NATIONAL
&EPA
National
Estuary Program
2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
DECEMBER 2023
EPA-842-R-23-001
-------
EPA
ESTUARY
PROGRAM
National Estuary
Program Study Areas
Washington
Oregon
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
Long Island Sound Study
Peconic Estuary Partnership
New York-Newjersey Harbor & Estuary Program
Barnegat Bay Partnership
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
San Juan Bay Estuary Program
Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
m
California
23
g)
Pacific
Ocean
Pacific Ocean
1 /
Miles
10
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary
Program
Galveston Bay Estuary Program
Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program
Maine
Massachusetts
Florida
UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA
CANADA
North
Carolina
New York
Newjersey
Delaware
Rhode
Island
Atlantic Ocean
Miles
I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 125 250 500
Alabama
Louisiana
Texas
Gulf of Mexico
MEXICO
Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program
Morro Bay National Estuary Program
San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Tillamook Estuaries Partnership
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
Puget Sound Partnership
Miles
Atlantic Ocean > 1 t
0 5 10
San Juan
PUERTO RICO
El Yunque
National Forest
-------
Table of Contents
¦ List of abbreviations 5
¦ Introduction 6
¦ National Results & Success Stories 10
Habitat Restoration 13
Climate Resilience 16
Nutrient Reduction 18
Human Health 22
Recreation 24
Environmental Justice 26
Community Engagement and Education 28
Capacity, Funding and Partnerships 30
¦ Looking Ahead 34
NEP 2022 Accomplishments 36
Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary 38
Partnership
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary 40
Program
Barnegat Bay Partnership 42
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program 44
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership 46
Coastal & Heartland National 48
Estuary Partnership
Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program 50
Delaware Center for the inland Bays 52
Galveston Bay Estuary Program 54
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary 56
Program
Long Island Sound Study 58
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership 60
Maryland Coastal Bays Program 62
Massachusetts Bays National Estuary 64
Partnership
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program 66
Morro Bay National Estuary Program 68
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program 70
New York-New Jersey Harbor & 72
Estuary Program
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary 74
Peconic Estuary Partnership 76
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership 78
Puget Sound Partnership 80
San Francisco Estuary Partnership 82
San Juan Bay Estuary Program 84
Santa Monica Bay National Estuary 86
Program
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program 88
Tampa Bay Estuary Program 90
Tillamook Estuaries Partnership 92
About the Information in this Report 94
Above, Left to Right: Seagrass. Photo byjames R.white; Tidal marsh in along Harraseeket River, Freeport, Maine.
Photo by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership ; Spoonbills in Florida. Photo by larnpa Bay Estuary Program,' Community volunteers at a
Give-A-Day for the Bay event hosted by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Photo by Yvonne Gougelet.
Cover: (Upper-left) A skimmer landing. Photo by Gerald Morrison; (Upper-right) Wetland. Photo by Steven Gersh, Massbays,"
(Bottom-left) Eelgrass bed.; (Middle-left) Long pier and boat house in Tillamook Bay, Oregon.; (Middle-right)
Volunteers constructing a Living Shorelines demonstration site in Brunswick, Maine. Photo by the Greater Portland Council of
Governments," (Bottom-right) Florida Manatee in shallow waters.
List of Abbreviations
APNEP Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership
BBNEP Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
BBP Barnegat Bay Partnership
BTNEP Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
CBBEP Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program
CBEP Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
CCMP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
CHNEP Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Program
CIB Delaware Center for Inland Bays
FISH Florida Institute for Salt Heritage
GBEP Galveston Bay Estuary Program
HAB Harmful Algal Bloom
HEP New York-Newjersey Harbor & Estuary Program
l/A OWTS Innovative, Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
IRLNEP Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
LISS Long Island Sound Study
LCEP Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
MassBays Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership
MBNEP Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
MBNEP Morro Bay National Estuary Program
MCBP Maryland Coastal Bays Program
NBEP Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
NEP National Estuary Program
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls
PDE Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
PEP Peconic Estuary Partnership
PREP Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
PSP Puget Sound Partnership
SBEP Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
SFEP San Francisco Estuary Partnership
SJBEP San Juan Bay Estuary Program
SMBNEP Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program
TBEP Tampa Bay Estuary Program
TEP Tillamook Estuaries Partnership
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
5
-------
Introduction
Estuaries are where rivers and oceans meet
and can provide many different habitat
types, such as freshwater and saltwater
marshes, swamps, mangrove forests, and tidal
pools, Estuaries also support diverse species and
ecological services that boost the economy and
support human health and well-being. Though
estuary regions comprise just 4 percent of the
continental U.S. land area, they house 40 percent
of the U.S. population and provide 47 percent of
the U.S. gross domestic product1.
Today, estuaries face a multitude of challenges.
Climate change, and human activities lead
to sedimentation, pollution from runoff, and
eutrophication (i.e., increased algae growth and
lowered levels of oxygen). Land development
along coasts has stripped many estuaries of their
natural, protective vegetative buffer causing
shorelines and banks to erode at an increasing
rate. These stressors contribute to poor water
quality, unsafe drinking water, fish kills, loss of
habitat, and other human health and natural
resource concerns.
Through strong partnerships and collective
efforts, the National Estuary Program ("the
NEP") and its 28 local National Estuary Programs
(NEPs) address habitat loss and the broad
range of problems facing coastal communities.
Since 2006, NEPs have invested approximately
$12 billion in protecting and restoring more than
1.8 million acres of habitat. Through leveraging
1 Rouleau, T. Colgan, C.S., Adkins, J. Castelletto, A., Dirlam, P.
Lyons, S., and Stevens, H. 2021. The Economic Value of America's
Estuaries: 2021 Update. Washington: Restore America's Estuaries.
http://www.estuaries.org/economics/2021-report.
Gambel Marsh in Brunswick, Maine.
Photo by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
6
7
-------
Introduction
Youth Interacting with aquatic crustaceans at an
educational event in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Photo byAyla Fox for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
activities, NEPs generate an average of $17 for
every $1 provided by the EPA, demonstrating the
return on taxpayer investment. In 2022 alone,
NEPs collectively:
• Invested over $45 million primary leveraged
funds in habitat restoration;
• Completed 463 habitat projects that
protected or restored more than 117,000
acres of habitat; and
• Reduced an estimated 443 tons of nitrogen
and 27 tons of phosphorus through
restoration and protection projects.
This report presents the NEP national metrics for
federal fiscal year 2022 alongside success stories
from local NEPs demonstrating why their work is
vital for the health of estuaries and communities
that depend on them. Completed projects
improved the health and well-being of the local
community and environment while increasing
regional capacity to take on larger projects
through infrastructure development, outreach
to local communities, and building relationships
with local groups. The report also highlights each
of the 28 NEPs individually, showcasing more
about their work, accomplishments, and future
initiatives.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Established in 1987, the NEP is an Environmental
Protection Agency place-based program that
has made a unique and lasting contribution to
protecting and restoring the nation's estuaries.
The NEP is composed of 28 local NEPs along the
Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts and in Puerto
Rico. In overseeing and managing the national
program, the EPA provides annual funding,
guidance, and technical assistance to these
place-based programs.
NEPs work with partners, local community
groups, and the public to develop and implement
long-term Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plans (CCMPs) based on local
priorities to guide their actions in monitoring,
assessing, restoring, and protecting the health of
estuaries as directed by Section 320 of the Clean
Water Act. NEPs have a Management Conference
that consists of diverse stakeholders and uses
a collaborative, consensus-building approach
to implement the CCMP. Each Management
Conference ensures that the CCMP is uniquely
tailored to local environmental conditions and
is based on local input, thereby supporting local
priorities.
In addition to funding provided by the EPA,
NEPs leverage public and private funding and
support partners in securing funding to carry
out CCMP actions. By implementing CCMPs
through 28 place-based programs, the NEP is
poised to support locally led initiatives while also
advancing national priorities. ¦
8
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
In 2021, President Biden signed the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which named
the NEP as a key partner for implementation.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides
$132 million for the 28 NEPs for federal fiscal
years 2022-2026. This funding accelerates
implementation of CCMPs, prioritizes
investments in and benefits to disadvantaged
communities, builds the adaptive capacity
of ecosystems and communities, as weli as
leverages and supports additional resources.
During fiscal year 2022, the EPA delivered
guidance and collaborated with NEPs to
start the process of executing Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law projects. NEPs began
to develop equity strategies that support
opportunities for communities with
environmental justice concerns to participate
in improving estuary regions as well as
benefit from healthier estuaries. NEPs started
to ramp up Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
activities and project plans. While NEPs have
long been performing projects that benefit
disadvantaged communities and increase
resilience to climate change, the next four
years will see an increase and acceleration
in that work as Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
projects are completed.
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island has a multitude of publicly accessible docks for the public to engage in
recreational activities. Photo byAyla Fox for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
9
-------
National
Results
&
Stories
Since 2006, NEPs have leveraged
approximately $7 billion to implement
priority actions contained in their CCMPs.
In 2022, NEPs leveraged a total of approximately
$218 million in which they played a primary
role in obtaining resources. Most of the
primary leveraged investments went toward
activities related to restoration, monitoring
and research, stormwater management,
wastewater management, and administrative
operations. This demonstrates how NEPs use
their muitifaceted networks to act as conveners
to creatively fund projects with partners and
provide a return on taxpayer investment.
Primary leveraged investments are defined as
the dollar value (cash or in-kind equivalent) of
resources dedicated to implementing a CCMP
above and beyond the funding provided to the
NEPs under Clean Water Action Section 320,
including congressionally directed spending.
The leveraged dollars included in this calculation
are those in which the NEPs, rather than their
partners, played a primary role in obtaining
the additional resources. This convening role
is critical to the achievement of CCMP goals
Volunteers work to remove invasive species from arid restore a river floodplain at the Myakka River Headwaters
Preserve, Florida. Photo by the Coastal & Heartland National tstuary Program
10
11
-------
National Success Stories
CUMULATIVE PRIMARY
LEVERAGING BY THE NEP
~$7 BILLION, FY 2006-2022
Cumulative NEP Primary
Leveraged Dollars
Cumulative EPA
Funding Allocations
$7.0 BILLION
2022 PRIMARY
LEVERAGED FUNDS
BY PROJECT TYPE
-$218 MILLION
Restoration $45.4M
Monitoring/Research $32M
I
Stormwater $28.5M
Wastewater $28.4M
Administrative
Operations $22.8M -
2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Land Acquisition $20.5M
Public Education $13.2M
Nonpoint Source $12.0M
Combined Sewer Overflow $6.7M
Other $8.7M
20.86%
14.43%
13.10%
13.06%
10.48%
9.43%
6.06%
5.53%
3.08%
3.98%
(Left) Since 2006, NEPs have leveraged over $7 billion with approximately $410 million in allocated funding from
the EPA. (Right) In 2022, NEPs leveraged approximately $218 million towards projects related to activities such
as restoration, monitoring and research, stormwater, and wastewater.
and the success of both individual NEPs and
the national program. Without NEPs acting
as the backbone for these local partnerships,
ecosystems and communities would likely
receive little of this additional investment.
In fiscal year 2022, 28 NEPs implemented
projects that improved environmental
conditions, bolstered human well-being, and
built organizational and financial capacity to
carry out projects in the future. This report
explores these projects' impact through topical
themes of habitat restoration; nutrient reduction;
climate resilience; human health; environmental
justice; recreation; community engagement
and education; and capacity, fundraising, and
partnerships.
NEPs report their habitat projects and funds
leveraged annually to the EPA. While those
numbers are informative, they leave out rich
details of the variety and impact of NEP projects.
The following sections outline habitat results
and dollars leveraged alongside a sample of NEP
projects that occurred during fiscal year 2022.
These success stories offer a glimpse of projects
that NEPs accomplished and help demonstrate
why their work is important for the estuaries and
communities that depend on them. ¦
12
Habitat Restoration
Volunteers removing a small dam in Burgess Brook, Cumberland County, Maine. Photo by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
High-quality habitats are critical for
the health of marine and estuarine
systems and the human economies
that depend on them. When these natural
resources are imperiled, so are the livelihoods
of those who live and
work in estuarine
watersheds. Together
with federal, state,
Tribal, local, nonprofit,
and community
organizations,
NEPs restore and
protect habitat
by revegetating natural areas, developing
conservation easements, implementing
ecological restoration projects, and acquiring
or preserving open space. While these projects
support native species and ecosystems,
many habitat restoration projects also have
co-benefits, such as providing recreation
opportunities, improving water quality,
protecting human health, supporting the needs
of communities with environmental justice
concerns, and enhancing climate resilience.
PRIMARY LEVERAGED FUNDS
SINCE 2006, NEPS
HAVE INVESTED
APPROXIMATELY
$12 BILLION IN
PROTECTING AND
RESTORING MORE
THAN 1.8 MILLION
ACRES OF HABITAT.
RESTORATION
In 2022,
$45.4 MILLION,
21 PERCENT
of primarily leveraged
funds, were invested
in restoration.
13
-------
ACRES
RESTORED AND
PROTECTED
BY HABITAT
TYPE, FY 2022
Riparian
4,403
Forested
Wetland
9,969
Agriculture/
Ranch Land 1,949
In-Stream 2,413 n
Beach 2,602
Freshwater
Marsh
3,265
Grassland 1,417
Estuarine Shoreline 1,257
Salt Marsh 1,197
Field/Meadow 1,112
Lake/Pond 531
Forest/
Woodland
81,217
ACRES RESTORED BY RESTORATION TECHNIQUE, FY 2022
ACTIVITY TYPE H Maintained ¦ Restored H Protected
Invasives Control/Removal - Vegetation
Prescribed Burn
Land Acquisition
Easements
Invasives Control/Removal - Fauna
Berm/Dike Removal
Ditch Removal, Filling, or Plugging
Beach Nourishment
Planting
Placement of Dredged Material
Dam Modification/Removal
Fish Barrier Removal
Levee Breaching
Tide Gate Modification (including replacement)
Rehabilitation/Creation
In 2022, about 38,000 acres
were restored through invasive
vegetation control and removal, about
31,000 acres of habitat were protected
through land acquisition and easements,
and almost 25,000 acres of forest/woodland
habitat through prescribed burn.
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000 25,000
ACRES
30,000 35,000
40,000
14
Habitat Restoration
MORRO BAY NATIONAL ESTUARY
PROGRAM (CALIFORNIA)
Eelarass Restoration
Eelgrass habitat provides important ecological
benefits and helps build the foundation for a
resilient estuary. The Morro Bay National Estuary
Program has been mapping eelgrass habitat
for two decades. From 2007 to 2016, eelgrass
in Morro Bay declined by more than 90 percent
with only 13 acres mapped in 2017. Morro
Bay NEP and its partners have put significant
effort into restoring eelgrass. Between 2017-
2022, Morro Bay NEP transplanted over 15,000
plants from healthy donor beds to areas with
eelgrass loss. Through the project, they tested
and documented restoration strategies including
optimal time of year, anchoring methods,
and locations. Volunteers spent nearly 500
hours getting wet and muddy while harvesting
and planting eelgrass. The Morro Bay NEP
documented lessons learned, such as timing
of planting and methods for transplanting.
The restored eelgrass improves water quality
and habitat by filtering out excess nutrients,
increasing oxygen levels, and stabilizing
sediment to allow for more light penetration.
