The park encompasses approximately 42,518 acres. Approximately 7,000 acres are uplands and 35,518 acres are wetlands and open waters. The park lands were initially acquired through the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program (EEL) in the 1970's and continued with the Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program. Additional lands were acquired under the Save Our Rivers program and more recently under the Florida Forever program. The park was originally named the Charlotte Harbor State Reserve was later renamed Charlotte Harbor State Buffer Preserve and then in 2004, the DEP reorganized several programs and the management of the preserve was transferred to the Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) and it is now called the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. In the late 1970's the state began acquiring lands around the Harbor to "buffer" the aquatic resources. By preserving upland habitats surrounding the aquatic preserves in Charlotte Harbor, Gasparilla Sound, Cape Haze, Lemon Bay, Matlacha Pass and Pine Island Sound, the park helps protect water quality, sea grasses and other habitats that are important to fish and wildlife and provides residents and visitors to the area with opportunities for boating, fishing, and other recreational pursuits. The preservation and protection of Charlotte Harbor is the goal of a continuing partnership with the aquatic preserves program. This program is part of the DEP Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas which shares facilities with the park in Punta Gorda.