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  1. Home
  2. National Estuary Program (NEP)
  3. NEP Success Stories

How the National Estuary Programs Address Environmental Issues

Because we love and depend on coastal water resources, over half the U.S. population lives within 100 miles of a coast, including the shores of estuaries. And more and more people are moving to these areas. Due to the rapid population growth in coastal areas, and recurring extreme weather events, estuaries face a host of common challenges.

In general, these problems cause declines in water quality, living resources and overall estuarine ecosystem health. They also have significant economic and socio-economic impacts. For example, habitat and water quality degradation, along with the introduction of aquatic nuisance species, stresses native fish species populations, which can in turn adversely affect commercial seafood production.

The 28 National Estuary Programs (NEP) share information about their successful approaches to environmental challenges with each other and other coastal watershed managers. That exchange is critical to the effective restoration and protection of estuarine health across all the NEPs.

Provided below are descriptions of the common environmental challenges NEPs face and selected NEP approaches and success stories.

In this section:

  • Aquatic nuisance species
  • Recurring Extreme Weather Events
  • Declines in fish and wildlife populations
  • Habitat loss and degradation
  • Nutrient loads
  • Pathogens
  • Stormwater
  • Toxics

National Estuary Program (NEP)

  • National Estuary Program (NEP) Home
    • Basic Information about Estuaries
  • Funding Resources
  • Learn about the National Estuary Program
    • Overview of the NEP
    • National NEP Results
    • Exploring Estuaries
    • NEP Library
      • National Estuary Program Reports
  • Local Estuary Programs
    • Individual Estuary Program Websites
    • Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans
    • NEPs on Social Media
    • State of the Bay Reports
    • NEP Videos, Virtual Tours and Photo Gallery
  • NEP Success Stories
    • Fact Sheets
    • Habitat Plans
    • How NEPs Address Environmental Issues
      • Aquatic Nuisance Species
      • Climate Change
      • Declines in Fish and Wildlife Populations
      • Habitat Loss and Degradation
      • Nutrient Loads
      • Pathogens
      • Stormwater
      • Toxics
    • Progress Evaluation
    • Successful Watershed Management: NEP Lessons Learned
    • Sustainable Financing Examples
      • Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
      • Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program
      • Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
      • Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
      • Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
      • Peconic Estuary Partnership
      • Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Contact Us about National Estuary Program
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 29, 2025
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