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Restoring and Protecting Estuaries
From government agencies and laws – established to protect estuaries – to volunteer citizens groups, our coasts are protected, restored and conserved in many ways.
Why should damaged or forgotten estuaries be restored? Estuaries are the nurseries of the sea and a major stopover point for migratory animals. Coastal communities rely on estuaries for tourism, shipping and transportation, and fishing. There are a number of agencies, organizations and laws in place to help protect estuaries while allowing people to enjoy, use and learn about them.
Some examples of government agencies that protect and study estuaries include:
- NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System: The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 28 protected areas established for long-term research, education and stewardship. This partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the coastal states protects more than one million acres of estuarine land and water, which provides essential habitat for wildlife; offers educational opportunities for students, teachers and the public; and serves as living laboratories for scientists.
- NOAA’s Restoration Center: The NOAA Restoration Center is the focal point for marine and estuarine habitat restoration within NOAA. The Restoration Center is the only office within NOAA solely devoted to restoring the nation’s coastal, marine, and migratory fish habitats. The Restoration Center works with a wide array of partners to restore mangrove, salt marsh, seagrass, oyster, coral reef, kelp forest, and river habitats.
- EPA's National Estuary Program: The Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program works to improve the quality of estuaries of national importance. EPA develops plans for attaining or maintaining water quality in an estuary. This includes protection of public water supplies and the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife, and allows recreational activities, in and on water, requires that control of point and non-point sources of pollution to supplement existing controls of pollution.
- State and local governments: State and local governments implement regulations, policies and management strategies to ensure the long-term viability of their coasts and estuaries. State and local governments work with local communities and regional groups to address natural resource management issues and to conduct estuarine research and education.
Some examples of laws in place to protect and study estuaries include:
- Coastal Zone Management Act: Established by Congress in 1972 and administered by NOAA, the Coastal Zone Management Act provides for management of the nation’s coastal resources, including the Great Lakes, and balances economic development with environmental conservation.
- Estuary Restoration Act: The Estuary Restoration Act was passed into law in November of 2000 and makes restoring our estuaries a national priority. The interagency Council implementing the Act published the goal of restoring one million acres of estuarine habitat by the year 2010.
- Estuaries and Clean Waters Act: The Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000 was passed into law in 1987. It encourages the restoration of estuary habitat through more efficient project financing and enhanced coordination of Federal and non-Federal restoration programs and it established the National Estuary Program.
- Endangered Species Act: The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was signed in 1973 and provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, and the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend.
Some examples of volunteer organizations that are in place to protect and study estuaries include:
- National Estuarine Research Reserve System Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers participate in a wide range of activities vital to the reserves, including scientific monitoring, restoration projects, educational programs, administration, visitor services and fund raising.
- Environmental Protection Agency’s Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program: Across the country, trained citizen volunteers are monitoring the condition of their local streams, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands.
- Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup: Thousands of volunteers participate from all over the globe, clearing tons of trash from oceans and waterways, and recording every piece of trash collected.
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Last Updated on: 10-26-2010
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