EPA infographic about protecting estuaries

In the United States, the National Estuary Program (NEP) provides grants to states where governors have identified nationally significant estuaries that are threatened by pollution, land development, or overuse. Governors have identified a total of 28 estuaries, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awards grants to these states to develop comprehensive management plans to restore and protect the estuaries. Congress created the NEP in the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act.[1]

Program organization

Map of 28 local estuary programs

The National Estuary Program is made up of 28 smaller organizations set up regionally by estuary. Each of the estuary organizations is managed by local community leaders and staff. Participating organizations may include universities, local non-profit organizations, and state and local government agencies. It is the job of the NEP to help communities better protect, restore and maintain their estuaries. Unlike traditional environmental governance approaches, the NEP targets a broader range of issues and participates more effectively in local communities.

Before establishment of the national program, some small local grassroots organizations pursued environmental improvement efforts in various regions of the country, with limited effect. The programs now focus not just on improving water quality in an estuary, but on maintaining the integrity of the system as a whole. If all parts of the estuary are not addressed it will be unable to balance the changes and may ecologically collapse, doing more harm than good. That includes chemical, physical, and biological properties, as well as its economic, recreational, and aesthetic public values. This allows communities that live in watersheds to have local as well as national protection.[2]

EPA provides annual funding and technical assistance to the local estuary programs.[2]

Common challenges addressed by local programs

Each of the participating coastal areas has suffered varying degrees of impacts with regard to water quality and habitat decline. Many of the local estuary programs have initiated projects in one or more of the following problem categories.

Local programs

Transparency concerns

In 2016 a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge found that the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission violated the California Public Records Act by failing to disclose records about a wetlands restoration project.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ United States. Water Quality Act of 1987, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 100–4, sec. 317. Approved February 4, 1987. 33 U.S.C. § 1330
  2. 1 2 "Overview of the National Estuary Program". Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2016-08-25.
  3. ↑ "How the National Estuary Programs Address Environmental Issues". EPA. 2017-04-27.
  4. ↑ Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Thibodaux, LA
  5. ↑ Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, Sebastian, FL.
  6. ↑ "Court Rules EPA Funded National Estuary Program Violated Transparency Laws". Chicago, IL: Cision PR Newswire. 2016-02-01. Press Release from Ballona Wetlands Land Trust.
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