NATIONAL

ESTUARY

PROGRAM

Photo Credit: Mark Lagrange
The EPA National Estuary Program (NEP) is a unique and voluntary program 

established in 1987 under the Clean Water Act Amendments (CWA). A successful 

ecosystem-based management program, it works to restore and maintain the water 

quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. 

To achieve these goals, NEPs involve community members and other key partners to 

develop and implement a management plan. Citizens are fully engaged throughout 

this process to ensure that local needs are addressed in this Comprehensive 

Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The CCMP contains specific actions 

to apply CWA programs in a way that fully supports these local priorities.

 

The 28 NEPs across the country have demonstrated an impressive ability to secure 

and leverage funds, protect and restore coastal habitats, and broaden public 

understanding of estuaries. NEPs have also made substantial gains in identifying 

environmental challenges and tackling complex water quality and ecosystem issues.

The NEP looks broadly across the watershed and recognizes the connection 

between upstream sources of pollution and downstream impacts. It offers an 

effective means of securing commitments necessary to achieve tangible 

environmental results. 

THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM THE NEP APPROACH

WHAT IS AN NEP?

Each NEP consists of a collection of stakeholders, organized in a decision-making framework that 

facilitates collaboration, consensus-building, and public input. NEP stakeholders typically include 

representatives from Federal, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, affected 

business and industries, academia, and the general public. EPA is a participant and provides 

management guidance, along with financial and technical assistance. Together the group works 

to articulate common goals and take action to address a wide range of issues in their CCMP. 

NEPs are guided by a director and staff that are housed in a program office located within the 

estuarine watershed. NEPs work to improve the health of their estuary – its waters, habitats,

and living resources within a particular geographic boundary encompassing the estuary and 

surrounding environments.

WHAT IS THE NEP APPROACH?

•	 Establisha governance structure

•	 Involve community stakeholders as equal partners

•	 Engage the public throughout the decision-making process

•	 Collaborate to identify problems and solutions

•	 Build on water quality control measures and tailor them to specific places

•	 Set measurable goals and objectives and monitor effectiveness of actions– adjust if necessary

•	 Develop and implementa Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP)

hsreG nahpetS :tiderC otohP
WHAT MAKES THE NEP SUCCESSFUL?

•	 Environmental issues transcend political jurisdictions so NEPs are defined by watershed or ecosystem

 boundaries.

•	 The NEP governance structure provides a neutral forum to bring together a diverse set of stakeholders and

 create a level decision-making process.

•	 NEPs seek to fully engage citizens throughout the decision-making and problem-solving process.

•	 NEP stakeholders work through a consensus-building process to identify CCMP goals, objectives, and actions

 that reflect their local priorities and interests.

•	 NEPs seek to ensure that decisions are based on sound science and actions are implemented using adaptive

 management strategies.

•	 NEPs produce periodic assessments of conditions in their estuarine ecosystems that are shared with policy

 makers and the public.

•	 NEPs have developed and applied innovative and adaptive approaches that effectively address habitat and

 water quality-related challenges. 

•	 NEP stakeholders’ actions and long-term commitment have produced tangible environmental results.

• NEPs share their lessons learned through effective outreach and education efforts.

Photo Credit: Coastal Conservation Association
The National Estuary Program (NEP) is a collaborative, effective. efficient, and 

adaptable coastal ecosystem-based network. With over 20 years’ experience

implementing key provisions of the Clean Water Act, the NEP is the nation’s

principal watershed program—one that offers a viable, effective method of 

protecting and managing all types of watershed environments, including 

non-coastal areas.

The NEP decision-making structure and long-term approach build cooperative 

relationships that facilitate trust among participants. This creates ownership of 

CCMP actions developed by those community members who play a role in 

implementing them. 

A CREDIBLE BLUEPRINT

Integrating common EPA goals: a snapshot of the NEP approach

Photo Credit: Tillamook Estuaries Partnership
COLLABORATIVE

NEPs are a catalyst to bring together citizens, affected businesses and industry, 

nonprofit groups, different levels of government, and varied government agencies 

that may not have worked together cooperatively in the past. A consensus-building 

process is used by NEP participants to collectively design and create a CCMP 

that represents their diverse perspectives and interests. This close collaboration 

generates long-term support and commitment on their part to then implement actions 

in the CCMP. The participation and involvement of all NEP stakeholders throughout the 

CCMP development and implementation process is critical to the program’s success.

