NOAA Approves New Plans for Florida and Rhode Island Estuaries
Published Date: 3/13/2026
Notice
Summary
NOAA just gave the green light to updated plans for two awesome estuarine research reserves: Guana Tolomato Matanzas in Florida and Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. These new plans replace old ones from 2009 and 2010, making sure the reserves stay protected and well-managed for years to come. The changes kick in now and help local agencies keep these special places safe and thriving without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
GTM Reserve Plan Approved for Five Years
NOAA approved the revised management plan for the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Florida, replacing the plan previously approved in 2009. The revised plan notes a boundary expansion approved in March 2020 to include City of St. Augustine sovereign submerged lands, state sovereign submerged lands along the Matanzas and Tolomato Rivers, and the Marshview parcel, and documents recent facility projects like the Princess Place Preserve Legacy House, cabins, boardwalks, and a storage facility. The plan will serve as the guiding document for the reserve for the next five years.
Narragansett Bay Plan Approved and Updated
NOAA approved the revised management plan for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Rhode Island, replacing the plan previously approved in 2010. The revised plan describes new staff positions and hires, an updated position within the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and an expansion of the site's boundary approved in May 2024. The plan will serve as the guiding document for the reserve for the next five years.
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