Stabilization of sediment helps mitigate coastal
flooding/erosion and the accelerating impacts of
sea level rise. Additionally, eelgrass sequesters
carbon and mitigates the impacts of ocean
acidification. These plantings and the lessons
learned for future restoration help provide
critical habitat and ecosystem services that aid in
estuary resilience and climate change mitigation.
LOWER COLUMBIA ESTUARY
PARTNERSHIP (OREGON AND WASHINGTON)
Steiaerwald Reconnection Project
In the 1960s, a 5.5-mile levee was constructed
separating the Columbia River from over 1,200
acres of historic floodplain located within the
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge in
southwest Washington. Initially designed to
protect adjacent properties from Columbia River
flooding, the levee exacerbated internal flooding
from Gibbons Creek, a tributary to the Columbia
River flowing through the Refuge, The levee also
prevented salmon, steelhead, and lamprey from
accessing the floodplain for rearing habitat. The
flooding from Gibbons Creek required the Port of
Camas-Washougal to maintain a costly pumping
system and to dredge the creek annually. The
Steigerwald Reconnection Project restored the
natural alluvial fan of Gibbons Creek, placed
over 2,200 logs for immediate habitat uplift,
and reforested 250 acres of riparian habitat.
The levee system was also reoriented to restore
connections to the Columbia River and to reduce
flooding impacts from Gibbons Creek to the
port's industrial park, a wastewater treatment
facility, and residential areas, resulting in lower
pumping costs for local governments. The habitat
restoration initiatives helped to improve ecosystem
health, limit the impacts of invasive species, and
allowed for expanded recreational opportunities
at the Refuge. Over the course of three years of
construction, the project also generated 550 local
jobs and provided opportunities for thousands
of local students and community members to
volunteer and contribute to the project ¦
15
-------
Climate Resilience
2022 Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership public conference to discuss impacts of Hurricane Ian on
natural resources in Central and Southwest Florida. Photo by the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Program
Estuaries are, by nature, on the front lines
of many climate change impacts: more
intense storms, sea level rise, subsidence,
and land loss. NEPs work to study, monitor,
and restore estuaries so they can continue
providing ecosystem services important to
coastal communities such as wave attenuation
and flood mitigation. In addition, NEPs provide
resources and strategies to communities facing
the effects of climate change to help them
prepare for severe weather events and shifting
weather patterns.
TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM (FLORIDA)
Coastal Acidification and Seagrass Monitoring
Ocean acidification, propelled by increased
dissolved carbon dioxide, threatens marine
IN 2022, OVER 1/4 OF
NEP HABITAT PROJECTS ADDRESSED
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND
ASSOCIATED ADAPTATION.
With Bipartisan infrastructure Law funding,
there will be new reporting mechanisms to
better capture the number of projects that
address climate change impacts.
ecosystems in the Tampa Bay Estuary. Ocean
pH has declined by 0.1 since 1998—the fastest
decline of any recorded period. Seagrass can
naturally reduce acidity in an estuarine habitat,
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program has carried
out seagrass distribution and abundance
16
monitoring since 1998 and recently deployed
the U.S. Geological Survey's ocean carbon
systems to monitor acidification rates and better
understand these processes. The transect data
can be accessed online and includes thousands
of records on seagrass condition, representing
nearly 30 years of field sampling. When
compared to the U.S. Geological Survey high-
resolution pH trends, these data help the Tampa
Bay Estuary Program, partners, and the public
understand the benefits of improving native
seagrass habitats to combat ocean acidification.
Over the past 40 years, reductions in nutrient
pollution throughout the Tampa Bay Watershed
have significantly improved water clarity, leading
to increases in seagrass. However, seagrass in
the Tampa Bay Estuary started to decline again
in 2020, demonstrating the need for continued
scientific research and restoration activities. In
2022, water quality levels reached "green" status
which indicated healthy seagrass populations
in the four major sites of the estuary for the
first time since 2014, and seagrass frequency of
occurrence increased by 4 percent between 2021
and 2022 after a three-year decline.
SAN JUAN BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM
(PUERTO RICO) Resilience Hubs
The population surrounding the San Juan
Bay Estuary is vulnerable to natural disasters,
particularly hurricanes, which are occurring
with increasing intensity and frequency due to
climate change. Natural disasters like Hurricanes
Irma and Maria in 2017 place heavy burdens on
local government and jeopardize community
members' access to clean water, electricity, and
medical supplies. The Sanjuan Bay Estuary
Program has established four Resilience Hubs
Sanjuan Bay Estuary Program (SJEP) hosts EPA's site
visit with Community Resilience Hub leaders, Puerto
Rico 2022. Photo by Maria Gabriela
in existing community centers to serve as a
space for empowerment and refuge in times of
emergency. The Sanjuan Bay Estuary Program
increased the resilience of communities around
these hubs by installing solar panels, improving
clean drinking water accessibility, stocking first
aid equipment, and facilitating the direction of
funding to purchase equipment, as needed.
In non-emergency times, the hubs serve as a
training and education space for residents. The
Resilience Hubs better prepare the broader San
Juan Bay Estuary community for natural disasters
while fostering community health and resiliency
in the face of socio-environmental challenges. ¦
17
-------
Nutrient Reduction
Volunteers from the Suffolk County Community College install a fish counter to monitor alewife and American eel
on the Peconic River at Grangebel Park, Riverhead, New York. Photo by the Peconic Estuary Partnership
Nutrient pollution in U.S. coastal waters
can cause or contribute to overgrowths
of algae that result in harmful algal
blooms (HABs). Climate change has contributed
to the increase in the frequency and severity of
HABs through a variety of mechanisms, including
temporary increases in salinity, fluctuation in
rainfall intensity, and intensified coastal upwelling.
HABs can negatively impact human and pet
health, aquatic ecosystems, and local economies,
costing the U.S. economy an estimated
$10-100 million annually2. Nutrient pollution
may also contribute to coastal acidification and
hypoxia, negatively affecting coastal ecosystems
and marine organisms, such as corals and
commercially important shellfish. NEPs carry out
various activities that reduce nutrient loads from
urban stormwater, wastewater, and agricultural
and residential practices.
2 National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). Assessing Environmental and Economic Impacts. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
18
Habitat restoration and protection projects, such
as easements, erosion control, land acquisition,
planting, rain garden creation, stormwater and
runoff controls, and vegetation buffers, provide
nutrient prevention and reduction benefits.
In 2022, NEPs collectively reduced an estimated
443 tons of nitrogen and 27 tons of phosphorus
through restoration and protection activities.3
That is equivalent to:
111,000-332,000
40-LB BAGS OF 10-5-10
FERTILIZER (NITROGEN)
19,000-35,000
40-LB BAGS OF 10-5-10
FERTILIZER (PHOSPHORUS) I
'Total nitrogen and phosphorus reductions were calculated
by classifying NEPs into ecoregions, identifying activities that
contributed to nutrient reduction, and calculating nutrient removal
rates based on scientific literature. A full explanation of the nutrient
methodology and findings can be found in the EPA report, The
National Estuary Program Is Playing a Major Role in Tackling Nutrient
Pollution.
PRIMARY LEVERAGED FUNDS
In 2022, about
$75.7 MILLION,
35 PERCENT
of leveraged funds, were invested in
nutrient management activities or
projects that address nonpoint pollution
sources, combined sewer overflow
systems, stormwater, and wastewater
management.
STORMWATER
WASTEWATER
MANAGEMENT
NONPOINT POLLUTION
SOURCES
COMBINED SEWER
OVERFLOW SYSTEMS
Left: Ducks swim through algal-bloom infested waters, DC. Right: Algal-bloom infested waters. Photos by Eric vance, u.s. epa
19
-------
Nutrient Reduction
PECONIC ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP
(NEW YORK) Septic Improvement Program
The Peconic Estuary Partnership works closely
with Suffolk County to support the Reclaim
Our Water Initiative, which offers a grant and
loan program to incentivize the replacement of
inadequate nitrogen reducing waste treatment
systems, such as cesspools and septic systems,
with Innovative, Alternative Onsite Wastewater
Treatment Systems (l/A OWTS). In 2022, 134
residential and two commercial l/A OWTS were
installed in the Peconic Estuary Watershed and
are credited with the removal of approximately
2,900 pounds of nitrogen. This successful
partnership will continue with direct Peconic
Estuary Partnership funding allocated in future
years to further support low- and median-
income families in the maintenance of l/A OWTS
systems. Funding will also be allocated to further
incentivize this important nitrogen reducing tool
in the Peconic watershed which has over 200,000
aging cesspools and septic systems.
INVESTING IN WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE
NEPs are implementing wastewater system
upgrades across the country to reduce
nutrient inputs into waterways. In Indian
River County, Florida, the Kashi Church
Foundation had 16 buildings that relied on
septic tanks installed in the 1970s, resulting
in nitrogen and other nutrients flowing into
the Indian River Lagoon. The Indian River
Lagoon NEP supported the installation of
a connected gravity sewer system between
the buildings, resulting in an immediate
reduction of water pollution from the Kashi
Church Foundation. The new community
sewer system reduces nitrogen outflows into
the Indian River Lagoon by approximately
139 pounds per year. The Buzzards Bay
NEP helped establish the Massachusetts
Alternative Septic Test Center to evaluate
the performance and operation costs of
innovative wastewater disposal technologies.
Under this effort, alternatives to conventional
septic systems that are more effective
in reducing nitrogen concentrations in
wastewater discharges were introduced and
implemented. Nearly 2,000 systems have
been installed in the region with the support
of state and local governments. The Sarasota
Bay Estuary Program is working with local
stakeholders and Florida environmental
agencies to develop a Pollutant Load
Reduction Goal, which includes wastewater
system upgrades, to combat the effects of
eutrophication. The Sarasota Bay Estuary
Program received support for formalizing
a 20 percent nitrogen load reduction goal;
this goal equals a reduction of 92 tons per
year in total nitrogen and 12 tons per year
in inorganic nitrogen. These examples of
wastewater system upgrades and associated
reduction in nutrients showcase the breadth
of impact from such projects administered by
NEPs across the country.
20
Grassy vegetation along the bank of a freshwater bay in the Peconic estuary system in Long Island, New York.
Photo by the Peconic Estuary Partnership
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DELAWARE ESTUARY
(DELAWARE) Freshwater Mussels for Water
Quality Improvement
Where abundant, freshwater mussels can
influence nutrient dynamics, maintain and
improve water quality, and enhance habitat for
other aquatic life. Unfortunately, freshwater
mussel populations have greatly declined in
the Delaware Estuary Region's waterways (and
many other regions across the continent) due
to stressors, such as streambed erosion, severe
flooding, chemical spills, impacts of historic
dams, land use changes, and other human
impacts. Small ponds and basins that are used
to manage stormwater runoff provide a unique
opportunity to couple research activities and
nutrient removal practices in the form of large-
scale mussel growing operations. The Partnership
for the Delaware Estuary conducted a study
that deployed two native mussel species in
stormwater ponds to determine their ability to
flourish in such a novel aquatic habitat and the
potential impacts they may have on water quality.
This study monitored mussel mortality, mussel
growth, and water quality. The study findings
build on previous research in the region about
the feasibility of freshwater mussel restoration,
particularly how to incorporate new technologies
such as propagating mussels for water quality
benefits. This study provided restoration benefits
at the experimental sites while also improving
broader understanding of freshwater restoration
and helping advance efforts to recover mussels in
the region. ¦
A bed of freshwater mussels filters water in Rhode
Island's Flat River, a tributary of Narragansett Bay.
Photo by Ayla Fox for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
21
-------
Human Health
Children play on swing set overlooking Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Photo by Ayla Fox for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
Estuary regions are home to 130 million
Americans. Humans interact with
estuaries in numerous ways including
seafood consumption and recreational activities.
Individuals who engage with their outdoor
surroundings have an increased life expectancy,
improved sleep quality, reduced cancer risk,
and improved mental health4. Climate change,
pollution, and habitat loss challenge the health
and function of estuaries, impacting human
health both directly and indirectly. NEPs play an
important role in protecting human health from
these impacts through monitoring and research,
restoration, nutrient management, and public
education projects.
GALVESTON BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM (TEXAS)
Evaluation of Seafood Consumption
Advisories
Seafood is a staple food source for many in
Galveston Bay, a region known for its seafood
delicacies. However, chemical contamination
in the Galveston Bay watershed from industrial
and consumer goods production, such as
4Twohig-Bennett, C, &Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-anaiysis of greenspace exposure
and health outcomes. Environmental research, 166, 628-637. https://doi.Org/10.T016/j.envres.2018.06.030
22
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins,
can accumulate in many aquatic species posing
a risk to human health. PCBs and dioxins have
both been linked to adverse health effects5.
If high concentrations of chemicals are found
in local fish, states may issue consumption
advisories to inform the public of potential
health hazards associated with consuming
contaminated fish or shellfish. These advisories
are crucial since fishing regularly occurs in many
portions of Upper Galveston Bay, including the
Houston Ship Channel. Through a partnership
with Texas A&M University and the Texas
Department of State Health and Services, the
Galveston Bay Estuary Program funded a project
to determine the adequacy of the current fish
consumption advisories by evaluating the risk
associated with the consumption offish and
crabs from a portion of Galveston Bay. Targeted
species included catfish, blue crab, spotted
seatrout, red drum, black drum, sheepshead,
flounder, and croaker. The analytic data from
tissue samples found that gaff-topsail catfish
and spotted seatrout collected from the Upper
Galveston Bay posed an apparent risk to public
health, while blue crab no longer exceeded the
Texas Department of State Health and Services
established thresholds for PCBs and other
toxins. As such, it was recommended that blue
crabs be removed from the Upper Galveston Bay
advisory. The current advisories are available
on the Seafood Consumption Advisories web
map. Active monitoring projects can protect
human health by improving the accuracy of
consumption advisories.
BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL
ESTUARY PROGRAM (LOUISIANA)
Harmful Alaal Bloom Threat Index
There is a critical need for near real-time and
high-resolution water quality and HAB data to
support growing shellfish and fish industries in
Louisiana's waters and prevent human exposure
to HABs. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary
Program partnered with The Water Institute to
deploy optical remote sensing techniques to
monitor HAB spatial distributions and generate
the satellite-based HAB Threat Index. The HAB
Threat Index is a simple tool used to assess the
potential threat to marine organisms, human
health, and economic well-being of shellfish
and fish industries in the Barataria-Terrebonne
National Estuary. The index helps policymakers,
resource managers, and local stakeholders
make informed decisions on public access and
commercial fishing operations. The HAB Threat
Index is based on algorithms of optically complex
waters and has the potential to provide a
framework for monitoring HABs in other bodies
of water in Louisiana. ¦
5White, S. S., & Birnbaum, L.. S. (2009). An overview of the effects of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds on vertebrates, as documented in human and
ecological epidemiology. Journal of environmental science and health, 27(4), 197-211. https://doi.Org/10.1080/10590500903310047
A blue heron sits on a tree in a swamp.
Photo by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
23
-------
Recreation
Paddling Dirickson Creek, a creek that drains to the Little Assawoman Bay. Photo by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
Estuaries provide a range of recreational
opportunities in nature that support both
physical and mental well-being. Recreation
in estuaries can increase a person's connection
to nature and may further reinforce interest in
conservation and pro-environmental attitudes
and behaviors6. Many of the NEPs' activities
increase recreational use of the estuary or make
it easier for people to access, enjoy, and benefit
from these outdoor assets.
