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National Estuarine Research Reserves

Living Laboratories for Science, Education, and Protection

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is a network of estuaries — places where freshwater from the land mixes with saltwater from the sea — established across the nation for long-term research, education, and coastal stewardship. The reserves are a partnership between NOAA and the coastal states and territories. NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is responsible for administering the reserve system. Each reserve is managed on a day-to-day basis by a lead state agency or university, with input from local partners. The mission of the reserves is to practice and promote coastal and estuarine stewardship through innovative research and education, using a system of protected areas.

NERRS Education and Resources

kids running at North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve

Learn about estuaries

Our lessons provide an overview of estuarine habitats, the threats facing them, and efforts to monitor and protect estuaries nationwide.
Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida

Find a reserve near you

Explore our interactive map to discover the network of 30 coastal sites designated to protect and study estuarine systems.
Wild rice planting in Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Maryland

Science to management

Through integrated research and training, estuarine reserves help communities develop strategies to deal successfully with coastal resource issues.
photo of volunteers with binoculars

System wide monitoring program

The System Wide Monitoring program (SWMP) collects a variety of data, including water quality, weather conditions, and habitat changes.
the environmental learning center at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Education

Estuarine reserves take a local approach in advancing literacy and generating meaningful experiences for all kinds of people interested in learning about, protecting, and restoring estuaries.
volunteers at an estuarine reserve

Stewardship

Reserves protect and conserve 1.4 million acres of coastal and estuarine habitat - and volunteers have been instrumental to reserves' stewardship efforts.

NERRS Facts

Halibut Cove in Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Alaska

What is NERRS?

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a partnership between NOAA and coastal states to study and protect coastal and estuarine resources.
Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve

What is an estuary?

Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea.
otter swimming on back

What animals and plants live in an estuary?

Estuaries are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world, home to a diverse population of animals and plants.
South Slough Reserve

What is a slough?

A slough is a swamp or shallow lake system, usually a backwater to a larger body of water.