This reserve encompasses the northernmost extent of mangrove habitat on the east coast of the United States and some of Florida’s highest dunes, some measuring 30 to 40 feet tall. The reserve is also home to one of the few remaining inlets in northeast Florida that isn’t protected by a jetty, thus presenting the perfect place to study historical inlets and natural systems. The coastal waters of the reserve are also important calving grounds for the endangered Right Whale.

The Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Reserve is one of 30 areas in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System that is protected for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education, and coastal stewardship. The site is managed on a daily basis by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with assistance by local partners. NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management provides funding, national guidance, and technical assistance.