MARYLAND COASTAL BAYS PROGRAM
(MARYLAND) Kovak Launches
Between 1954 to 1980, the location where
the Ayers Creek kayak and canoe launch now
stands was a municipal landfill with no public
access points. The 37-acre launch site and the
connected 4,000 acres of continuous forest in
the Holly Grove Swamp area were inaccessible
for public recreation. In 2012, Maryland Coastal
Bays Program, with help
from the Town of Ocean
City Department of Public
Works, State Highway
Administration, Maryland
Department of Natural
Resources, dozens of
volunteers, and the
Maryland Conservation Corps restored
the 37-acre site for recreational use and created
a safe access point from Lewis Road to Ayer
IN 2022, 88 NEP
HABITAT PROJECTS
IMPROVED/
INCREASED
EDUCATIONAL
OR RECREATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
6DeVille, N. V., Tomasso, L. P., Stoddard, O. P., Wilt, G. E., Horton, I. H., Wolf, K. L., Brymer, E., Kahn, P. H.,Jr, & James, P. (2021). Time Spent in
Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors. International journal of environmental research and public
health, 18(14), 7498. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147498
24
Creek. The site welcomes visitors for recreation
throughout the year, allowing the public to explore
and appreciate one of the last strongholds for
forested wilderness in northern Worcester
County. Additionally, Maryland Coastal Bays hosts
annual events that further promote recreational
and education opportunities, engendering
greater community connection to the estuary. In
2022, Maryland Coastal Bays hosted an invasive
species removal volunteer event at the Lewis
Road Kayak Launch, an educational guided kayak
on Ayers Creek, and a litter cleanup volunteer
event. The Maryland Coastal Bays Program,
along with its volunteers, continues to manage
the site for invasive species removal and trail
maintenance throughout the year.
COASTAL BEND BAYS 8s ESTUARIES
PROGRAM (TEXAS)
Packery Flats Public Access Enhancements
Nestled on the backside of Mustang Island,
adjacent to Packery Channel, the Packery Flats
Coastal Habitat is a little-known gem with lots to
offer in public access to coastal areas in the Texas
Coastal Bend region. The 1,000-acre protected
area boasts extensive intertidal habitats and
bird watching, kayaking, fishing, and other
recreational opportunities. Previous efforts by
the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program and
its partners include constructing parking lots
for public access, conducting debris and trash
cleanups, and installing interpretive signage at
the site. Storm surge from recent hurricanes
and increased popularity and usage of the
area overtime has led to a deterioration of the
previously installed vehicular barrier (bollards)
and cable system along with the nature trails,
parking areas, and access roads, prompting
the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program to
prioritize additional improvements. In 2022,
the program added over 120 tons of road base
material to restore an access road and parking
lot area; these improvements have allowed
recreational users, such as birders and fishers,
to continue accessing this popular site in a safe
and responsible way. The program also replaced
several missing or damaged portions of the
bollards to keep vehicles out of sensitive habitats
and installed signage to encourage visitors to
be good stewards. The Coastal Bend Bays &
Estuaries Program continues to prioritize this
site with even more access improvements and
cleanup events planned for 2023. ¦
.
Children swim in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
Many estuaries are located near urban centers.
Photo byAyla Fox for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
25
-------
Environmental Justice
Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in San Francisco, California provides educational opportunities to the public,
works with the local community to preserve the land, and hosts events to engage with locals. Photo by Natasha Daniels
Negative impacts from climate change,
pollution, and other environmental
health hazards disproportionately
affect communities with environmental justice
concerns. Further, these impacts are cumulative,
and the benefits from the natural environment
and processes are often unevenly distributed.
NEPs provide benefits to communities with
environmental justice concerns to address
historical disparities. Examples of benefits
include restoration and cleanup that mitigate
THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW
PROVIDES $132 MILLION FOR THE NEPS
FOR FISCAL YEARS 2022 THROUGH 2026.
This funding will enhance the capacity of
the NEPs to implement projects that benefit
historically disadvantaged communities. In
2022, NEPs engaged communities in planning
for equitable benefits from their projects.
26
health hazards, outdoor recreation opportunities
that promote mental and physical health, and
green infrastructure and other stormwater
measures that bolster climate resilience.
The organizational structure of the NEPs involves
working with partners in the Management
Conference and seeking public feedback on
CCMP priorities, making NEPs uniquely well-
positioned to work with communities to address
environmental justice and equity issues in a
holistic, meaningful way.
SARASOTA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM
(FLORIDA) Wetland Restoration at FISH
Preserve
The Florida Institute for Salt Heritage (FISH)
Preserve, 100-acres of wetland ecosystems
in the Sarasota Bay Estuary, helps to support
fisheries for Cortez, one of the few commercial
fishing centers left in southwest Florida. The FISH
Preserve experienced significant environmental
degradation and habitat loss over time, largely
due to illegal trash dumping and infestation by
exotic vegetation. Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
has helped restore small sections of the property
by removing exotic vegetation, such as Brazilian
pepper and Australian pine, and planting native
species, which will contribute to the recovery of
natural habitats. In addition to removing piles
of refuse at the site, the Sarasota Bay Estuary
Program and its stakeholders created saltwater
wetlands in a 2-acre area by clearing Australian
pines and other exotic trees. With funding made
available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and its
consultants and contractors are working on
the next stage of the project to build trails and
bridges for connectivity and create or restore
15 acres of tidal creeks and saltwater wetlands.
The establishment and maintenance of the
FISH preserve has helped support one of the
last true working waterfronts in the state of
Florida. Ongoing restoration efforts will promote
native species, provide a critical barrier from
encroaching development, and accommodate
expected rates of sea level rise over the next 30
years. These initiatives will help keep commercial
fishing a vital activity in the Sarasota Bay region.
SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP
(CALIFORNIA) Water Needs Assessment
The San Francisco Estuary Partnership,
alongside 15 community outreach partners with
environmental justice concerns and seven Tribes
and Tribal organizations, developed the Regional
Water Needs Assessment report. This five-year
effort included hundreds of listening sessions,
community meetings, workshops, and surveys
with community and Tribal members to address
historic and continuing racial, social, and Tribal
injustices in water management. The effort also
included a peer-to-peer needs assessment to
highlight how people experiencing homelessness
access water for drinking and hygiene. The
completed Regional Water Needs Assessment
provides findings related to water supply,
water quality, flood protection, stormwater
management, and habitat protection. The
Needs Assessment report is intended to guide
funding of future water and resiliency projects
in communities with environmental justice
concerns, with the expectation that community
voices be elevated into the decision-making
process of those projects. The report also
includes insights into future engagement by
public agencies from the community and Tribal
partners. ¦
27
-------
Community Engagement and Education
The San Juan Bay Estuary Program shows EPA a biohut project, which uses artificial habitat structures to
protect larvae and young fish from predators and encourages the colonization of native oysters and other benthic
organisms. The project also provides an opportunity for aquatic habitat education, outreach, and environmental
stewardship. Photo by Cesar G.
Forty percent of the U.S. population
live in estuary regions. The ways
these communities interact with their
surroundings has a significant, direct impact
on the health of the nation's estuaries. Public
and community engagement, outreach, and
education are critical components of NEP
programs to restore and protect these valuable
resources. NEPs engage people in decision-
making, education, and monitoring and
restoration activities, furthering the positive
feedback loop between people and estuaries.
BARN EC AT BAY PARTNERSHIP (NEW JERSEY)
Paddle for the Edae Shoreline Survey
Barnegat Bay's shorelines are dynamic habitats
with cycles of growth and erosion. Each shoreline
is different, and erosion and accumulation are
affected by physical forces, such as storm waves
and boat wakes, as well as by the presence of
mussel and plant species. Monitoring is needed
to understand flooding and storm impacts,
predict how shorelines may react to sea-
level rise, identify potential restoration areas,
and evaluate the recreational, habitat, and
28
commercial value of the estuary. Paddle for the
Edge is an annual data collection event driven
by volunteer kayakers, canoeists, and stand-
up paddleboarders. In 2022, the Barnegat
Bay Partnership trained 95 volunteers to use
a smartphone app to record information
about shoreline conditions while kayaking,
canoeing, and paddleboarding. The survey
includes shoreline features and key biotic
indicators, which help to assess conditions
and identify what processes are impacting the
bay's shorelines. Volunteers collected data
at 1,009 locations and assessed 27 miles of
shoreline. Since the annual event initiated in
2015, volunteers have paddled a total of 182
miles of shoreline and collected more than
9,144 data points. The survey supplies key
data for understanding shoreline health and
dynamics while also providing a recreational
and community engagement opportunity.
Paddle for the Edge data has been used to
support grant applications to fund shoreline
restoration projects. In 2023, Paddle for the
Edge expanded into neighboring watersheds
supported by other public and private
environmental organizations in Atlantic and
Cape May counties.
NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY HARBOR &
ESTUARY PROGRAM (NEW YORK AND
NEW JERSEY) Marine Debris Cleanup
After Superstorm Sandy, many derelict vessels
remained abandoned in and around the New
York-New Jersey Harbor. In 2022, with support
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program,
the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary
Program partnered with Hudson Riverkeeper
and the City of Hoboken, Newjersey, to remove
17 abandoned and derelict vessels from the
Hudson River in Weehawken Cove and in the
mid-Hudson. Removal eliminates the risk of
potential release of harmful metals, chemicals,
and plastics from abandoned vessels, improving
habitat and recreation. The 24-month project
also aimed to engage boaters and the
public through an education campaign that
discourages vessel abandonment and supports
plans to establish a living shoreline in the Cove.
Additionally, education efforts are expected to
further prevent future marine debris, making
the Hudson River a place where communities
and wildlife can enjoy the waterways for years
to come. ¦
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
In 2022, approximately
$12 MILLION,
6 PERCENT
of primarily leveraged
funds, were invested in
public education.
PUBLIC
EDUCATION
29
-------
Capacity, Funding, and Partnerships
High school students pull a seine net during an educational program at the James Farm Ecological Preserve, Ocean
View, Delaware. Photo by the Delaware Center for Inland Bays
NEPs partner with public and private
organizations to complete projects
and leverage resources to help
implement CCMPs. Effective partnerships are
built by engaging, convening, supporting, and
educating the public and private sectors. These
partnerships are vital to protecting and restoring
the water quality and ecological integrity of
estuaries of national significance.
IN 2022, NEPS SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO
SECURE ALMOST $3B IN ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES FOR PROJECTS TO
MONITOR, ASSESS, RESTORE, AND
PROTECT THE HEALTH OF ESTUARIES.
NEPs work with partners to leverage
additional resources beyond primary
leveraged investments.
30
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
In 2022, approximately
$22.8 MILLION,
10.5 PERCENT
of primary leveraged funds,
were invested in administrative
activities that build capacity,
funding, and partnerships.
ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIVITIES
PRIMARY LEVERAGED INVESTMENTS,
BY FUNDING SOURCE, FY 2022
In 2022, NEPs leveraged a total
of approximately $218 million in
which they played a central role
in obtaining resources.
State
44.18%
Local
24.74%
Federal
21.48%
Private
9.60%
NEPs incorporate innovative strategies to
leverage funds. These may include fundraising
appeals, applying for public and private grants,
and various tax revenues, as appropriate.
BUZZARDS BAY NATIONAL ESTUARY
PROGRAM (MASSACHUSETTS)
Technical Assistance
The Buzzards Bay NEP provides technical
assistance to municipalities and other partners
to help meet the goals and objectives of
the Buzzards Bay CCMP. This assistance
includes performing watershed nitrogen
loading analyses, mapping salt marsh loss,
producing GIS data and maps, supporting
grant proposal development, and reviewing
local projects. During the past several years, a
special focus of the Buzzards Bay NEP has been
assisting municipalities to comply with their EPA
stormwater permits. To address the most costly
and daunting elements of stormwater permits,
the Buzzards Bay NEP created the Buzzards
Bay Stormwater Collaborative to assist with
illicit discharge detection and elimination tasks,
particularly field investigations, stormwater
network mapping, and discharge monitoring.
The Stormwater Collaborative consists of a
partnership between the Buzzards Bay NEP,
eight municipalities, and a state college,
Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Under the
31
-------
Capacity, Funding, and Partnerships
Aquaculture, like the oyster farms in Rehoboth Bay,
Delaware, are a key player in creating healthier bays.
Photo by the Delaware Center for Inland Bays
Storrnwater Collaborative, the Buzzards Bay NEP
guides participants in storrnwater infrastructure
mapping, provides data management support,
manages an online interactive map, and funds
laboratory testing. In addition, the Buzzards Bay
NEP provides funding to Massachusetts Maritime
Academy to administer a program for students
participating in the Buzzards Bay Storrnwater
Collaborative. The Massachusetts Maritime
Academy's co-op and work-study students work
directly with municipalities to conduct field
investigations and collect storrnwater samples.
Municipalities fund students participating in
the program. Municipalities also provide in-
kind services through public works staff who
participate in the investigations and provide
access to infrastructure and traffic control
where needed. By providing municipal staff
support, many of the students participating in
the Storrnwater Collaborative meet the college's
environmental degree requirements for co-
op experience and develop practical skills for
future career opportunities. The Storrnwater
Collaborative provides a cost-effective solution
for municipalities managing their storrnwater
networks while creating educational and real-
life experiences for college students. The
Collaborative assists the Buzzard Bay NEP's
efforts to meet communities' needs for localized
storrnwater infrastructure data and resources
and supports efforts to protect and restore water
quality and improve public health in the region.
SANTA MONICA BAY NATIONAL ESTUARY
PROGRAM (CALIFORNIA) - Safe Clean
Water Program
In November 2018, Los Angeles County voters
approved the Safe Clean Water Program which
provides up to $285 million a year in parcel tax
revenue for green storrnwater infrastructure
projects and programs for all of Los Angeles
County. The special parcel tax is 2.5 cents per
square foot of impermeable surface area on
private property in the Los Angeles County Flood
Control District. The passage of this measure
was an action in the Santa Monica Bay NEP
CCMP, and several NEP partners are part of the
committees that manage the Safe Clean Water
Program. In 2022, the Santa Monica Bay NEP
Governing Board recommended that the Los
Angeles County Board of Supervisors approve
seven green storrnwater infrastructure projects
and one microplastics scientific study totaling
more than $18.9 million. The projects will
enhance park space and habitat, increase shade
and trees, reduce heat island effect, and reduce
toxin loading to surface waters. Projects funded
under the Safe Clean Water Program support
the Santa Monica NEP's overarching goals to
enhance socioeconomic benefits to the public,
improve water availability and water quality, and
to protect, enhance, and improve ecosystems in
the Santa Monica Bay and its watershed. ¦
32
Lighthouse in the
Narragansett Bay.
Photo byAyla Fox for the
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
-------
Looking
Ahead
Since its inception, the NEP has strived to
improve the environmental and public
health of estuaries and surrounding
communities through collaboration with
agencies, community organizations and
nonprofits. This report highlights the growth,
successes, and future opportunities of the 28
NEPs, such as:
• Reducing nutrient pollution, microplastics,
and other emerging contaminants;
• Implementing strategies and mitigating
climate risk for coastal communities and
ecosystems;
• Increasing equity and accessibility across the
program; and
• Fostering cross-organization collaboration
and innovative funding.
Future opportunities are enhanced by the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will
distribute $900,000 in annual funding to each
of the 28 locations during fiscal years 2022-
2026. NEPs are working to advance equitable
access to benefits of the new funding by
developing and implementing equity strategies.