Photo Credit: Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Photo Credit: San Juan Bay Estuary Program
EFFECTIVE

NEPs and their partners have protected and restored over 1 

million acres of habitat since 2000. The habitat efforts carried out 

by the NEPs, their partners, and many volunteers have yielded 

measurable environmental results. These projects not only

improve the coastal habitats directly, but the water quality in 

these estuaries, rivers, streams, and wetlands as well, thereby 

benefiting the living resources that are found in or use these vital 

places. 

For example, NEPs work to enhance riparian areas, thus reducing 

pollution entering rivers and streams that would adversely impact 

fish and other aquatic life. NEPs also conduct projects to

restore tidal flow to wetlands, enabling them to better capture 

sediments and filter pollutants. To protect shorelines and minimize 

coastal erosion, some NEPs construct “living shorelines” by 

placing native plants and biodegradable organic materials near 

the water’s edge. This creates a natural buffer or breakwater to

absorb waves and trap sediments.

Photo Credit: Amie Howell

Photo Credit: Bryon Chamberlin
EFFICIENT

NEPs around the country have become efficient at 

leveraging funds to increase their ability to restore 

and protect their coastal ecosystems. The NEPs have 

obtained over $10 for every $1 provided by EPA, generating 

nearly $4 billion for on-the-ground efforts since 2003. Getting 

smart about funding means developing strategies, targeting 

programs to pursue funding that supports priorities, fostering 

alliances with public and private partners, and demonstrating 

results to donors. It also means crediting sponsors for their 

contributions and encouraging staff development of new and 

creative initiatives. 

Photo Credit: Maryland Coastal Bays Program Photo Credit: Nancy Laurson
Photo Credit: Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

ADAPTABLE

NEPs set measurable goals and objectives and use ecosystembased indicators to assess progress. This is done through a process 

of adaptive management – continuously monitoring and sometimes 

adjusting efforts if necessary – if goals and objectives are not being

met. This is also what makes NEPs successful in their ability to adapt 

to emerging issues facing our coasts and estuaries, such as climate 

change. It’s a method that can be readily adapted by and transferred

to any watershed group in the country. 

Photo Credit: Bill & Sharon Draker
The NEP–A Collaborative, 

Effective, Efficient, and 

Adaptable Coastal

Ecosystem-Based Program.

Photo Credit: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program
VISIT AN NEP NEAR YOU 

Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds, NC

apnep.org 

Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary, LA

btnep.org 

Barnegat Bay, NJ

bbep.org 

Buzzards Bay, MA

buzzardsbay.org 

Casco Bay, ME

cascobay.usm.maine.edu 

Charlotte Harbor, FL

chnep.org 

Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries, TX

cbbep.org 

Delaware Estuary, DE

delawareestuary.org 

Delaware Inland Bays, DE

inlandbays.org 

Galveston Bay, TX

gbep.state.tx.us 

Indian River Lagoon, FL

sjwmd.com/indianriverlagoon/index.html

Long Island Sound, CT

longislandsoundstudy.net 

Lower Columbia River Estuary, WA

lcrep.org 

Maryland Coastal Bays, MD

mdcoastalbays.org

Massachusetts Bays, MA

massbays.org 

Mobile Bay, AL

mobilebaynep.com 

Morro Bay, CA

mbnep.org 

Narragansett Bay, RI

nbep.org 

New York-New Jersey Harbor, NY

harborestuary.org 

Peconic Estuary, NY

peconicestuary.org

Piscataqua Region Estuaries, NH

nhep.unh.edu 

Puget Sound, WA

psp.wa.gov/ 

San Francisco Estuary, CA

sfestuary.org

San Juan Bay, Puerto Rico

estuario.org 

Santa Monica Bay, CA

santamonicabay.org 

Sarasota Bay, FL

sarasotabay.org 

Tampa Bay, FL

tbep.org 

Tillamook Bay, OR

tbnep.org 
842K07001