Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Rookery Bay Reserve

March 2009

Finding Solutions

Restoration Effects on Fisheries in the 10,000 Islands

Fisheries Research

In the 1960's, construction 

of a large residential 

development called 

Golden Gate Estates 

began in southeast Collier 

County. The southern 

portion of this enormous 

housing project on the 

western edge of the 

Everglades ultimately 

failed, but not before a 

network of roads and 58 

miles of canals were 

constructed. The new 

canal system altered the 

natural pattern of 

freshwater sheetflow to the 

bays and estuaries 

downstream by directing 

freshwater runoff through 

the Faka Union Canal to 

the Faka Union Bay and 

out to sea. This resulted in 

a distinct decrease in 

salinity values in the Faka 

Union Bay and higher 

prolonged salinities in 

adjacent estuaries such as 

Pumpkin Bay , Buttonwood Bay and the Blackwater River. The altered 

salinity levels have 

changed these estuaries 

which provide a nursery 

habitat for many fish, 

shellfish, and other marine 

life with significant 

commercial and natural 

value. Additionally, the 

wetlands in the region no 

longer serve as a filter for 

freshwater discharges and 

provide less of a yearround source for 

recharging the 

groundwater that supplies 

our municipal drinking 

water.

Rookery Bay, located in southwest Florida, is recognized as one of the few remaining pristine, mangrove-forested

estuaries in the U.S. As part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, it serves as an outdoor classroom and

laboratory for students and scientists. For more information, visit www.rookerybay.org.

In order to improve the 

distribution of water to the 

bays and the aquifer, 

affected lands were 

purchased by the State. 

The South Florida Water 

Management District 

started removing roads 

and plugging canals in 

2006. Culverts are being 

constructed under the 

remaining roads that 

interfere with surface water 

flow. Ideally, freshwater 

will reach the estuary 

evenly across the entire 

region causing less stress 

on the fisheries.

The Research:

Water chemistry data, 

including salinity, 

dissolved oxygen levels, 

and water temperature, 

are being collected with 

specialized data loggers. 

Fisheries data obtained 

through monthly trawls in 

each of the three bays 

document the population 

dynamics in a variety of 

fish species, as well as 

commercially important 

invertebrates such as 

stone crabs, blue crabs 

and pink shrimp. This 

baseline data will continue 

to be monitored throughout 

the restoration project to 

enable scientists to 

measure the changes 

resulting from restoration 

efforts.

Regional Application:

Post-restoration data will 

be compared and 

contrasted with the 

baseline data. 

Documenting the effects of 

salinity changes on 

estuarine habitats will help 

set standards for future 

restoration efforts. 

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION / OFFICE OF COASTAL AND AQUATIC MANAGED AREAS 

Project Leader:

Patrick O’Donnell

Funding:

FDEP/RBNERR, 

FORB, Volunteer staff

Project Dates:

July 1998 – 2020

Naples | Interstate 75 | Miami 

Major 

Drainage 

Canals

Pumpkin Bay

Fakahatchee Bay

Faka-Union Bay

Faka-Union 

Canal and Bay 

looking 

downstream 

from the 

Southern Golden 

Gate Estates

The Southern Golden Gate Estates

AVERAGE MONTHLY SALINITIES

0

10

20

30

40

50

July-98 July-99 July-00 July-01 July-02 July-03 July-04

SALINITY

Pumpkin Bay Faka Union Bay Fakahatchee Bay