Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve

Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (MLAP) is located south of Ponce de Leon Inlet, near the city of Edgewater in Volusia County, Florida.

Mosquito Lagoon at Ponce de Leon Inlet

The 4,740 acre Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (MLAP) lies north of the federal property in Mosquito Lagoon. The preserve originally extended to the southern end of the lagoon, but close to two-thirds was transferred to the Federal government and is now a part of the Canaveral National Seashore.

Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve is unique among the inland waters of the Atlantic Coast of Florida and a feeling of relative isolation is attainable just a short distance from nearby boat ramps. Once outside the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, local knowledge of water depths and channels of the Lagoon system is essential. Elevated landmarks are difficult to see at times, and it is easy to become disorientated among the winding turns and dead-end waterways. Unfamiliar boaters are advised to bring a GPS locator.

• Mosquito Lagoon is one of the least developed regions on the east coast of Florida.

• Nearly two-thirds of the original aquatic preserve boundary is now a part of Canaveral National Seashore or Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

• Mosquito Lagoon has a resident population of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

• Salinity levels in the Mosquito Lagoon are comparable to ocean levels (32-34 ppt) allowing several fish species to spawn in the lagoon that would normally spawn in the ocean.

• Mosquito Lagoon supports the northernmost extent of red and black mangrove habitat, low marsh and high marsh habitats, extensive oyster bars, and tidal flats.

Location

Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve is in the northern portion of the lagoon, near the cities of Edgewater and New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida.

Coordinates: 28°59'09.5"N 80°53'12.8"W
GIS: 28.985960, -80.886885

[{"name":28.98595999999999861529431655071675777435302734375,"title":null,"lat":28.98595999999999861529431655071675777435302734375,"lon":-80.8868850000000065847416408360004425048828125,"otherValues":[]}]

See Also

• Mosquito Lagoon
• Haulover Canal
• Ponce de Leon Inlet
• Ponce de Leon Lighthouse Station
• Mosquito Lagoon Organization

Web Links

• Florida DEP - Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve
• Atlas of Marine Protection Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve

Documents

• FWS - Mosquito Lagoon Water Quality
• Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Management Action Plan 2009 (PDF 184pp 8.1MB)
• Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Management Action Plan 1990

References