The equity strategies describe each individual
NEP's contribution to the program-wide goal of
ensuring that at least 40 percent of benefits and
investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law funding flow to communities with
environmental justice concerns. Cross-agency
collaboration under Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law funding provides opportunity for NEPs
to work with other agencies and implement
restorative infrastructure such as restoring
fish passage for migratory species. NEPs will
continue to use this funding to address critical
water issues and land conservation needs of
communities and ecosystems in these estuaries.
This will include implementation of climate-
34
Volunteers constructing a Living Shorelines
demonstration site in Brunswick, Maine.
Photo by the Greater Portland Council of Governments
risk prioritized projects focused on habitat
restoration, nutrients and microplastics pollution
reduction, and blue and green infrastructure.
In the ongoing effort to build the adaptive
capacity of communities and ecosystems, the
EPA is developing two versions of an educational
module highlighting water equity challenges
and opportunities in watershed management:
The Clean Water Act through an Environmental
Justice Lens. The practitioners' module outlines
existing approaches and additional ideas for
implementing equity into programs under
the Clean Water Act at state, local, Tribal, and
territory levels, as well as examples of existing
approaches and methods for integrating
environmental justice into water programs. The
public audience module provides information
about resources and opportunities for
community members to advance environmental
justice in water management. The modules
will be part of the EPA's Watershed Academy
which hosts materials promoting education and
awareness of watershed management.
Looking toward the future, the NEPs will
advance CCMP projects to restore and protect
estuary resources, foster relationships with local
communities and partners, listen to the needs
of communities with environmental justice
concerns, and strategize about how to assist
coastal communities facing climate risk and
sea-level rise impacts via innovative sustainable
technologies and partnerships. Coordinating
across government organizations at all levels and
collaborating on priority challenges will remain
a focus for NEPs and the EPA. The long history
of the NEP demonstrates that collaboration and
partnership are the cornerstones for achieving a
sustainable future. ¦
35
-------
Individual NEP2022
Accomplishments
An osprey nest
overlooking Rehoboth
Bay in Dewey Beach,
Delaware.
Photo by the Delaware Center
for Inland Bays
36
-------
Albemarle-Paml ico National
Estuary Partnership
ABOUT THE AREA
The Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System
includes approximately 28,000 square
miles iri six major river basins in
northeastern North Carolina and southeastern
Virginia that flow into a network of eight
interconnected sounds flanked by the Outer
Banks. Nearly 10,000 miles of streams and rivers
carve the landscape and pour into an incredibly
productive 2-million-acre estuary that is the
second largest estuary system in the country.
The region supports abundant plant and animal
life and is home to nearly four million people.
The coastal communities in the region are largely
rural, with major population centers located in
the upper reaches of each basin.
Shell Bottom
53.13(1.3%)
Forest/Woodland
328.42 (8.07%)
Estuarine Shoreline
35.21 (0.86%)
Hard Bottom
0.23 (0.01%)
Riparian
588.4
(14.45%)
Agriculture/
Ranch Land
730 (17.93%)
Forest/Wetland
2336.211 (57.38%)
Norfolk
QRocky Mount
Raleigh
NORTH
CAROLINA
Greenville
Pamlico
Sound
0 10 20 Miles
1 i I
2022 Habitat Projects
O Maintenance
• Protection
O Restoration
I NEP Boundary
detail
Atlantic
Ocean
fVginia Beach
VIRGINIA
_ Fayetteville
North
Carolina
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Over three decades, the Albemarle-Pamlico
National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) has
served as a neutral science-based regional
convenor, bringing together agencies,
organizations, universities, and citizens to protect
and restore the estuary system for people and
wildlife in North Carolina and Virginia. Through
research, collaboration, and an ecosystem-
based management approach, the APNEP CCMP
identifies actions to identify, protect, and restore
the significant resources of the region. Initiatives
that APNEP leads or supports include:
• Research and economic studies;
• Measures to protect or restore ecosystems;
• Environmental monitoring programs;
• Projects that build community and
ecosystem resilience; and
• Education and outreach efforts.
APNEP's comprehensive approach is designed
to preserve the integrity of the entire estuarine
ecosystem, with a special emphasis on improving
water quality in the region's rivers and sounds. In
2022, APNEP:
• Conducted bi-seasonal aerial and boat-based
seagrass surveys with partners to support
implementation of the Integrated Monitoring
Strategy.
• Developed a strategy with Tribal liaisons to
include coastal plain Tribal communities in
climate resilience and adaptation planning
and identify best practices for agencies and
resilience practitioners to engage with Tribal
nations.
• Supported University of North Carolina
research study to develop scientifically
defensible water quality standards to protect
seagrass and inform policy development
through the NC Nutrient Criteria
Development Plan and the NC Coastal
Habitat Protection Plan. ¦
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Monitoring/Research
$736,786
44.9%
Wastewater $497,614-
30.3%
Public Education $227,668
Administrative—i
Operations $95,433
Stormwater
$31,957-
Nonpoint Source $27,139 -
Restoration S23,125-
13.9%
5.8%
1.9%
1.7%
1.4%
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Implemented 41 habitat projects
Funded watershed education initiatives
that engaged 20 teachers and over 350
students in outdoor learning
TOP 3 HABITAT PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Improve or protect water quality
2. Protect or preserve open space
3. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for wildlife
TOP 3 PROJECT AREAS
1. Monitoring and research
2. Habitat protection
3. Community engagement
39
-------
I Barataria-Terrebonne
National Estuary Program
2022 Habitat Projects
O Restoration
_J NEP Boundary
Lake
Pontchartrain
MISSISSIPPI
Slidell
New Orleans
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
~
Map
detail
A Restored 1,498 acres of beaches, dunes
and marshes
0 15 30 Miles
1 I I
Gulf of Mexico
ABOUT THE AREA
The Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary System
encompasses 4.1 million acres of upland
forests, swamps, marshes, bayous, bays,
and barrier islands. It is located between the
Atchafalaya River and the Mississippi River in
southern Louisiana.
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
LOUISIANA
White crane catching food in Louisiana.
Photo by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
[iflUS
Created 473 acres of intermediate
marsh using sediment dredged from
nearby lake
Enhanced 68.36 acres of bird habitats
via installation and maintenance of nest
boxes
Planted two acres of pollinator habitat
40
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary
Program (BTNEP) is a partnership of government,
business, scientists, conservation organizations,
agricultural interests, and individuals for the
preservation, protection, and restoration of the
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary. BTNEP's
Action Plans cover four main categories:
• Coordinated Planning and Implementation;
• Ecological Management;
• Sustained Recognition; and
• Citizen Involvement.
BTNEP identified seven priority issues, including
hydrologic modification and species decline, that
fall under the Ecological Management Action Plan.
Addressing these issues is essential to preventing
further degradation of the habitats, ecosystem,
and cultural heritage unique to the estuary system.
Hydrologic modifications, such as channelization
and the building of levees and roadways in service
of human uses and activities, have significantly
reduced and damaged Louisiana's historically
vast wetlands. This damage increased the threat
of community flooding and loss of habitat in
the estuary. In 2022, BTNEP completed the West
Grand Terre Beach Nourishment and Stabilization
Project, which addressed reductions in storm surge
protection and increases in shoreline erosion.
The project also increased island longevity by
constructing rock barriers to protect the newly
restored marsh and native biological resources
from wave impacts and storm surge. This effort
restored approximately 251 acres of beach and
dune and 147 acres of back-barrier marsh on the
island. BTNEP will continue to restore and protect
the ecological integrity of the estuary and preserve
its natural resources for the benefit of future
generations. ¦
TOP 3 HABITAT PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for birds
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for
other wildlife
3. Climate change adaptation and resilience
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Monitoring/Research
$256,1865
Administrative
Operations $176,868
Nonpoint Source $85,864
Public Education $60,233
Wastewater $47,076
Restoration $26,398-
Other
9 (0.44%)
Forest/Wetland
55 (2.69%)
39.3%
27.1%
13.2%
9.2%
7.2%
4.0%
Salt Marsh
6.36 (0.31%)
Island
3(0.15%)
Freshwater—
Marsh
473 (23.14%)
Beach
1498 (73.27%)
41
-------
H Barnegat Bay Partnership
2022 Habitat Projects
Trenton
joinc Bfce
McGuire-Dix-Lakimurst
Toms River
Map
detail
Brendan T.
Byrne State
Forest
NEWJERSEY
Wharton State
Forest
Protection
O Restoration
Atlantic
Ocean
NEP Boundary
10 Miles
ABOUT THE AREA
The Barnegat Bay Watershed
covers 66 square miles of the
coast of New Jersey. The bay is
a transitional zone between freshwater
and saltwater; plants and animals that
are adapted to saltwater, freshwater,
and brackish water inhabit its ecosystem.
Its habitats, which support an expanse
of human development, include salt
marshes, freshwater marshes, and
forested wetlands.
Volunteer takes photo from his kayak at the
Paddle 4 The Edge Event on Barnegat Bay.
Photo by the Barnegat Bay Partnership
Grassland
0.49(1.55%)
Forest —
Wetland
9.02
{28.48%)
Salt Marsh
0.21 (0.66%)
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Forest/Woodland
21.95(69.31%)
•••••
...1
Convened over 60 people at the annual
community science project "Paddle for
the Edge"
Assessed five islands and created
preliminary restoration/enhancement
designs, which helped to acquire
external restoration funds
TOP 3 HABITAT PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Protect or preserve open space
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for birds
3. Improve or protect water quality
42
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Barnegat Bay Partnership (BBP) is a
partnership of federal, state, municipal,
academic, business, and private organizations
working together to restore, protect, and
enhance the natural resources of Newjersey's
Barnegat Bay ecosystem for future generations.
The BBP's community-developed plan identified
four main areas for action:
• Water Quality;
• Water Supply;
• Living Resources; and
• Land Use.
The BBP directly supported many actions in
the Newjersey Department of Environmental
Protection's (NJDEP) Ten-Point Plan (e.g.,
comprehensive water quality monitoring
network) and the subsequent Barnegat Bay
Restoration, Enhancement, and Protection
Strategy. The BBP coordinated a Model
Evaluation Group to review the NJDEP's
integrated hydrodynamic water quality model
for the bay, which provided the foundation
for the nutrient total maximum daily load
(TMDL), soon to be released to the public. The
bay's wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation
beds, riparian buffers, and fisheries remain
especially vulnerable. The BBP worked with
many partners to monitor and assess the bay's
critical habitats and acquire significant public
and private funding to restore wetlands. The BBP
is focused on land use due to the impact rapid
land development and population increase have
on the bay's landscape, ecological services, and
living resources. The BBP aims to identify and
promote holistic and collaborative approaches
to land-use planning, especially practices that
will improve soil function and enhance water
quality and quantity. The BBP worked with
community and industry partners to promote
best management practices and improve various
fisheries, including for finfish and shellfish. The
BBP will continue to collaborate with its partners
to reach their vision of a clean and healthy
ecosystem, which supports thriving populations
of native vegetation and wildlife and is accessible
for educational and recreational activities. ¦
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Land Aquisition
$4.76M
75.1%
Restoration $708,730
Monitoring/Research
$490,949
Wastewater $175,000
Administrative
Operations $154,742
Public Education $46,050 -
Barnegat Bay, Newjersey at sunset.
11.2%
3l
7.7%
2.8%
2.4%
0.7%
-------
Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program
ABOUT THE AREA
The 280 square-mile Buzzards Bay is
located between the western most part of
Cape Cod, Southeastern Massachusetts,
and the Elizabeth Islands. The surrounding
watershed covers 434 square miles and includes
all or portions of 17 municipalities. The 280-mile
coastline includes 11 miles of public beaches
that lure thousands of residents and tourists.
The watershed and bay are characterized by a
variety of habitats including forests, wetlands, salt
marshes, tidal streams, eelgrass beds, tidal flats,
barrier beaches, rocky shores and varied subtidal
habitats. Buzzards Bay's watershed has a diverse
landscape, providing a source of recreational
enjoyment through boating, swimming,
fishing, waterfowl hunting, hiking, and nature
appreciation in all seasons. Coastal tourism and
recreation activities bring millions of dollars into
local economies.
Industrial coastline along Buzzards Bay in New Bedford,
Massachusetts.
Plymouth
Taunton
Carver
MASSACHUSETTS
Lakeville
detail
WestWareham
Sandwich
Wareham
Somerset
Barrington
Rochester
Marion
Bristol
New Bedfori
Mashpee
RHODE
ISLAND
Portsmoutl
Falmouth
Buzzards Bay
Newport
10 Miles
Cape Cod
Bay
Vineyard
Sound
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
^ NEP Boundary
/
f V
Grea)
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program is
hosted by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal
Zone Management. Buzzards Bay NEP's CCMP
was one of the country's first coastal watershed
plans, and one of the first to have a strong
focus on nonpoint source pollution and the
cumulative impacts of development on water
quality and living resources. Last updated in
2013, the CCMP is a comprehensive action plan
that follows the core values of the previous
version with the addition of new areas of
concern, such as freshwater pollution and the
impact of nitrogen in the bay. Impairments to
water quality and living resources from excessive
nitrogen in Buzzards Bay, such as the loss
of eelgrass and shellfish beds caused by low
oxygen concentrations, are among the bay's
most pressing issues. The Buzzards Bay NEP
collaborates with and supports the Buzzards
Bay Coalition and scientists from Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution to monitor the health
of Buzzards Bay and develop needed total
maximum daily loads (TMDLs). On a weekly basis,
Coalition volunteers take samples around the
bay to monitor dissolved oxygen, temperature,
salinity, and water clarity. Nutrient sampling is
conducted four times a year. The Buzzards Bay
NEP provides Section 320 funds to support this
monitoring program. The monitoring program
helps protect the health of the bay by providing
a baseline to assess management needs, identify
impaired waters requiring TMDLs, measure the
effectiveness of actions taken, and determine
next steps. Other long term monitoring programs
supported by the NEP include river monitoring
to track nitrogen loading and tracking the loss of
Buzzards Bay salt marshes. ¦
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Improve or protect water quantity
2. Protect or preserve open space
3. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for wildlife
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Monitoring/Research
$642,848
Land
Acquisition
$513,414
Other $417,287
Stormwater
$401,575
Wastewater
$348,632
Public Education
$249,392
Restoration
$75,000
Administrative
Operations
$15,192
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
24.1%
19.3%
15.7%
15.1%
13.1%
9.4%
7.0%
0.6%
Leveraged $2,663,343 in primary funds
A
Restored or protected 160.7 acres
habitat
of
0
Provided scholarships to a marine science
program for 40 minority or economically-
disadvantaged students
Hosted five climate change risk and
adaptation meetings with key stakeholders
o
Protected, with partners, over 160 acres
of undeveloped land including a retired
cranberry bog that will be restored to a
wetland
45
-------
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
ABOUT THE AREA
Located in southern
Maine, the Casco Bay
watershed encompasses
985 square miles. The bay
boasts an estimated 785
islands, islets, and exposed
ledges and more than 600
miles of shoreline. The bay
has historically been a source
for human industrialism and
supported industries such
as shipyards, tanneries, and
textile factories.
A mother harbor seal and its pup sunbathe In Casco Bay, Maine.
