5 Missions of National Estuarine Research Reserve System

Overview

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is a growing network of 29 sensitive coastal areas across 23 states and Puerto Rico. Congress established the system in the early 1970s, as part of the Coastal Zone Management Act, to protect and facilitate the study of our nation’s estuaries. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) works in partnership with coastal states to administer and manage the overall system and specific sites.

NERRS guidelines call for reserve sites across 29 distinct biogeographical subregions along the U.S. coasts and Great Lakes. Governors submit letters of interest regarding prospective sites to NOAA, and if the agency approves moving forward, the state leads a public process to nominate the site and develop its management plan. Once the Secretary of Commerce—who oversees NOAA—designates a reserve, it generally meets these five missions, all intended to support the understanding and conservation of the system, and of all U.S. estuaries.

Public Education

NERRS sites serve as living outdoor classrooms for students, teachers, and the public.

NOAA

Monitoring

Staff members at each NERRS site collect data on issues ranging from water quality to habitat. These data are shared with other experts to help assess and manage U.S. estuaries nationwide.

South Slough, Oregon, NERR

Stewardship

Programs at NERRS sites foster an understanding of the importance of conserving the sites and responsibly managing coastal areas. 

NOAA/Coreen Weilminster

Research

NERRS sites serve as living laboratories for studying climate change, invasive species, storms, and more.

E. Kenworthy/University of Georgia Marine Extension

Training

Researchers and educators use NERRS sites to develop curricula on issues important to coastal management.

San Francisco Bay NERR and Ocean Science Center