Project Spotlight

"Situated amidst growing developmental pressure, these beautiful, natural and cultural areas require special attention and protection."

Nicole Robinson, Aquatic Preserve Manager

Nassau River marsh

Key Accomplishments

Ongoing partnerships with several agencies including: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast District; Talbot Islands State Park (Florida State Parks), Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve (National Park Service), US Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. Through these partnerships we achieve improved monitoring and protection of the aquatic preserves.
Newly formed partnership with the City of Jacksonville’s Ambient Water Quality Section to participate in the collection of monthly nutrient samples at established water quality monitoring sites. These data will provide a means to assess the effects of land use changes on water quality.
Assisted with the collection of ambient water samples for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project. This project promotes comprehensive protection of water quality using basin-wide assessments to either maintain healthy waters or restore impaired waters.

Water quality datalogger

Water Quality Monitoring

At the beginning of 2004, the Northeast Florida Aquatic Preserves received federal grant money from the National Park Service Timucuan Preserve to establish a water quality monitoring station at Kingsley Plantation. This was to become the first site in a series of sampling locations throughout the preserves that monitor a variety of water quality parameters on a continual basis. (Currently there are two other sites.) The data collected, thus far, has fostered collaboration and data sharing that has yielded reports from two independent researchers regarding water quality and estuarine health within the Timucuan Preserve. Future goals of the water quality monitoring program include the addition of monitoring sites and nutrient analysis (in cooperation with the City of Jacksonville’s Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Section.)

Quick Facts about Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes and Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserves

Map of Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes and Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserves

Location:

Nassau and Duval counties

Acreage

66,000 acres of sovereign submerged lands

Contact:

Nicole Robinson
Aquatic Preserve Manager
13802 Pumpkin Hill Road
Jacksonville, FL 32226
904-696-5944

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Further information about the Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes and Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserves

Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes and Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserves Management Plan

Nassau River and surrounding marshes

Woodstorks

Roseate spoonbill

These areas are dominated by salt marsh through which frequent tidal flushing ensures the continuous transport of nutrients in and out of the estuary.
Oyster bars, tidal flats, and beaches are also integral parts of these dynamic systems.
Provides critical habitat to a wide variety of fish and wildlife, including endangered species, such as sea turtles, bald eagles, wood storks, least terns, Florida manatees and right whales.
Over 100 sites of archaeological and culture significance have been identified.
The earliest inhabitants, the Timucuan Indians date back to 3500 BC, and were able to survive here because of the productive marsh areas.
Shellfish such as clams, mussels, oysters and whelks provided not only food for the Timucuan, but materials for tool making as well.

Last updated: June 20, 2008