Augusta
Conwayj
Casco
Boy
Portland
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
' i NEP Boundary
Atlantic
Ocean
NEW
HAMPSHIRE
Map
detail
S 10 Miles
_l I
MAINE
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Protected 778 acres of habitat,
including more than 300 acres of
forest and 200 acres of wetland
Engaged six towns in climate resilience
planning leading to $161,400 in grant
funding from Maine
Leveraged $5,809,750 in primary funds
Supported monitoring of:
• Water quality at 40 freshwater
and 26 marine sites
• Marine invasive species at
11 locations
• Changes at four tidal marshes
Field/
Meadow
53.6(12.76%)
Freshwater
Marsh
180
(23.12%)
Salt Marsh Forrest/
25(3.21%) Woodland
308 (39.56%)
Riparian
212 (27.23%)
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) is a
collaborative effort of people and organizations
working to protect and restore the bay. CBEP's
partners include local, state, and federal government
organizations; nonprofits; local businesses; citizens;
universities; and others. Their shared mission is
to help conserve the ecological integrity of Casco
Bay and its watershed through science, public
stewardship, and effective management. The Casco
Bay region comprises 4.4 percent of the land area of
the state of Maine but hosts 25 percent of the state's
population, 33 percent of all jobs, and almost 40
percent of economic activity. Growing human activity
threatens aquatic habitats and puts water quality
at risk. A changing climate poses economic, social,
and infrastructure challenges for coastal and inland
communities dependent on tourism and fisheries
for local livelihoods. CBEP's CCMP focuses on four
priority goals:
• Protecting and restoring habitat;
• Improving water quality;
• Fostering resilient communities; and
• Mobilizing collective knowledge and resources to
support the bay and its communities.
CBEP's priority projects work to counter cumulative
impacts of human activity as well as buffer the
effects of climate change on people and the bay. ¦
South Portland's urban shoreline and the Casco Bay
Bridge, Maine.
mmrnqyi
gfrniwrmw
-------
H Coastal & Heartland National
Estuary Partnership
2022 Habitat Projects
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
o
Maintenance
•
Protection
o
Restoration
NEP Boundary
Protected and restored
53,535.71 acres of habitat
Developed an 80,000-acre
hydroiogicai restoration
model and plan in Lower
Charlotte Harbor Flatwoods
Collected water quality
samples from 720 monitoring
locations
Reported 6,041 individual
subscribers for CHNEP
educational publications
Treated 24 acres of
invasive plants and
planted 14,821 native
plants at Myakka
Headwaters Preserve
Gulf of
Mexico
FLORIDA
Clearwater _
o Tampa
^St Petersburg
TOP 3 HABITAT
PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Protect water supply recharge
and flood storage areas
2. Protect and improve water
quality
3. Protect natural
resource-based economies
including tourism, outdoor
recreation, etc.
ABOUT THE AREA
The Coastal &
Heartland National
Estuary Partnership
(CHNEP) protects six estuaries
of national significance and their
watersheds, extending 5,416
square miles across ten counties
in central and southwestern
Florida. The CHNEP area supports
a large tourism industry and offers
a multitude of recreational activities
along its developed coasts and lakes.
lmmokalee
0 5 10 Miles
Lake
Okeechobee
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The CHNEP is a partnership comprised of
members, supporters, and volunteers who work
to improve water quality, hydrology, and fish
and wildlife habitat in central and southwestern
Florida. Additionally, the Partnership works
to educate and engage the public to assist
in the protection of these natural resources.
Habitats in the CHNEP area include dry scrubs,
pine flatwoods, wetlands, mangroves, and salt
marshes.
The CHNEP created the Habitat Restoration
Needs Plan which identifies preservation and
conservation opportunities for further habitat
protection. One such opportunity is a 538-acre
property located in Sarasota County that was
publicly purchased by the county for conserving
pine flatwoods, wet prairie, and marsh habitats.
CHNEP's mission is to unite Central and
Southwest Florida to protect water and wildlife. I
CHNEP staff member takes a water quality
sample off the side of a boat in the Charlotte
Harbor in Florida.
Photo by the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Program
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Restoration $1,62M -
The Charlotte Harbor Flatwoods Initiative
works to restore wetlands and tidal creeks within
the Charlotte Harbor Watershed in Florida.
Photo provided by the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Program
Monitoring/Research
$327,000
Administrative
Operations $271,500
Land Aquisition
$240,000
Public Education $159,905 -
61.8%
12.5%
10.4%
9.2%
6.1%
49
-------
¦
The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
O Restoration
l~~l NEP Boundary
Gulf of Mexico
o{
¦brpus
T
ABOUT THE AREA
| he Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries
Program area encompasses
11,500 square miles of land and
515 square miles of bays, estuaries, and
bayous along the south-central coastline
of Texas, The Coastal Bend contains three
of the seven Texas estuary systems: the
Aransas, Nueces, and Upper Laguna Madre
estuaries. Broad belts of mostly flat coastal
prairies, pastureland, and farmlands can be
found adjacent to the expansive bays that
are characterized by marshes, mangroves,
and a variety of subtidal habitats.
TEXAS Kingsville
20 Miles
Aransas
National
Wildlife Refuge
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Restored 7 acres of bird nesting habitat
Protected 377 acres of coastal marsh, tidal flat
and thorn scrub habitat
HP Leveraged $5,194,970 in primary funds
Restored or protected 1,722 acres of habitat
Removed 1,337 acres of invasive vegetation in
coastal grasses and grasslands
A black skimmer colony on a bird nesting island.
Photo by the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program
50
An island in Nueces Bay in Texas. A rock breakwater
protects the island from erosion and provides nesting
habitat for coastal waterbirds
Photo by the Coastal Bend and Bays & Estuaries Program
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program
(CBBEP) mission is to protect and restore the
health and productivity of the bays and estuaries
while supporting continued economic growth
and public use of the bays in South Texas. The
Coastal Bend Bays Plan has served as a regional
framework for the management, protection,
and conservation of Coastal Bend bays and
estuaries for over 20 years. Updated in 2020,
the Plan includes a detailed, yet flexible, regional
framework for action that partners in industry,
local government, academia, and resource
management can use to align their resources
and programs to voluntarily participate in Bays
Plan implementation. With the help of numerous
partners, the CBBEP restored thousands of
acres of marsh habitat, funded dozens of
projects designed to improve water quality, and
installed infrastructure to enhance public access
opportunities. In addition to implementing
projects that address priority issues like
water quality, habitat restoration, and nature
tourism, CBBEP created programs to conserve
and restore coastal birds and their habitats,
conduct environmental education programs,
and acquire coastal habitats for the purposes
of conservation. In 2022, CBBEP completed the
protection and restoration of Causeway Bird
Island, an important rookery island located in
Nueces Bay. Causeway Bird Island supports
thousands of nesting waterbirds but has
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Restoration S2.80M
54.55%
Monitoring/Research
$793,427
Public Education $731,689
15.27%
14.08%
Administrative
Operations $658,664
Wastewater $35,652
Other $141,625
12.7%
0.69%
2.73%
suffered from erosion for many years due to
exposure to wind and waves. CBBEP installed a
segmented rock breakwater around the entire
island that will provide protection for the existing
7-acre island, while also allowing for future
expansion to approximately 17 acres over time,
formed naturally and through beneficial use of
dredge material. Once material is placed inside
the breakwater structures, the available nesting
area will more than double, giving the birds
additional safe area to raise their young. ¦
TOP 3 HABITAT PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for birds
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for wildlife
3. Climate change adaptation and resilience
51
-------
H Delaware Center for the Inland Bays
Milton
Reheboth
Bay
Nanticok^J
Indian Tribe O
Sdtsa
DELAWARE
River Bay
Millsboro
MidiWids
WildlifeStfea
Assawoma
Wildlife Are
MARYLAND
2022 Habitat Projects
O Maintenance
O Protection
O Restoration
I—I NEP Boundary
Forest
Woodland
157.8 (39.86%)
=hoboth Beach
ABOUT THE AREA
The Inland Bays watershed,
located in southeastern Delaware,
comprises 292 square miles of
land draining into 35 square miles of
bays and tidal tributaries. Rehoboth
Bay and Indian River Bay are tidally
connected to the Atlantic Ocean, while
Little Assawoman Bay is connected by
the Ocean City Inlet in Maryland. The
bays are shallow, generally less than
seven feet, and have an average tidal
range of three feet. The watershed
contains a diversity of habitats, including
salt marshes, tidal flats, freshwater
wetlands, shellfish reefs, maritime
forests, and winding creeks. These
support an abundance of aquatic and
terrestrial wildlife, as well as a thriving
community and economy.
>m
~
Map
detail
Atlantic
Ocean
Forest
Wetland
0.096 (0.02%)
— In-Stream
5 (1.26%)
— Beach
0.022(0.01%)
7 Miles
Students search intertidal flats of the Indian River
Bay for bay creatures at the James Farm Ecological
Reserve, Delaware.
Photo by the Delaware Center for Inland Bays
52
The CIB staff and volunteers pull in a seine net during one of the Center's annual Shorezone Fish and Blue Crab
surveys that takes place at 16 sites across the region's three bays, Delaware. Photo by the Delaware Center for Inland Bays
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays (CIB)
brings together partners from federal, state, and
local agencies; nonprofits; higher education; and
the community to preserve, protect, and restore
Delaware's Inland Bays and their watershed. The
CIB's CCMP guides this collaborative partnership
and is organized into focus areas that cover:
• Living with a Changing Climate;
• Coordinated Land and Water Use
Management;
• Managing Living Resources and their
Habitat; and
• Clean Waters.
The CIB identified eutrophication and habitat
loss as critical issues due to urbanization and
agricultural activities, which have caused the
bays to become highly enriched with nutrients,
resulting in algae blooms. To address these
issues, the CIB's CCMP has enacted action
plans with objectives to reduce the amounts of
nutrients, sediments, and other contaminants
entering waterways from runoff. Currently, the
CIB is collaborating with partner organizations to
reforest land throughout the watershed, which
reduces nutrient pollution runoff and improves
wildlife habitat. Since 2015, the CIB and its
partners have reforested almost 240 acres.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Implemented 15 habitat projects totaling
395.9 acres restored or protected
Diverted 3,000 - 4,000 bushels of oyster
shells from landfills for an enhancement
project
Enhanced 4,200 square feet of tidal
wetlands
Educated over 600 students at the James
Farm Ecological Preserve
Planted over 35,000 trees
Leveraged $127,660 in primary funds
TOP HABITAT PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Protect or preserve open space
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for birds
and other wildlife
53
-------
H Galveston Bay Estuary Program
2022 Habitat Projects
o
Protection
o
Restoration
(=~
NEP Boundary
ine National
ife Refuge
Gulf of Mexico
TEXAS
©
Bay City
0 10 20 Miles
ABOUT THE AREA
The Galveston Bay system covers 600
square miles in the western Gulf of
Mexico along the upper coast of Texas. Its
habitat includes river deltas, emergent marshes,
submerged seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and
open bay bottoms. The region also contains
large urban centers such as Houston, located
within 50 miles of the bay.
Huntsville
o
Sam Ho
National
The Woodlands
a
LOUISIANA
Lake Ch
£
Big Thicket
National
Preserve
Beaumont
— Riparian
48.9 (0.05%)
An alligator rests in a freshwater marsh in
Galveston Bay, Texas.
Photo by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program
Estuarine
Shoreline
Coastal
Prairie
4,714 (88.64%)
The Chocolate Bay Preserve covers 4,/14 acres of protected coastal habitat along Galveston Bay. GBEP provided
financial support for land acquisition. Photo by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP), one of
two estuary programs in Texas, works to provide
comprehensive ecosystem management through
collaborative partnerships with state, federal,
and local agencies to ensure the preservation
of the bay's multiple uses through outreach and
project implementation. GBEP works to support
an ecosystem-based approach by establishing
four research focus areas:
• Ensure Safe Human and Aquatic Life Use;
• Protect and Sustain Living Resources;
• Engage Communities; and
• Inform Science-Based Decision-Making.
The GBEP's top priorities are protecting and
sustaining habitat and living resources. Bays
depend on high-functioning habitats to
support abundant and diverse wildlife and
mmamm
Restored or protected 5,317.9 acres of
habitat
Engaged 2,589 volunteers to collect
74,98 tons of trash at the 28th annual
Trash Bash
plant communities. In 2017, GBEP's indicators
identified critical habitats of Galveston Bay as
threatened, including freshwater wetlands,
submerged aquatic vegetation, oyster beds, and
salt flats. GBEP, in collaboration with partners,
is enhancing existing habitats to increase
overall function and productivity. They are
submitting grant proposals for multiple funding
opportunities for adaptive enhancement projects
in identified areas of degraded coastal habitat.
Within 10 years of project implementation, 5,000
acres of lost or degraded coastal habitats will be
healthy and functioning. ¦
TOP 3 HABITAT PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for birds,
fish, shellfish, and other wildlife
2. Protect or preserve open space
3. Improve or protect water quality
Conserved 5,269 acres of coastal habitat
along Halls Bayou and West Galveston
itftiu Bay to be named The Chocolate Bay
Preserve
Removed 49 acres of invasive woody
overstory and vining species from
forested riparian habitat and planted 35
native wetland plants
55
-------
2022 Habitat Projects
O Maintenance
O Restoration
NEP Boundary
Deltona
o
Orange
ABOUT THE AREA
The Indian River Lagoon watershed covers 356 square miles
in Florida. Its habitats include estuarine shoreline, coquina
shoreline, estuarine water column, seagrass beds, oyster
reefs, salt marshes, mangroves, sand bottom, hard bottom, spoil
islands, freshwater swamps, wetlands, hardwood hammocks, and
upland forests. Florida's barrier islands have been extensively
developed and support a large human population.
Orlando
o
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
48%
Beach
Indian River Lagoon
National Estuary Program
Wastewater
$1.92M
Stormwater 21%
$838,734
Administrative I 16%
Operations $639,036
Restoration 10%
$399,397
Monitoring/Research ^
$159,759
Public Education $39,939 1%
Lake
Okeechobee
0 15 30 Miles
Atlantic
Ocean
FLORIDA
detail
The Indian River Lagoon and the Sebastian Inlet, a popular area for recreational activities like fishing and surfing.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary
Program (IRLNEP) works to attain and maintain
sufficient water and sediment quality to support
a healthy lagoon ecosystem. The IRLNEP
achieves this goal through science-based
decision-making, community engagement, and
regional collaboration among stakeholders. The
IRLNEP:
• Works closely with its local, state, and federal
partners to coordinate interagency activities
and priorities;
• Seeks to identify and secure long-term
funding for prioritized projects and
programs; and
• Aligns its decision-making processes and
recommended actions with the CCMP and
full engagement of the IRLNEP Management
Conference.
Expanded community engagement is a high
priority for the IRLNEP, with special emphasis
on the needs of underserved communities.
Activities of the IRLNEP integrate actions across
four focus areas:
• Environmental Quality;
• Economic Value;
• Climate Preparedness; and
• Green Infrastructure.
The IRLNEP is currently promoting behavior
changes among residents and tourists that
foster a Lagoon-Friendly™ culture and brand
for the watershed. All activities and actions of
the program align with the One Lagoon, One
Community, One Voice™ mission. ¦
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
o
Implemented 33 habitat projects
Restored or protected 121.4 acres
of habitat
TOP 3 HABITAT PROJECT BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Improve or protect water quality
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for other
wildlife
3. Climate change adaptation and resilience
57
-------
I Long Island Sound Study
ABOUT THE AREA
The Long Island Sound watershed covers
more than 16,000 square miles in six
states and encompasses hundreds of
local watersheds. In addition to wildlife, the
region contains coastal communities that are
home to about four million people.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is a cooperative
effort involving researchers, regulators, and
other concerned organizations and individuals
to protect and improve the health of the sound.
