Estero Bay Watershed

The Estero Bay Watershed is located within CHNEP and spans 359.6 square miles. The watershed contains 46 named lakes/ponds, 17 named rivers/streams/canals and 2 named bays/bayous. Estero Bay is the first Aquatic Preserve in Florida. The western border consists of a chain of barrier islands. The watershed has significant freshwater inputs from small rivers and weak tidal exchange due to the restricted size of the four main inlets. Although the estuary is separated from the Charlotte Harbor estuary, it does receive water indirectly from the Caloosahatchee River through San Carlos Bay.

Estero Bay Watershed contains these basins:

View Maps / Data

CHNEP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) identified four action plans: water quality improvement; hydrological restoration; fish, wildlife, and habitat improvement; and public engagement. Click on the interactive maps below to view data associated with these goals and actions.

View Detailed Data About the Following Topics:

Recreation

Find maps and waterway navigation guides, descriptions of facilities and recreational amenities, as well as warnings and restrictions pertaining to their use.

Photos

Click on a thumbnail photograph to view the full size version with credits and a description.

Aerial view Aerial view
Aerial view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view Aerial view
Aerial view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view Aerial view
Aerial view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view Aerial view
Aerial view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view Aerial view
Aerial view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view Aerial view
Aerial view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view Aerial view
Aerial view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view of Bonita Springs coastline Aerial view of Bonita Springs coastline
Aerial view of Bonita Springs coastline

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Aerial view of mangrove-lined channels Aerial view of mangrove-lined channels
Aerial view of mangrove-lined channels

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view of mangroves, bay Aerial view of mangroves, bay
Aerial view of mangroves, bay

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view of Mound Key Aerial view of Mound Key
Aerial view of Mound Key

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Aerial view of wetland Aerial view of wetland
Aerial view of wetland

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Aerial view of wetland forest Aerial view of wetland forest
Aerial view of wetland forest

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Alligator at Six Mile Cypress Slough Alligator at Six Mile Cypress Slough
Alligator at Six Mile Cypress Slough

CREDIT: Elaine Weissborn

Bald Cypress Trees at Six Mile Cypress Slough Bald Cypress Trees at Six Mile Cypress Slough
Bald Cypress Trees at Six Mile Cypress Slough

Credit: Elaine Weissborn

Bald eagle nest Bald eagle nest
Bald eagle nest

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Bare trees in winter Bare trees in winter
Bare trees in winter

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Birds over mangrove forest Birds over mangrove forest
Birds over mangrove forest

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Black Skimmers Black Skimmers
Black Skimmers

Credit: Ava Riloff

Boardwalk at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Boardwalk at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve
Boardwalk at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Bunche Beach Bunche Beach
Bunche Beach

Credit: Elaine Weissborn

Bunche Beach Mangroves Bunche Beach Mangroves
Bunche Beach Mangroves

Credit: Elaine Weissborn

Discolored water flowing out of Estero Bay Discolored water flowing out of Estero Bay
Discolored water flowing out of Estero Bay

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Fiddler crab Fiddler crab
Fiddler crab

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Flame Box Crab Flame Box Crab
Flame Box Crab

Credit: Linda Moreau

Gopher Tortoise Gopher Tortoise
Gopher Tortoise

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Gopher Tortoise Gopher Tortoise
Gopher Tortoise

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Gulf Fritillary butterfly on Liatris Gulf Fritillary butterfly on Liatris
Gulf Fritillary butterfly on Liatris

Credit: Steven Richardson

Hermit Crab Hermit Crab
Hermit Crab

Credit: Edward J. Pelegrino

Lovers Key State Park Lovers Key State Park
Lovers Key State Park

Credit: Pamela Jones-Morton

Low tide Low tide
Low tide

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Mangrove forest Mangrove forest
Mangrove forest

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Mangroves Mangroves
Mangroves

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Mound Key Mound Key
Mound Key

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Mound Key Mound Key
Mound Key

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Mud Flat Mud Flat
Mud Flat

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Osprey Osprey
Osprey

Credit: Liz Noffsinger

Pine Flatwoods Pine Flatwoods
Pine Flatwoods

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Pine Flatwoods Pine Flatwoods
Pine Flatwoods

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Pine Flatwoods Pine Flatwoods
Pine Flatwoods

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Pine Flatwoods Pine Flatwoods
Pine Flatwoods

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Pine Flatwoods Pine Flatwoods
Pine Flatwoods

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Pine seedlings Pine seedlings
Pine seedlings

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Prescribed Burn Prescribed Burn
Prescribed Burn

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Prescribed Burn Prescribed Burn
Prescribed Burn

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Prickly pear cactus with fruit Prickly pear cactus with fruit
Prickly pear cactus with fruit

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Red mangrove Red mangrove
Red mangrove

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Reddish Egret - White Morph Reddish Egret - White Morph
Reddish Egret - White Morph

Credit: Liz Noffsinger

Roseate Spoonbills Roseate Spoonbills
Roseate Spoonbills

Credit: Liz Noffsinger

Salt marsh Salt marsh
Salt marsh

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Saltmarsh Saltmarsh
Saltmarsh

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Shore view Shore view
Shore view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Swamp forest at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Swamp forest at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve
Swamp forest at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Tidal creek Tidal creek
Tidal creek

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Tiger Swallowtail on Buttonbush at Six Mile Cypress Slough Tiger Swallowtail on Buttonbush at Six Mile Cypress Slough
Tiger Swallowtail on Buttonbush at Six Mile Cypress Slough

Credit: Elaine Weissborn

Trail view Trail view
Trail view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Trail view Trail view
Trail view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Trail view Trail view
Trail view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Trail view Trail view
Trail view

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Wading birds at low tide Wading birds at low tide
Wading birds at low tide

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Wading birds in wetland Wading birds in wetland
Wading birds in wetland

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Wading birds in wetland Wading birds in wetland
Wading birds in wetland

Credit: Peg / Rex Lavoie

Water Moccasin at Six Mile Cypress Slough Water Moccasin at Six Mile Cypress Slough
Water Moccasin at Six Mile Cypress Slough

Credit: Susan Smith

White Pelicans at Sunset White Pelicans at Sunset
White Pelicans at Sunset

Credit: Liz Noffsinger

Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail
Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail
Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail
Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail
Wild Turkey Strand Preserve Trail

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Northern Flicker Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Northern Flicker Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker

Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership

Woodstork Rookery Woodstork Rookery
Woodstork Rookery

Credit: Lynne Pedlar