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A National Estuary
Program (NEP) is a program that brings many facets of a community together to improve its
estuary using a forum to establish working relationships and the trust necessary to
develop solutions. This fosters a higher likelihood of long-term success because solutions
are "owned" by participants who have a stake in reaching them.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) periodically calls for nominations to the program from state governors. If an estuary meets the agency's criteria, EPA may then designate it to be included in the program. Once the designation has been made, a Management Conference is formed to provide the decision-making framework for participants, which typically include government agencies at the federal, state, and local level; community residents; user groups; scientific and technical institutions; business and industry; and environmental groups. The EPA functions as the overall facilitator of the process and as a Management Conference representative. The local Management Conference, or stakeholders, together identify estuary problems, program goals and objectives, and design action plans to address issues. These action plans come together in a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) which serves as a blueprint for protecting and restoring the estuary. Once completed, the Management Conference then has the task of accomplishing the items prescribed within the CCMP. To find out how you can help our estuary, please contact the Mobile Bay NEP office at (251) 431-6409 or e-mail us.
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