LISS carries out all work with four primary goals,
specifically to: improve water quality; restore
and protect the sound's ecological balance as a
healthy and productive state; support informed
and engaged communities; and manage LISS
using adaptive and inclusive cross-jurisdictional
governance. The four focus areas of the CCMP are:
• Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds;
• Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife;
• Sustainable and Resilient Communities; and
• Sound Science and Inclusive Management.
Scientific understanding through research,
assessment, and monitoring is inherent to
effective management. LISS also adopted
three integrative principles—resiliency to
climate change, long-term sustainability,
and environmental justice —which are used
throughout LISS's organization and during
implementation of LISS programs. ¦
RHODE
ISLAND
NEW
YORK
New York
Elizabeth
West BabylcRire Island
National
Seashore
20 Miles
I I I I I II I
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
O Restoration
i NEP Boundary
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Wastewater
$22.8M
Monitoring/Research
$10.83M
Combined Sewer
Overflow $6.68M
Restoration $5.85M
Stormwater $5.09M
Public Education $2.88M
Land Acquisition $2.66M
Nonpoint Source S3.59M
Administration
Operations $33,400
Other $2.21 M
37.24%
17.69%
10.90%
9.55%
8.31%
4.70%
4.34%
3.59%
0.05%
3.61%
Coastal wetlands are one of the 12 distinct coastal
habitats found in the Long Island Sound.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Leveraged $61,222,517 in primary
funds
A
A
Restored or protected 524.2 acres of
habitat
Protected 433 acres of forests and
woodlands
Restored 50 acres of tidal flow
structure
Removed 37 acres of invasive
vegetation
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for wildlife
2. Improve or protect water quality
3. Support sustainable and resilient communities
59
-------
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
£
Implemented
13 habitat projects
Restored or protected
3,488.5 acres of habitat
Leveraged $8,515,775
A
in primary funds
Restored 25 acres of
salt marsh
O
Protected 2,551 acres of
forest and woodland
Rehabilitated 1.5 acres of
stream channels
WASHINGTON
Longview
Hillsboro
Portland Gresham
2022 Habitat Projects
o
Protection
o
Restoration
1=1
NEP Boundary
detail
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
Pacific
Ocean
OREGON
ABOUT THE AREA
The Lower Columbia estuary
watershed encompasses
the lower 146 miles of
the Columbia River. This tidally
influenced area stretches from
the Bonneville Dam to the Pacific
Ocean and Washington. It includes
28 cities and portions of nine
counties in Oregon. Its habitats
include intertidal mud and sand
flats, intertidal marshes, intertidal
forested wetlands, pebble shores,
estuarine waters, and sand dunes.
8336 ft
Willapa Hills
State Park Trail
® Salem
o
30 Miles
Mt. Hooc
National Foi
60
A restoration project removed
over two miles of a levee and
an elevated canal to reconnect
Gibbons Creek to its floodplain
and the Columbia River in WA.
Photo by the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership has
worked to restore and protect the Lower
Columbia River since 1995. The goals of the
Partnership include restoring habitat, advancing
science, educating students, and building
regional achievements. The five action areas
of the CCMP are:
• Habitat Restoration;
• Land Use Practices;
• Water Quality and Contaminant Reduction;
• Education and Stewardship; and
• Regional Coordination and Synchronicity.
Human population growth in the Portland-
Vancouver metropolitan area has increased
demands on the lower Columbia River and estuary.
The activities of urban life cause runoff, erosion,
sedimentation, and pollution that impair water
quality and habitat; the situation will only get more
dire in the next century. The results of habitat loss
and degradation in the lower Columbia estuary are
evident through Endangered Species Act listings,
the decline of the local salmon fishing industry,
and the economic challenges of addressing
contaminated materials in the environment. The
Partnership's mission is to restore ecological
functions and to increase survival for multiple
species, while improving the overall health of the
ecosystem. By achieving its recovery goals - no
net loss of native habitat and recovery of historic
extent for priority habitats by 30 percent by 2040
and by 40 percent by 2050 - the Partnership
will reach 60 percent of historic native habitat
coverage for the lower Columbia study area. ¦
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Restoration
$4.6M
Stormwater
$1.9M
54.4%
22.5%
Monitoring/Research
$1.1 M
Public Education $722,583-
Administrative
Operations $59,972
Other $23,254 -
13.7%
8.5%
0.7%
0.3%
TOP HABITAT PROJECT
BENEFITS IN 2022
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for fish,
shellfish, and other wildlife
2. Restore natural hydrology
61
-------
Maryland Coastal Bays Program
2022 Habitat Projects
Maintenance
Restoration
NEP Boundary
VIRGINIA
DELAWARE
Atlantic
Ocean
ABOUT THE AREA
The Maryland Coastal Bay
Program covers a total
of five coastal bays in
Maryland, and includes 71,000
acres of water, 248 miles of
shoreline, and nearly 35,000 acres
of wetlands. The region supports
a large fishing industry as well
as numerous developed urban
communities.
,.... Chincoteaque
3 6 Miles .
, , | Natl Wildlife
Refuge
Kayakers in Newport Bay,
Maryland during a community
event celebrating the launch of a
37-acre site that was restored for
public recreation.
Photo by the Maryland Coastal Bays Program
62
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Maryland Coastal Bays Program works
to protect and conserve the waters and
surrounding watershed of Maryland's coastal
bays to enhance their ecological values and
sustainable use for both present and future
generations. Four focus areas of the CCMP are:
• Recreation and Navigation;
• Fish and Wildlife;
• Water Quality; and
• Coastal Resiliency.
Extreme weather and changing landscapes in
recent years have made coastal resiliency a
high priority. Coasts are a hot bed of ecological
diversity and a natural flooding buffer that are
slowly disappearing due to increased coastal
development. ¦
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Leveraged $742,459 in primary funds
Restored or protected 792 acres
of habitat
Removed 50 acres of invasive
vegetation
Filled 350 acres of ditch in salt marshes
Restored 442 acres of beach via
sediment restoration
A
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for birds
and other wildlife
2. Erosion control
3. Improve and increase educational or
recreational opportunities
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Monitoring/Research
$159,594
Public Education
$126,844
Wastewater
$125,490
Restoration
$101,793
Stormwater
$94,118
Nonpoint Source $94,118-
Administrative
Operations $40,500
Salt Marsh
350 (44.19%)
21.5%
17.1%
16.9%
13.7%
12.7%
i
12.7%
5.5%
Beach
63
-------
NEW
HAMPSHIRE
Newbury do rt
Haverhill
Ipswich
Lowell
Gloucester
Salem
Massachusetts
Bay
CV®n
Brockton
MASSACHUSETTS
Plymouth
Falmouth
Massachusetts Bays
National Estuary
Partnership
T
ABOUT THE AREA
The Massachusetts Bays NEP
extends along more than 1,100
miles of coastline, from the tip of
Cape Cod to the New Hampshire border,
and includes more than 50 coastal
communities. The region also contains
large metropolitan areas such as Boston.
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Improve water quality
2. Improve habitat continuity and
health for fish, shellfish, birds,
and other wildlife
3. Resilience to climate change
Atlantic
Ocean
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
^ NEP Boundary
Map
detail
New Bedford
10 Mi es
Boston Skyline and dock along
the developed coastline of the
Massachusetts Bay.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Massachusetts Bays National
Estuary Partnership's
(MassBays') mission is
to empower 50 coastal
communities to protect,
restore, and enhance their
coastal habitats. MassBays'
CCMP focuses on achieving
specific management and
environmental outcomes
determined at the local level
and informed by MassBays'
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
El
s<2
work. MassBays' monitoring,
research, technical expertise,
and convening skills are put
toward:
• Supporting robust
interagency and
interdisciplinary
collaboration and
partnerships;
• Increasing well-informed,
multisector input to
decision-making, including
from communities with
Leveraged $1,813,721 in
primary funds
Launched a new Ecohealth
Tracking Tool to illustrate
need for and track
progress toward habitat
improvements
Assisted municipalities
to submit 28 funding
applications for projects
aligned with priority areas
S)
Q
Provided data
management tools
(MassWateR) and direct
training to more than
75 individuals who lead
monitoring efforts in the
bays
initiated a pilot program
to investigate seeding as
a restoration method for
eelgrass
environmental justice
concerns; and
Improved habitat and water
quality across the bays. ¦
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Restoration
$743,339
41.0%
Public Education
$371890
Monito ri ng/Resea rch
$315,358
Administrative
Operations
$156,683
Stormwater 1
$122,825
Nonpoint Source
$33,929
Wastewater $7,949 J
Other $61,745 —
3.4%
20.5%
17.4%
8.6%
6.8%
1.9%
0.4%
65
-------
2022 Habitat Projects
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
O Maintenance
O Protection
O Restoration
I I NEP Boundary
Map
detail
Poa ch Creek
ALABAMA Reservation
Conecuh
National Forest
Mobile Bay and the Bay Bridge highway in Alabama
Mobile Bay NEP is guided by four action areas in
the CCMP;
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Since the inception of the Mobile Bay National
Estuary Program Management Conference over
quarter century ago, one thing has stayed the
same for coastal Alabama residents: nothing
is more important than water. Whether it is
to drink, catch food, earn a living, play, swim
or simply view, coastal residents value water.
It is imperative to maintain this connection to
successfully restore, protect, and conserve the
coastal way of life. Through an extensive citizen-
input process conducted for the 2013 CCMP
update, Mobile Bay NEP identified six common
values most important to those living in coastal
Alabama: Access, Beaches and Shorelines, Fish
and Wildlife, Heritage, Culture and Resilience.
De Soto
National Forest
FLORIDA
Ecosystem Status and Trends;
Ecosystem Restoration and Protection
Technical Assistance and Capacity
Development; and
Education and Public Involvement. ¦
Mobila
MISSISSIPPI
Mobile
Bay
Pensacola
Gulfport^Biloxi
Gulf Islands
National
Seashore
Bon Secour
Bay
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Improve or protect water quality
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for other
wildlife
3. Improve or increase educational or
recreational opportunities
Gulf of Mexico
ABOUT THE AREA
Alabama's estuaries and coast include
waters and shorelines within Baldwin
and Mobile counties and Mobile Bay,
where the freshwater from several Alabama
rivers mixes with the saltwater of the Gulf of
Mexico to produce rich brackish waters. The
landscape of habitats includes 607 miles of
tidally influenced shoreline; 572,000 acres of
fresh- and saltwater wetlands; over 5,000 miles
of waterways; and over 386,000 acres of pine
forest. In addition, the region also supports the
port city of Mobile.
The Mobile Bay National Program and it's Management Conference
Stabilized 1,709 vertical
feet along stream
channels and protected
125 acres of salt marsh
Collected 1,032 samples
from 148 monitoring sites
with 97 active volunteer
water quality monitors
Reached over 3,000
anglers and 75,000
spectators during the
Alabama Deep Sea Fishing
Rodeo tournament
through the "Trash Blows"
campaign
Issued five small, low-
interest loans from Coastal
Alabama Fisheries Fund
to support local fisheries
and fishing communities
in the oyster aquaculture
industry
Acquired 1,501 acres;
rehabilitated 72 acres;
and protected 1,374 acres
of forested wetlands
An alligator in a freshwater marsh. Burrows created
by alligators' store water and provide refuge for fish
and wading birds during droughts.
66
67
-------
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
O Restoration
l~~l NEP Boundary
Map
detail
Morro Bay National Estuary Program
Pacific
Ocean
Montana de
Oro State Park
0 1.5 3 Miles
Irish Hills
ABOUT THE AREA
Located on California's coast, the Morro
Bay estuary is a 2,300-acre bay within a
75 square mile watershed. Chorro and
Los Osos Creeks support riparian habitat, and
the bay itself hosts a range of subtidal habitats,
including important eeigrass beds.
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Climate change adaptation and resilience
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for fish
and birds
3. Protect or preserve open space
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
9
Restored or protected 391 acres
of habitat
Leveraged $864,486 in primary funds
9
Protected 389 acres of grassland
Harvested nearly 15,000 plants from
healthy eeigrass beds and transplanted at
39 sites over the past five years
68
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Morro Bay National Estuary Program is
a non-regulatory nonprofit that brings together
citizens, organizations, agencies, and landowners
to protect and restore the Morro Bay estuary
and its watershed. Through research and
community input, the Morro Bay NEP identified
several priority focus areas for the next ten years,
including:
• Control of upland erosion sources to reduce
sedimentation;
• Stormwater management and waste disposal
to reduce nutrients and bacteria;
• Implementation of water budgets and
education and outreach to conserve
freshwater resources; and
• Support biodiversity through informed
restoration.
The Morro Bay NEP is improving the
understanding of climate change impacts and
enhancing resources for education on climate
change. Bolstering ecosystem health is a focus
in the Morro Bay watershed. The Program is
working to control sedimentation rates in the bay
by installing erosion-controlling and sediment-
capturing best management practices (e.g.,
vegetation buffer strips). The Morro Bay NEP
connects with residents and businesses through
outreach campaigns to teach conservation
practices to reduce stormwater pollution and
manage invasive species in developed areas.#
Commercial fishing boats docked at Morro Bay,
California.
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Stormwater
$574,916
Administrative
Operations $125,608
Monitoring/Research
$109,509
Restoration
$40,310 "
Nonpoint Source $10,847
Public Education $3,294
66.5%
14.5%
12.7%
4.7%
1.3%
0.4%
69
-------
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
Boston-
Framingham
MASSACHUSSETTS
RHODE
ISLAND
Taunton
Providence
Willimantic
Plainfiel
O Narragansett
New Londoi
Westerly
CONNECTICUT
Hill
sett
p\ Norwich
' 0
ition
New Bedford
0 5 10 Miles
1 I I
Massachusetts
Bay
Falmouth
2022 Habitat Projects
O Maintenance
O Protection
O Restoration
^ NEP Boundary
Map
detail
Plymouth Cape Cod Bay
Nantucket
Sound
ABOUT THE AREA
TThe greater Narragansett Bay Watershed
covers 2,000 square miles of land in
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and
Connecticut that drains into Narragansett Bay,
Little Narragansett Bay, and the Coastal Salt
Ponds through a network of rivers and streams.
A green frog floats in a freshwater pond in Rhode
Island. Photo by Ayla Fox for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
70
(Left) Eelgrass in Ninlgret Pond, Rhode Island. (Middle) Analysis of trace elements in wastewater effluent at the
Narragansett Bay Commission, Providence, Rhode Island. (Right) Freshwater mussel.
Photos by Ayla Fox for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Narraganset Bay Estuary Program
(NBEP)) is the only stakeholder-led nonprofit
conservation organization in the Narragansett
Bay region working to catalyze scientific inquiry
and collective action to restore and protect
water quality, wildlife, and quality of life. NBEP
convenes interests, analyzes and visualizes
data, creates cross-boundary plans, and funds
people and projects to advance restoration and
research. NBEP pursues consensus-driven efforts
guided by the best available science to address
complex issues and secure the future of clean
water, sustainable habitat, and prosperity for all
in the region. NBEP identified four focus areas to
guide their work to improve human health:
• Protect and restore clean water;
• Manage land for conservation and
community;
• Protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats;
and
• Manage the impact of climate change on
human and natural systems.
