The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $850,000 in federal funding to the state of florida through the national estuarine research reserve system (nerrs) land…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $850,000 in federal funding to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) on October 1, 2025, with completion expected by September 30, 2027. The award supports capital improvements and facility enhancements at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve visitor center, including construction of an outdoor interpretive boardwalk designed to exemplify coastal resilience and accommodate visitors with limited mobility, modification of an existing access pier, and renovation of indoor exhibit space with interactive, tactile elements for individuals with sight limitations.

The interpretive boardwalk will feature static interpretation elements addressing estuarine ecosystems, natural resource benefits, living shoreline technology, and sustainable design principles. The boardwalk will be utilized in formal education programs and guided walks conducted by GTM staff and volunteers. Indoor exhibit renovations will increase accessibility of the exhibit hall and provide tactile interpretive features. Collectively, these improvements are designed to enhance accessibility and sustainability of visitor facilities while advancing the GTM NERR's mission of coastal estuarine education, monitoring, and research. The project obligates a total of $1,000,000 in federal funds.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $850,000 in federal funding to the state of florida through the national estuarine research reserve system (nerrs) land acquisition and construction program for fiscal year 2025 (NOAA-NOS-OCM-2025-29258). This funding will build the ability of the guana tolomato matanzas (GTM) national estuarine research reserve within the florida department of environmental protection to construct an outdoor interpretive boardwalk, modify an existing access pier, and build out the creative elements at the nerr visitor center. Project goals include the construction of the estuary education boardwalk and modification of the visitor center pier, and the build-out of creative elements around the visitor center. The goal of this project is to increase accessibility and sustainability at the GTM nerr visitor center for indoor and outdoor interpretive exhibits. The boardwalk will be built to exemplify coastal resilience and IT will be accessible for those with limited mobility. This boardwalk will provide static interpretation elements regarding the estuarine ecosystem, current and historical natural resource benefits, the successful living shoreline over which the boardwalk traverses, and the sustainable design elements of the boardwalk itself. This will also be used in formal education programs and guided walks conducted by volunteers and GTM nerr staff. Indoor exhibit space renovations will increase the accessibility of the exhibit hall and provide interactive, tactile interpretive elements for individuals with sight limitations.