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PONTE VEDRA BEACH –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP)
Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Research
Reserve) is encouraging residents and visitors to take advantage of its
award-winning canoe and kayak opportunities. The GTM Research Reserve recently
won the “Best place to canoe or kayak” in the 2008 Folio Weekly Reader’s “Best
of Jax” poll. The GTM Research Reserve also has hiking, biking, fishing, and
bird watching available as recreational activities, all of which are based
around the reserve’s rich variety of natural resources.
“The Guana River provides not only breathtaking natural scenery, but is
historically significant as well,” said Mike Shirley, Reserve Manager.
“Archeologists estimate human occupancy of this area dates back some 5,000 years
and it is here that Ponce de Leon is believed to have first claimed Florida for
Spain, making the river a truly educational and spectacular experience to canoe
or kayak.”
Paddlers have two options for kayaking and canoeing at GTM Research Reserve.
They can visit the northern section of the reserve, where the Guana River was
impounded in the 1950s to create Guana Lake. The lake, which is brackish near
the Guana Dam and gradually, turns into freshwater as the waters travel away
from the dam and it is inhabited by both saltwater and freshwater fish species.
Visitors can also choose to paddle the southern section, which follows the
curves of Guana River and encompasses protected lands, supporting a pristine
landscape and cultural areas. Herons, egrets, osprey and eagles are often seen
in the area and sometimes dolphins and manatees make an appearance. Combined,
these idyllic natural areas host tours for more than 600 canoeists and kayakers
each year.
Enjoying the recreational opportunities at the reserve is affordable as well,
with an entry fee of $3.00 per vehicle for up to eight people, and visitors are
welcome to bring their own canoes and kayaks. In addition, local outfitters
offer canoe tours that vary in price and length of tours. While on the premises,
visitors are also encouraged to take a trip to the GTM Environmental Learning
Center which features hands-on environmental education and natural resource
interpretation. Inside the 21,000 square foot Environmental Education Center is
an exhibit hall, aquariums, nature store, research laboratory and much more at a
low price of $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children ages 10 to 17, and free for
children under 10.
“Quite often, first time visitors are amazed at all that is available at the
GTM Research Reserve, being so close to Metro Jacksonville and St. Augustine,
yet feeling light years away,” said Greg Baily, Florida Paddling Trails
Association Regional Director. “With a much varied collection of marine and
wildlife, the paddling, hiking and riding trails often will bring you up close
and in personal contact, with little effort or distance traveled. For the return
visitors, the Reserve seems ever changing, particularly from season to season.”
The GTM Research Reserve encompasses more than 64,000 coastal acres, located
on the northeast coast of Florida, south of Jacksonville. The reserve contains
extensive public use amenities including a 10-mile trail system, beaches with
parking access and dune boardwalks, and the Guana Lake Dam, which an estimated
150,000 visitors enjoy each year.
The GTM Research Reserve was established as a partnership between the state
of Florida and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The reserve
is one of 27 research reserves operating across the nation and one of three in
the state. CAMA manages the (GTM Research Reserve) along with aquatic preserves,
the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the Coral Reef Conservation
Program. CAMA’s programs and activities are designed to help Floridians better
understand and conserve the state’s resources through research, education and
preservation.
For more information on the GTM Research Reserve, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/gtm/guana_river.htm
or www.gtmnerr.org. For more
information on local tours or kayak and canoe rentals, visit
www.rippleeffectecotours.com
or www.shadyoysterfishcamp.com.
For more information on attractions and outdoor opportunities in the area, visit
www.getaway4florida.com/
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