The National Estuary Program celebrates 20 years of community-based watershed management in 2007.
Created by Congress through amendments to the federal Clean Water Act, the program designated 28 “estuaries of national significance” – including Tampa Bay – and provides annual funding to help develop and implement comprehensive management plans to improve those waterways.
In addition to Tampa Bay, other members of the National Estuary Program include Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Indian River Lagoon in Florida; Puget Sound, Long Island Sound, San Francisco Bay and Galveston Bay. These waterways have been selected because of their unique economic, ecologic, recreational and aesthetic value.
The 28 NEPs cover more than 42 percent of the continental United States’ shoreline, and 15 percent of all Americans live within NEP-designated watersheds. More than 80 percent of the fish we catch for food or fun depend upon estuaries for some part of their life cycle. Coastal recreation and tourism in the NEP watersheds generates an economic impact of $8 to $12 billion annually.
Each NEP creates and implements a plan with specific actions designed to improve water quality, habitat and living resources. The NEPs have succeeded because they focus on the watershed, use science to inform decision-making, emphasize collaborative problem solving, and involve the public.
Through the efforts of the 28 NEPs, more than 1 million acres of coastal habitat have been restored and protected since 2000. The NEP accomplished this by fostering and maintaining strong partnerships among federal, state and local governments, the private sector, and local stakeholders; and by using a consensus, community-based approach with strong local control in developing and implementing their Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans. Additionally, the NEPs leverage an average of $16.50 in matching funds for each $1 provided by EPA.
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program was established in 1991, and is pleased to be a part of this national success story.
