The total area of the Reserve is 327 hectares and it is under the Municipality of Grado.
The fish farming area of Valle Cavanata has been realized in the Twenties in the eastern part of the lagoon of Grado, that was embanked and provided with adjustable floodgates and thus transformed in a brackish area for fish farming, named Valle Cavanata. The fish farming activities were maintained until 1995; after which, the management of the water levels in the Valle Cavanata has been oriented to favour especially the bird fauna.

The Valle Cavanata Regional Nature Reserve is under the management of the Authority for Parks and Regional Forests of the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.