complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA)
2010 L.M.U.A.C. Biennial Report Executive Summary
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic
Managed Areas (CAMA) oversees the management of Florida’s three National Estuarine
Research Reserves (NERRs), 41 aquatic preserves, one National Marine Sanctuary and the
Coral Reef Conservation Program. These protected areas comprise more than four million
acres of the most valuable submerged lands and select coastal uplands in Florida. Figures
and accomplishments listed in the biennial report reflect activities within the uplands of the
three NERRs (Rookery Bay [designated in 1978], Apalachicola [designated in 1979] and
Guana Tolomato Matanzas [designated in 1999]).
The following is a compilation of accomplishments that CAMA has achieved during
this two year reporting period.
• Hydrologic restoration of 3,817 acres has been identified with 3,317 acres of restoration
either currently underway or completed.
• 17,337 acres of CAMA’s 56,847 upland acres are fire dependent and more than half are
within the desired fire return interval.
• Imperiled species occurrence lists have been compiled for each of the three NERR sites
and a combined total of 67 imperiled species monitoring protocols have been developed
and are being implemented.
• Average visitor usage per day increased from 1,945 in 2008-09 to 2,044 in 2009-10.
• Several fixed capital outlay projects have been completed or are near completion
including a new environmental learning center and office complex at Apalachicola NERR,
scheduled to open this fall.
• Using an economic model adopted by the Florida Park Service for estimating local
economic benefits, CAMA’s managed areas generated a total economic benefit to the
communities consisting of $31.7 million, sales tax revenues of $2.2 million and 635 jobs.
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