MEDIA ADVISORY: December 17, 2004
CONTACT: Ken Berk, Manager or Janet Zimmerman, Education Coordinator (904) 461-4054

Guana River Dam Recreation Area Closures

Closed: Friday December 17 through Thursday December 23, 2004
Open: December 24 through January 2, 2005
Closed: January 3 through January 21, 2005

Ponte Vedra Beach – Due to the construction activities and safety concerns all public access to the Guana River Road, Guana River hiking trails, Guana River Dam and boat ramps will remain closed through December 23, 2004. A holiday opening from December 24th through January 2nd will allow parking on the lime rock west of the dam for hiking trail use and fishing from 8am –sunset only. Boat ramps will remain closed. The entire area will again be closed Monday January 3 through Friday January 21, 2005 to complete heavy earth moving activities. The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR) beach access parking lots on A1A will remain open as usual.

This temporary closure is necessary to enable significant improvements to the recreational amenities at the GTMNERR- Guana River property. A new restroom and picnic pavilion is under construction at the hiking trailhead. The old restroom on the eastside of the dam has been torn down and is being replaced with a new larger restroom. New paved boat ramps to Guana River and Guana Lake, new improved vehicle and trailer parking, and a new entry station will be included. The entire Guana River Road will be paved and the new GTMNERR Environmental Education Center will be completed in 2005. The Education Center will have live aquariums, interpretive displays, and life-sized sculptures of some of the marine and estuarine life that is sustained by the GTM estuary. The GTMNERR is an integrated scientific research, environmental education, and resource stewardship program. Many new educational opportunities will be available for the public.