The bay's ability to sustain functionality, as well as
support the local region, has been impacted by
Increased human development over the last 40
years and the increasing pressure on freshwater
resources to meet increasing demand. Over the
last five years, NBEP's work resulted in convening
over 500 stakeholders; publishing 33 scientific
articles and four watershed plans; advancing
development of projects that can impact roughly
5,600 acres of natural resources; providing
$1.6 million to external partners; and bringing
in an estimated $12 million of non-federal
leverage to the region. ¦
In-Stream
16(3.19%)
Estuarine
Shoreline
27.95 (5.57%)
Forest —
Woodland
52.3
(10.43%)
Forest Wetland
5 (1%)
Dune
0.4 (0.08%)
Soft Bottom/Mud
400 (79.74%)
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
A
Implemented 12 habitat projects
$
Restored two miles of fish ladder to
improve fish passages instream
Launched "Macro to Microplastics in
Narragansett Bay", a learning forum on
science about plastics from source to the
bay, with 15 speakers and 70 attendees
Obligated direct subawards to 5 partners
to develop environmental justice projects
71
-------
New York-New Jersey Harbor &
Estuary Program
2022 Habitat Projects
£23 fBrattleboro
VERMONT
Reading
ABOUT THE AREA
The New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary spans
250 square miles of open water and 1,600 miles of
shoreline across New York and New Jersey and is the Debris ,s removed by crane in the New York-
urban heart of a broader 16,000 square mile watershed. fsjew jersey Harbor.
Habitats in the region include tidal marshes and forests. Photo by the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program
72
PROGRAM SUMMARY
In addition to meeting the fishable and
swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act in the
harbor, the New York-New Jersey Harbor
& Estuary Program (HEP) and its partners
collaborate to reduce sources of pollution,
protect and restore vital habitat and ecological
function, improve public access, support
port and maritime operations, and foster
community understanding and involvement.
The Port and Maritime focus area supports port
and associated maritime operations through
improved design and management so operations
are economically and ecologically viable. The Port
of New York and Newjersey is the largest port
on the Atlantic seaboard, with about 3.7 million
containers; 500,000 automobiles; and other
goods coming in and out each year. Required
navigational dredging and any beneficial reuse
of sediment, as well as safe consumption of fish,
is limited by historic contamination. To address
this, HEP supported a second iteration of the
Contaminant Assessment and Reduction Project
(CARP II). The project, led by the Newjersey
Department of Transportation and the Hudson
River Foundation, created a current conditions
map of levels of PCBs and dioxins in navigation
channels and off-channel areas in the estuary.
The mapping and data analysis will be used
to model future contaminant levels in harbor
sediments, helping inform dredging plans and
reuse options going forward. ¦
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Monitoring/Research.
$684,257
Nonpoint Source
$507,148
Restoration $103,803-
Wastewater $84,860
Public Education
$68,47.000
Stormwater $65,520 -
Administrative
Operations $35,270
Combined Sewer
Overflow $27,650
Other $6,000-
43.2%
32%
6,6%
5.4%
4.3%
4.1%
2.2%
1.7%
0.4%
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Leveraged $1,582,979 in primary funds ^
Implemented 14 habitat projects
Planted 550 feet of coastal shrub
w
Supported Hudson River Park Trust to
redevelop three acres of the Gansevoort
Peninsula to provide river access for
recreation and valuable habitat
Placed 5,000 recycled shell bags filled with
oyster shells, coir logs, and tree vanes along
the shoreline to control erosion
73
-------
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Allentown
ReadingO
PHILADELPHIA
Dover
Delaware
Bay
DELAWARE
PENNSYLVANIA
Harrisburg
NEW YORK
NEW YORK
NEWIERSEY
Edison
° i
Trenton
Toms River
NEW JERSEY
MARYLAND
Atlantic Oty
Baltimore
Annapolis
V
Washington
MARYLAND
40 Mile
J
Map
detail
Atlantic
Ocean
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
O Restoration
I I NEP Boundary
ABOUT THE AREA
he Delaware Estuary spans
from the freshwaters in
Trenton, Newjersey, and
Morrisville, Pennsylvania, to the
saltwaters between Cape May, New
Jersey, and Cape Henlopen, Delaware.
Its watershed covers over 6,800 square
miles and includes a variety of land uses
and types, including large urban centers,
heavily developed industrial areas, forests,
and wetlands.
Philadelphia skyline on the Schuylkili River, Delaware.
Photo by Lane Fike
Riparian
43.57(1.07%)
Estuarine
Shoreline
117.92 (2.90%)
Forest/
Woodland
463.89
(11.39%)
Agriculture/
Ranch Land
520(12.77%)
Salt Marsh
22.87 (0.56%)
Lake/Pond
1.33 (0.03%)
Forest/Woodland
- 2902.62 (71.28%)
74
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE),
host of the Delaware Estuary Program (DELEP),
leads collaborative, science-based efforts to
Improve the Delaware River and Bay. PDE
works to restore the health of the Delaware
Estuary through collaboration with partners to
Implement projects that promote science-based
approaches, encourage innovative thinking,
increase public engagement, and address social
justice issues. DELEP's revised CCMP identifies
three focus areas, which include:
• Clean Waters;
• Strong Communities; and
• Healthy Habitats.
Waterfront locations in the estuary are
increasingly becoming hotspots for tourism and
recreation, while climate change and associated
flooding threatens these same communities, and
many more in the region, on a regular basis. Sea
levels in the Delaware Estuary have risen by over
a foot in the last century. PDE and its partners are
working to develop innovative and sustainable
strategies to increase resiliency and improve
environmental and economic conditions. ¦
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Improve or protect water quality
2. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for fish
and shellfish
3. Protect or preserve open space
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
o
Implemented 36
habitat projects
Restored or
protected
4,072.2 acres
of habitat
Leveraged $1,614,059
in primary funds
o
Removed six
dams from
creeks and
streams
Restored and
protected
4,028 acres via
land acquisition
Great blue heron perched on a tree in Prime Hook
National Wildlife Refuge, Milton, Delaware.
Photo by Nick Rafferty
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Monitoring/Research
$684,257
Nonpoint Source
$507,148
Restoration $103,803
Wastewater $84,860
Public Education $68,470
Stormwater $65,520
Administrative -
Operations $35,270
Combined Sewer
Overflow $27,650
Other $6,000
43.2%
32%
6.6%
5.4%
4.3%
4.1%
2.2%
1.7%
0.4%
-------
Peconic Estuary Partnership
Long Island Sound
0 4
1 L
NEW YORK
8 Miles
Atlantic Ocean
Fire Island
National
Seashore
ABOUT THE AREA
Located 80 miles east of New York City, this
250-square-mile estuary comprises Great Peconic
Bay, Little Peconic Bay and 100 other distinct bays,
harbors, and tributaries which receive water from the
180 square mile Peconic watershed.
Lake/Pond
9 (2.44%)
Grassland
14.94 (4.06%)
Agriculture/
Ranch Land
124.45 (33.8%)
Freshwater
Marsh
99.4
(27%)
Forest/Woodland
•120.379 (32.7%)
TOP 3 PROJECT AREAS
1. Monitoring and Research
2. Nonpoint Source Pollution
3. Habitat Preservation and Restoration
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat
for wildlife
2. Environmental quality monitoring
3. Stormwater abatement
76
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Peconic Estuary Partnership (PEP)
collaborates with its partners to support
monitoring, research, collaboration, and
education to address priority issues within the
Peconic Estuary Watershed. Government and
non-government partners of PEP developed the
partnership's CCMP to identify and implement
solutions to key environmental challenges under
the following four focus areas:
• Strong Partnerships and Engagement;
• Resilient Communities Prepared for Climate
Change;
• Clean Waters for Ecosystem Health and Safe
Recreation; and
• Healthy Ecosystem with Abundant, Diverse
Wildlife.
PEP has always worked to keep local
communities involved in decision-making but are
now helping local communities in the Peconic
Estuary take action to prepare for and adapt
to climate change impacts, which are likely to
intensify in the coming years. Increased storm
frequency and intensity, as well as rising ground
water, were a few of the risks PEP identified in
their Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Using
tools and resources based on current research,
PEP is helping local communities protect habitat,
promote climate resiliency, and understand the
wide impacts of climate change. PEP is facilitating
the development of comprehensive strategies to
mitigate impacts from extreme weather.
In 2022, PEP was instrumental in driving the
PEP staff set up a Surface Elevation Table to
measure relative sediment accretion compared to
Current Sea level rise. Photo by the Peconic Estuary Partnership
latest research, strategies, and outreach needed
for the successful implementation of policies
affecting the Peconic Estuary. Two examples
are the passing of a bill permitting seaweed
cultivation in the Peconic and providing guidance
for local government land acquisitions for
habitat conservation and restoration. In addition,
PEP conducted research on and updated
stakeholders about the Peconic Bay Scallop
Fisheries collapse, including updates about the
annual monitoring of eelgrass and investigation
of potential causes and efforts to revert collapse.
In addition, PEP directed funding for research
and coordinated the scientific community and
shellfish experts to respond to the Peconic Bay
Scallop fishery collapse. PEP continues to lead
bi-annual technical and stakeholder meetings
regarding the ongoing investigation of potential
causes and efforts to reverse the collapse. ¦
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
m
Implemented 16 habitat projects
Leveraged $1,158,637
in primary funds
9
Restored or protected 368.169 acres
of habitat
A
eS
Restored historic access to 264 acres
of critical spawning and maturation
freshwater habitat by installing fish
passages
Monitored 12 sites for eelgrass
survival and bed expansion
77
-------
H Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
Manchester
Nashua
Sanford
2022 Habitat Projects
® Protection
i NEP Boundary
Atlantic Ocean
T
ABOUT THE AREA
The Piscataqua Region
Estuaries watershed
covers 1,086 square miles
in New Hampshire, Maine, and
Massachusetts. The area is mostly
rural and includes habitats such as
freshwater wetlands, streams, eelgrass
beds, oyster reefs, and salt marshes.
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Climate change adaptation and resilience
2. Flood control
3. Improve or protect water quality
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
O
o
Protected 67 acres of forest and woodland
habitats to safeguard drinking water sources
and nearby aquifers
Preserved 1.7 acres of wildlife connectivity
providing one of the few wildlife crossings
along Interstate 95
Harvested 8,000 eelgrass shoots to be
transplanted to restored sites
Protected or restored 213 acres of
habitat via easements
78
Sailing is a popular recreational activity in the Piscataqua River, New Hampshire region.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership
(PREP) strives to improve the water quality and
overall health of the region's estuaries, promote
public engagement, and support conservation
and restoration initiatives across the region. PREP
and its partners identified the following four
focus areas to guide the CCMP:
• Water Resources;
• Living Resources and Habitat Restoration;
• Land Use and Habitat Protection; and
• Water Stewardship.
The Living Resources and Habitat Restoration
focus area prioritizes the assessment
and restoration of habitats supporting
freshwater and estuarine species important
to the watershed's ecosystem and the region's
economy. Since 2015, PREP has supported its
partners in the development and implementation
offish restoration plans for priority rivers in
the Piscataqua region. For this project, PREP
will report on the ecological benefits of barrier
removal or fish passage restoration to support
diadromous fish, which are fish that migrate
between fresh and salt water. At the conclusion
of the project, PREP expects to see the restored
river habitats and connectivity yield increased
populations of diadromous fish and dependent
species, benefiting the overall ecosystem of the
watershed. ¦
Field Meadow 10.5 (4.27%)
Forested Wetlands
119.63 (48.67%)
Forest/
Woodland
115.69
(47.06%)
k
ACRES
RESTORED
AND
PROTECTED
IN 2022
79
-------
H Puget Sound Partnership
2022 Habitat Projects
Map
detail
Vancouver
6
Nanaimo
Pacific Rim
National Park
Reserve
Okanogan
National Forest
Wenatchee
onal Forest
ABOUT THE AREA
Situated in northwestern Washington, the
Puget Sound is 1,016-square-miles of bays,
basins, islands, inlets, and large urban
centers such as Seattle, Part of the Salish Sea, its
northern boundary begins at Admiralty inlet and
ends in the south at the City of Olympia. Puget
Sound is the largest estuary by volume of water
in the United States. Puget Sound is an economic
and cultural engine for the region's more
than 4.7 million people, including 19 federally
recognized Tribes. Nearly 71 percent of all jobs
and 77 percent of total income in Washington
State are found in the Puget Sound Basin.
Hiking is a popular recreational activity, providing
scenic views of Puget Sound from Mount Erie,
Washington.
Washington
O Protection
O Restoration
i i NEP Boundary
Pacific Ocean
0 25 50 Miles
1 I I
80
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Puget Sound Partnership (PSP) is a state
agency charged with accelerating the collective
effort to recover and sustain Puget Sound. As a
backbone organization, PSP works with hundreds
of state, local, and Tribal partners to set plans
for recovery, track measures of recovery, and
support actions to protect and recover Puget
Sound. PSP aligns the work of partners with
a shared vision and strategy. This ensures
decision makers have information needed to
advance the shared priorities. Investments
for projects are made using a science-based
system of measurement and monitoring to
promote accountability and effectiveness. PSP
supports priority actions by removing financial,
regulatory and resource barriers for partners.
The 2022-2026 Action Agenda is the Puget Sound
community's plan for advancing Puget Sound
recovery. The goals are to:
• Protect and restore habitat and habitat-
forming processes;
• Protect and improve water quality;
• Protect the food web and imperiled species;
• Prevent the worst effects of climate change;
and
• Ensure human well-being.
The plan contains 31 collaboratively developed,
science-informed, multi-benefit strategies with
actions and key opportunities for a shared focus
for the next four years. The plan addresses the
magnitude of the challenges present in Puget
Sound from the pressures of human activities
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Implemented 31 habitat projects
Restored or protected 5,296.1 acres
Leveraged $74,436,722 in primary funds
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Administrative
Operations S17.32M
Stormwater S16.47M
22.1%
21%
Restoration S13.80M
Land Acquisition $8.28M
Monpoint Source
$6.80M
Other $5.65M
Public Education $5.04M
Monitoring/Research
$5.04M
I
17.6%
10.6%
8.7%
7.2%
6.4%
6.4%
including climate change and population
growth. With the 2022 update, the Action
Agenda incorporates Tribal nations' treaties
and sovereign rights, environmental justice,
and climate justice.
Information about Puget Sound recovery
priorities, investments, progress, and
accomplishments is available at Puget Sound
Info.B
O
O
Restored 62.6 stream miles by
fish barrier removal
Preserved 1,401 acres of riparian
habitat by land acquisition
Restored 80 acres of critical habitat
functionality by stream flow modification
-------
San Francisco Estuary Partnership
2022 Habitat Projects
O Restoration
NEP Boundary
CALIFORNIA
Pacific Ocean
ABOUT THE AREA
The San Francisco Estuary
is the largest estuary in
California, Its watershed
extends from the ridgeline of the
Sierra Nevada mountains to the
strait of the Golden Gate, including
almost 60,000 square miles and
nearly 40% of California. In addition to
supporting dense urban areas such as
San Francisco, the estuary is a biological
resource of tremendous importance,
providing critical winter feeding habitat for
over a million migratory birds, a productive
nursery for many species of juvenile fish
and shellfish, and a year-round home for a
vast diversity of plants and animals.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
0 10 20 Miles
1 I I I I
Restored or protected 2,940.75 acres
Leveraged $51,842,803 in primary funds
' Acquired over 1,000 acres of undeveloped
open space to fill a gap between two large
complexes of protected land
6
O
Installed breaches to accelerate
the restoration of two former
salt-production ponds
Restored or protected 1,161 acres of
riparian habitat via invasive vegetation
control or removal
(Left) SFEP Staff at a Coastal Clean Up event. Photo byjamesMueiier for sfep (Right) Regional Monitoring Program for
water quality in San Francisco Bay. Photo byjames Mueller for the San Francisco Estuary Partnership
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) is
a collaborative regional program of federal, state,
and local agencies; nonprofits; stakeholders;
and scientists working to restore water quality
and fish and wildlife habitat in the estuary.
