THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM
In 1987, Congress established the National Estuary Program (NEP). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the NEP, identifies Estuaries of National Significance and supports the development of comprehensive management plans to assure that estuaries maintain their ecological integrity. NEPs are place-based, non-regulatory, programs focused on restoring and protecting estuaries and local watersheds. For more information regarding NEPs, visit the EPA website.
WHY IS THE NEP UNIQUE?
What’s unique about the National Estuary Program? NEPs function under a unique governance structure called a Management Conference that gives local partners a voice in the decision-making process. NEPs involve and coordinate among stakeholders at all levels: federal, state, county, city, and citizen to ensure that local issues are managed by bringing all stakeholders to the table to work out solutions that are consensus-driven and based on sound science. Learn more about the IRLNEP Management Conference below.
ESTUARIES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Currently, 28 estuaries located along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts and in Puerto Rico are designated as estuaries of national significance. Each NEP focuses within a study area that includes the estuary and surrounding watershed. The 28 NEPs develop and implement Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs), which are long-term plans that contain actions to address water quality and living resource challenges and priorities. The NEP challenges and priorities are defined by local, city, state, federal, private and non-profit stakeholders.
NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAMS
Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
Barnegat Bay Partnership
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Program
Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program
Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
Galveston Bay Estuary Program
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
Long Island Sound Study
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Morro Bay National Estuary Program
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Peconic Estuary Program
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
Puget Sound Partnership
San Francisco Estuary Partnership
San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership
Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Tillamook Estuaries Partnership