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Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve

In the costal region of Northeast Florida lies the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, known by locals as Guana. Guana Reserve is comprised of 55,000 acres of tidal salt marsh and mangrove wetlands, oyster bars, estuarine lagoons, upland habitat and miles of shell dash beaches. Guana is unique in that it is the northern most mangrove habitat on the East Coast. Guana is part of the The National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) System that is overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in affiliation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Partners 

http://www.noaa.gov

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/

Wildlife 

Guana Reserve is an important birthing ground for the endangered Right Whales.

The Reserve is teeming with wildlife, a sample of which is outlined below:

• Manatees
• Wood Storks
• Roseate Spoonbills
• Bald Eagles
• Peregrine Falcons

Seasonally, Sea Turtles will nest  and lay eggs in this area during the months of May through October.

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/gtm/seaturtles.htm

Facility 

In addition to being a wildlife reserve, research facility, and protected wetlands, Guana is also a habitat that is readily enjoyed by naturalists from all over the world.  These are miles and miles of hiking trails, several kayak launches, and some of the finest sport fishing in Northeast Florida.

There is a research facility that serves double duty as an informational learning facility for visitors to the reserve.

Location

The Reserve is located on costal highway A1A, between Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine as shown on the map below.