SFEP's Estuary Blueprint (CCMP) is organized by
four main goals: habitats and living resources,
resilience, water, and stewardship. SFEP's
Blueprint identifies top actions needed for:
• Increasing climate resilience;
• Improving water quality for animals and
people;
• Restoring habitats; and
• Addressing environmental justice in
underserved communities.
SFEP is working to increase climate resilience
throughout the region with several funded
projects that support a discussion forum
for advancing nature-based solutions. For
one such project, SFEP is studying the use of
horizontal levees which use vegetation on a
gentle slope to break waves while also further
processing wastewater from treatment plants.
SFEP previously supported the pilot Oro
Loma horizontal levee project which laid the
groundwork for SFEP to continue investigation
into the benefits of these structures. SFEP
partnered with a wastewater treatment plant
to assess building more horizontal levees in
the future. The assessment was based on the
benefits of creating habitat; providing flood
protection and recreation benefits; and reducing
nutrient inputs into San Francisco Bay.
Other program priorities include the
development of a regional wetland monitoring
program; restoring watershed connectivity where
creeks meet the shoreline; advancing carbon
sequestration and beneficial reuse of sediment;
and supporting the decision-making role of
underserved communities and Tribes in regional
climate resilience efforts. ¦
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for fish,
shellfish, birds, and other wildlife
2. Climate change adaptation and resilience
3. Protect or preserve open space
82
83
-------
anturce
Fort Buchanan
Villa Fontana
PUERTO
RICO
Atlantic
Ocean
Map
detail
~
2022 Habitat Projects
O Maintenance
O Restoration
NEP Boundary
ABOUT THE AREA
The San Juan Bay covers 83 square miles of land and 14 square miles of water in Puerto Rico. In
addition to dense areas of urban development, the region supports a range of habitats including
dunes, mangrove forests, and coastal forests.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Restored or protected 15.9 acres of habitat
Engaged with 482 participants in the Citizen
Scientist Certification in Coastal Resilience
workshops
Certified 139 citizens for the assessment of
coastal ecosystems
Involved over 1f800 participants in
monitoring and reporting water at more
than 200 sites during Puerto Rico Water
Quality Monitoring Day 2022
Analyzed 612 samples to measure water
quality in the 12 stations distributed in the
northern shore of the estuarine basin
H San Juan Bay Estuary Program
SJEP staff member educates a visiting group on the local environment. Photo by Cesar G. for the San Juan Bay Estuary Program
PROGRAM SUMMARY
San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) is a
nonprofit organization that works to protect
the ecosystem within its eight municipalities:
Bayamon, Carolina, Cataho, Guaynabo, Loiza,
San Juan, Toa Baja, and Trujillo Alto. SJBEP's goals
are to prevent further degradation and improve
the system's water quality, minimize health risks,
and develop an effective administrative and
regulatory framework that can serve as a model
for other estuary systems. SJBEP's CCMP Action
Plans are categorized by four focus areas:
• Water and Sediment Quality;
• Fish and Wildlife Habitat;
• Aquatic Debris; and
• Public Education and Involvement.
SJBEP's goal for the Aquatic Debris Action Plan
is to improve habitat quality and enhance the
recreational and economic values of the bay.
Solid Waste Pollution Prevention (P2) Pilot
Programs can be used to target pollution at the
source and effectively reduce the number of solid
pollutants that reach the estuary. SJBEP identified
several sectors, such as communities and
marinas, in which pollution prevention initiatives
can be established. Solid Waste P2 sites will
gather data about solid waste minimization and
disposal practices and evaluate the impact on
the SJBEP system. By increasing knowledge about
innovative waste minimization techniques in
the private sector, successful P2 pilot programs
will reduce solid waste and aquatic debris in
the estuary system, improving environmental
conditions. ¦
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1, Improve and increase educational or
recreational opportunities
2, Climate change adaptation and resilience
3, Improve or protect water quality
Dune
(81.80%)
13
Mangrove —
0.592 (3.73%)
Estuarine
Shoreline
(14.47%)
84
85
-------
Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program
xnard
Pacific Ocean
ABOUT THE AREA
The Santa Monica
Bay watershed
covers 414 square miles
of land and water and is bordered
on the north by the Santa Monica
Mountains. Most Los Angeles beaches are
along the coastline of Santa Monica Bay. Santa
Monica Bay National Estuary Program's projects
enhance rocky intertidal, beach, and dune habitats
while engaging with the public. A major emphasis of the
program's municipal partners is to reduce stormwater pollutant
loading to surface waters.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
f=a
2022 Habitat Projects
O Protection
O Restoration
^2 NEP Boundary
Long Beach
10 Miles
<<»
,1t
B
9
Implemented five habitat projects.
Restored, protected, or maintained 335.62 acres of habitat.
Leveraged $5,221,788 in primary funds.
Engaged 102 volunteers at six community restoration
events to remove approximately 7,460 pounds of
nonnative vegetation.
Provided public beach water quality grades for over
500 beaches.
Protected 325 acres of forest and woodland identified
as a crucial linkage for habitat preservation, watershed
protection, and wildlife movement, including safe passage
for mountain lions.
Beach
6.5 (1.94%)
Hard Bottom
3.6(1.07%)
Salt Marsh
0.52 (0.15%)
Santa Monica Bay with the Santa Monica Mountains in the background.
86
Forest/Woodland
325 (96.84%)
PROGRAM SUMMARY
The Santa Monica Bay National Estuary
Program (SMBNEP) is a collaborative, locally
driven program that promotes watershed-
based partnerships and works across a diverse
landscape to inform and implement its CCMP.
Priorities included in the CCMP are:
• Improving water quality and availability;
• Mitigating impacts to communities; and
• Increasing resiliency to climate change.
The governance and policy focus area involves
action plans centered on implementing
systematic change in municipalities, including
advancement of the Safe Clean Water Program.
These projects reduce storm water pollutant
ioading to the surface waters of the SMBNEP
study area, enhance park space, and plant trees
to decrease urban heat island impacts. ¦
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Climate change adaptation and resilience
2. Improve and increase educational or
recreational opportunities
3. Protect, improve, and provide habitat for birds
and other wildlife
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Monitoring/Research
$3.02M
Stormwater
$933,377
Restoration $643,615
Public Education $365,129
Administrative
Operations $214,087
Other $39,962
-------
Bradenton
Map ~
detail
FLORIDA
Fruitville
Bee Ridge ^
J
Gulf of
Mexico
5 Miles
2022 Habitat Projects
O Maintenance
O Restoration
i NEP Boundary
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
H Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
' Restored or protected 145.14 acres
Leveraged $700,000 in primary funds
Engaged 176 volunteers across 10 events
Monitored 45 sites for seagrass and
microalgae
Installed 2,120 native plants by volunteers
Much of the Sarasota Bay watershed has been
altered by urban agricultural development,
lowering overall ecosystem function and services
below what is necessary for a healthy estuary
and sustainable habitats. The goal of the
watershed focus areas is to restore habitats in
the bay and eliminate future losses. To address
this, SBEP is working to protect and restore
Restoration $175,000-
Public Education $140,000
Monitoring/Research
$70,000
ABOUT THE AREA
The Greater Sarasota
Bay Estuarine System
encompasses 50 square
miles of open water located on
the southwest coast of Florida, The
area has historically been used for
fishing and oyster harvesting. Its
habitats include seagrass meadows,
hardbottom, oyster reefs, beaches, and
saltwater and freshwater wetlands.
Forest/Wetland
0.3 (0.21%)
-Shell Bottom
0.27(0.19%)
Island
25 (17.22%)
Hard Bottom
1 (0.69%)
Forest/
Woodland —
118.57
(81.69%)
ACRES
RESTORED
AND
PROTECTED
IN 2022
*7 * a*:
Researchers observe their behavior to monitor
seagrass and other benthic, or bottom, habitats
that support hundreds of invertebrate species.
To restore the bay bottom, SBEP and partners
will monitor artificial and oyster reef quality
while exploring optimal placement of new
reefs. Seagrass indicators will be reevaluated
before water quality improvement strategies are
implemented to increase productive and resilient
seagrass habitat. ¦
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Administrative
Operations $315,000
The Florida manatee is one of Florida's keystone species,
environmental and habitat changes.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is a
cooperative partnership among communities,
researchers, and governments working to
improve the science of bay management, restore
wildlife habitats, and increase community
engagement in bay restoration efforts. The
CCMP serves as a blueprint to guide future
decisions and actions and addresses a wide
range of environmental protection issues and
opportunities including water quality, habitat,
wildlife, and public access to bay resources. The
CCMP features four focus areas that make up the
action plans:
• Water Quality and Quantity;
• Watersheds;
• Wildlife; and
• Community Engagement.
88
-------
Map
detail
Lakeland
Tampa
Clearwater
FLORIDA
St Petersburg
y^kjn/
Tampa Bay
Estuary Program
ABOUT THE AREA
The Tampa Bay watershed is 2,200
square miles in Florida, and its
habitats include seagrasses,
mangroves, salt marshes, and wet
prairies. In addition to its diverse
habitats, the region also supports
large urban centers such as the City
of Tampa which has an estimated
population of 395,200.
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Spring Hill
Restoration
$2,705,860
Nonpoint Source
$1,781,891
Monitoring/
Research
$658,790
Administrative
Operations
$550,944
Stormwater
$381,340
Public Education
$272,757
42.6%
28.1%
8.7%
6.0%
4.3%
10.4%
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Implemented 39 habitat projects
Restored or protected 29,647.4 acres of
habitat
Community volunteers at a Give-A-Day for the Bay event hosted by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.
Photo by Yvonne Gougelet
Myakka River
State Park
G ulf of
Mexico
2022 Habitat Projects
O Maintenance
O Protection
O Restoration
l~~l NEP Boundary
Port Charlotte
0 5 10 Miles
1 I I I I
Charlotte
Harbor
Leveraged $6,351,584 in primary funds
Engaged volunteers who removed
9,390 pounds of trash and marine debris;
installed 3,000 plants; and improved
14,800 linear feet of habitat
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Tampa Bay Estuary Program's (TBEP)
mission is to build partnerships to restore and
protect Tampa Bay through implementation
of a scientifically sound, community-based
management plan. TBEP is committed to being a
national leader in applying robust, reproducible
science and compelling storytelling to drive
community decisions and individual behaviors
for the benefit of cleaner waters, thriving
habitats, and abundant wildlife—all of which
sustain Tampa Bay's economy and way of life.
Seagrass coverage is a key indicator of overall
ecosystem health in Tampa Bay, and recent
declines in water quality have led to significant
seagrass losses. TBEP is working with both public
and private partners to implement additional
management interventions to recover seagrass
habitats. ¦
Field Meadow
693.25
(2.34%)
Beach 575 (1.94%)
Other
(0.75%)
Forest/
Woodland
28,157
(94.97%)
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Enhance habitat for fish, wildlife, and
the community
2. Improve and monitor water quality
3. Support environmental education in the local
community
-------
OREGON
2022 Habitat Projects
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
~
Map
detail
PRIMARY
LEVERAGED
FUNDS
Restoration $563,016 H 67.2%
TOP 3 PROJECT BENEFITS
1. Enhance habitat for fish, wildlife, and the
community
2. Improve and monitor water quality
3. Support environmental education in the local
community
Fishing boats docked at
Tillamook Bay. The rivers
that feed into the bay
are well known for their
steelhead and salmon runs.
Photo by Nancy Laurson
Monitoring/Research 14.3%
$120,146
Administrative 9-9%
Operations
$82,838
Public Education 8.6%
$72,387
8
*r
fl
Collected and organized 2,548 water
quality samples
Collected 15 million local seeds for the Native
Plant Nursery
Provided 32,000 hours of science, technology,
engineering, and math education
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) is
dedicated to conserving and restoring Tillamook
County's estuaries and watersheds in their
entirety. TEP creates productive dialogues
around the natural resources at the social,
cultural, and economic core of community.
TEP also provides active and adaptable
environmental leadership that honors the
community's principles and values and sustains
its partners. TEP's mission is to conserve and
restore Tillamook County's watersheds through
active stewardship, scientific inquiry, community
engagement, and education. TEP hopes to
provide wide-spread, equal access to their
vision, mission, and accomplishments, as well
as invitations for people to have meaningful
involvement in their efforts toward clean water,
healthy wildlife, and an enjoyable way of life.
Informed by community priorities, TEP's CCMP is
guided by three focus areas:
• Water quality improvements;
• Habitat restoration; and
• Education and engagement. ¦
Hard Bottom
1 (0.69%)
Forest/Woodland
118.57 (81.69%)
Tillamook Estuaries Partnership
A historic U.S. Coast Guard
boathouse in Tillamook Bay,
Oregon.
Pacific Ocean
ABOUT THE AREA
Located on the north
coast of Oregon,
Tillamook Estuaries
Partnership's study area
includes the five estuaries
within Tillamook County and
their watersheds (from north
to south; Nehalem, Tiilamook,
Netarts, Sand Lake, and
Nestucca). Together, these
areas cover 1,765 square
miles of forest, riparian,
estuary, and bay habitats.
6
&
Restored 9,650 linear feet of riparian area
Leveraged $838,389 in funds
Implemented 13 habitat projects
JL.
O Restoration
l~~l NEP Boundary
3695 ft ,
10 Miles
H.B. Van DiAer
Scenic Corrrdor
Hillsboro
92
93
-------
About the Information
TThis document reports on NEP projects,
activities, and accomplishments in fiscal
year 2022. The NEPs report the number
of habitat acres they have protected and/or
restored and funds leveraged with their partners
annually to EPA. Current habitat estimates,
as well as the methodologies employed for
using the data, are available at epa.gov/nep/
national-results-national-estuary-program.
For purposes of this report, the NEPs voluntarily
contributed information beyond the data
reported annually to the EPA. This includes
success stories and accomplishments sourced
directly from NEPs and their publicly available
materials. Success stories and accomplishments
highlighted in this report are not exhaustive
of the NEPs' projects but provide examples
that demonstrate a variety of projects
implemented by the NEPs. Success stories and
accomplishments may highlight the activities
of the NEPs or partners in their Management
Conference. ¦
Back Cover: (Top-ieft) A pelican perched in a tree
above a swamp in Louisiana. Photo provided by the Barataria-
Terrebonne National Estuary Program,- (Top-right) A public
beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.; (Bottom-left)
Coastal wetlands. Photo by Steven Gersh ; (Bottom-middle)
Wetlands in Assateague State Park, Maryland.;
(Bottom-right) A white crane catching food. Photo by the
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
94
An American white water-lily on the surface of a pond. Photo by Ayla Fox for The Narragansett Bay Estuary
-------
v>EPA
Learn more about the National Estuary Program
https://www.epa.gov/nep
------- |