Unit:National Estuary Program

National Estuary Program (NEP)

The National Estuary Program (NEP) is an EPA program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance. The NEP is a non-regulatory program established by Congress and authorized by section 320 of the Clean Water Act in 1987.

Currently, 28 estuaries located along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts and in Puerto Rico are designated as estuaries of national significance.

Each NEP has a Management Conference (MC) that consists of diverse stakeholders and uses a collaborative, consensus-building approach. The MCs develop and implement Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMP), long-term plans that contain actions to address water quality and living resource challenges and priorities. The EPA provides annual funding, national guidance and technical assistance to the local NEPs.

The Indian River Lagoon was nominated as an Estuary of National Significance and joined the NEP in 1990 under the sponsorship of the St. Johns and South Florida Water Management Districts. Today, the Indian River Lagoon NEP Management Conference is the IRL Council, a special district of Florida.

The IRLNEP's CCMP has been published in 1997, 2008 and a 2019 final draft is currently under review.

The NEP is a collaborative, efficient, and adaptable ecosystem-based network of organizations that protects and restores 28 estuaries of national significance.

Focus: National Estuaries

Region: United States

Founded: 1987

Hierarchy

Government Organization

United States Government; Executive Branch; Environmental Protection Agency; EPA Office of Water; EPA Office of Wetlands Oceans and Watersheds

Affiliations

Parent Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Water; Office of Wetlands Oceans and Watersheds

Subsidiaries: Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program

Partners: IRL Council; Association of National Estuary Programs

Contact

National Estuary Program

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Mail Code 4204M

Washington, DC 20460

Phone: 202-566-1146

Email: ow-owow-internet-comments@epa.gov

Website: https://www.epa.gov/nep

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