ESTUARY
PROGRAM
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THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM
The EPA National Estuary Program (NEP) is a unique and voluntary program
established in 1987 under the Clean Water Act Amendments (CWA). A successful
ecosystem-based management program, it works to restore and maintain the water
quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance.
To achieve these goals, NEPs involve community members and other key partners to
develop and implement a management plan. Citizens are fully engaged throughout
this process to ensure that local needs are addressed in this Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The CCMP contains specific actions
to apply CWA programs in a way that fully supports these local priorities.
The 28 NEPs across the country have demonstrated an impressive ability to secure
and leverage funds, protect and restore coastal habitats, and broaden public
understanding of estuaries. NEPs have also made substantial gains in identifying
environmental challenges and tackling complex water quality and ecosystem issues.
The NEP looks broadly across the watershed and recognizes the connection
between upstream sources of pollution and downstream impacts. It offers an
effective means of securing commitments necessary to achieve tangible
environmental results.
THE NEP APPROACH
WHAT IS AN NEP?
Each NEP consists of a collection of stakeholders, organized in a decision-making framework that
facilitates collaboration, consensus-building, and public input. NEP stakeholders typically include
representatives from Federal, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, affected
business and industries, academia, and the general public. EPA is a participant and provides
management guidance, along with financial and technical assistance. Together the group works
to articulate common goals and take action to address a wide range of issues in their CCMP.
NEPs are guided by a director and staff that are housed in a program office located within the
estuarine watershed. NEPs work to improve the health of their estuary - its waters, habitats,
and living resources within a particular geographic boundary encompassing the estuary and
surrounding environments.
WHAT IS THE NEP APPROACH?
Establish a governance structure
Involve community stakeholders as equal partners
Engage the public throughout the decision-making process
Collaborate to identify problems and solutions
Build on water quality control measures and tailor them to specific places
Set measurable goals and objectives and monitor effectiveness of actions - adjust if necessary
Develop and implement a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP)
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WHAT MAKES THE NEP SUCCESSFUL?
Environmental issues transcend political jurisdictions so NEPs are defined by watershed or ecosystem
boundaries.
The NEP governance structure provides a neutral forum to bring together a diverse set of stakeholders and
create a level decision-making process.
NEPs seek to fully engage citizens throughout the decision-making and problem-solving process,
NEP stakeholders work through a consensus-building process to identify CCMP goals, objectives, and actions
that reflect their local priorities and interests.
NEPs seek to ensure that decisions are based on sound science and actions are implemented using adaptive
management strategies.
NEPs produce periodic assessments of conditions in their estuarine ecosystems that are shared with policy
makers and the public.
NEPs have developed and applied innovative and adaptive approaches that effectively address habitat and
water quality-related challenges.
NEP stakeholders' actions and long-term commitment have produced tangible environmental results.
NEPs share their lessons learned through effective outreach and education efforts.
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nservation Associ;
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A CREDIBLE BLUEPRIN i
Integrating common EPA goals: a snapshot of the NEP approach
The National Estuary Program (NEP) is a collaborative, effective, efficient, and
adaptable coastal ecosystem-based nelwork. With over 20 years' experience
implementing key provisions of the Clean Water Act, the NEP is the nation's
principal watershed programone that offers a viable, effective method of
protecting and managing all types of watershed environments, including
non-coastal areas.
The NEP decision-making structure and long-term approach build cooperative
relationships that facilitate trust among participants. This creates ownership of
CCMP actions developed by those community members who play a role in
implementing tiiem.
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COLLABORATIVE
NEPs are a catalyst to bring together citizens, affected businesses and industry,
nonprofit groups, different levels of government, and varied government agencies
that may not have worked together cooperatively in the past. A consensus-building
process is used by NEP participants to collectively design and create a CCMP
that represents their diverse perspectives and interests. This close collaboration
generates long-term support and commitment on their part to then implement actions
in the CCMP. The participation and involvement of all NEP stakeholders throughout the
CCMP development and implementation process is critical to the program's success.
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EFFECTIVE
NEPs and their partners have protected and restored over 1
million acres of habitat since 2000. The habitat efforts carried out
by the NEPs, their partners, and many volunteers have yielded
measurable environmental results. These projects not only
improve the coastal habitats directly, but the water quality in
these estuaries, rivers, streams, and wetlands as well, thereby
benefiting the living resources that are found in or use these vital
places.
For example, NEPs work to enhance riparian areas, thus reducing
pollution entering rivers and streams that would adversely impact
fish and other aquatic life. NEPs also conduct projects to
restore tidal flow to wetlands, enabling them to better capture
sediments and filter pollutants. To protect shorelines and minimize
coastal erosion, some NEPs construct 'living shorelines" by
placing native plants and biodegradable organic materials near
the water's edge. This creates a natural buffer or breakwater to
absorb waves and trap sediments.
Photo Credit: Br\
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EFFICIENT
NEPs around the country have become efficient at
leveraging funds to increase their ability to restore
and protect their coastal ecosystems. The NEPs have
obtained over $10 for every $1 provided by EPA, generating
nearly $4 billion for on-the-ground efforts since 2003. Getting
smart about funding means developing strategies, targeting
programs to pursue funding that supports priorities, fostering
alliances with public and private partners, and demonstrating
results to donors. It also means crediting sponsors for their
contributions and encouraging staff development of new and
creative initiatives.
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Credit: Nancy Laurson
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ADAPTABLE
NEPs set measurable goals and objectives and use ecosystem-
based indicators to assess progress. This is done through a process
of adaptive management - continuously monitoring and sometimes
adjusting efforts if necessary - if goals and objectives are not being
met. This is also what mates NEPs successful in their ability to adapt
to emerging issues facing our coasts and estuaries, such as climate
change. It's a method that can be readily adapted by and transferred
to any watershed group in the country.
I & Sharon Drake
Photo Credit: Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
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The NEP-A Collaborative,
Effective, Efficient, and
Adaptable Coastal
Ecosystem-Based Program
istuary Program
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VIS TAN NEP NEAR YOU
Albemarle-Pamllco Sounds, NC
apnep.org
Baratarla-Terrebonne Estuary, LA
btnep.org
Bamegat Bay, NJ
bbep.org
Buzzards Bay, MA
buzzardsbay.org
Casco Bay, ME
cascobay. usm, malne, edu
Charlotte Harbor, FL
chnep.org
Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries, "IX
cbbep.org
Delaware Estuary, DE
delawareestuary.org
Delaware Inland Bays, DE
inlandbays.org
Galveston Bay, TX
gbep.state.tx.us
Indian River Lagoon, FL
sjwmd.com/indianriverlagoon/index.html
Long Island Sound, CT
longislandsoundstudy. net
Lower Columbia River Estuary, WA
lcrep.org
Maryland Coastal Bays, MD
mdcoastalbays.org
Massachusetts Bays, MA
massbays.org
Mobile Bay, AL
mobllebaynep.com
Morro Bay, CA
mbnep.org
Narragansett Bay, Rl
nbep.org
New York-New Jersey Harbor, NY
harborestuary.org
Peconlc Estuary, NY
peconlcestuary.org
Plscataqua Region Estuaries, NH
nhep.unh.edu
Puget Sound, WA
psp.wa.gov/
San Francisco Estuary, CA
sfestuary.org
San Juan Bay, Puerto Rico
estuarlo.org
Santa Monica Bay, CA
santamonicabay.org
Sarasota Bay, FL
sarasotabay.org
Tampa Bay, FL
tbep.org
Tillamook Bay, OR
tbnep.org
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