Chapter I 



The National Estuary Program: 



An Overview 



Unique Resources 



Estuaries are unique waterways where fresh water drained from 

 the land mixes with salt water from the ocean. This blend of salt 

 and fresh water makes estuaries biologically productive, sustaining 

 certain finfish, shellfish, marshes, underwater grasses, and micro- 

 scopic marine life. Because of their economic, aesthetic, and 

 recreational value, estuaries are increasingly attracting both people 

 and commerce to their shores. Aquatic life is affected by these 

 growing populations, which need and use water for services as well 

 as for commercial and industrial activity. 



In establishing the National Estuary Program under the Water 

 Quality Act of 1987, Congress recognized the special need to 

 protect an important but endangered resource, our nation's es- 

 tuaries. 



According to the 1 972 Federal Water Pollution Control 

 Act, "the term 'estuary' means all or part of the mouth 

 of a river or stream or other body of water having 

 unimpaired natural connection with the open sea and 

 within which sea water is measurably diluted with fresh 

 water derived from land drainage." The 1987 amend- 

 ments, known as the Water Quality Act of 1987, ex- 

 pand the definition to include "associated aquatic 

 ecosystems and those portions of tributaries draining 

 into the estuary up to the historic height of migration of 

 anadromous fish or the historic head of tidal influence, 

 whichever is higher." 



The National Estuary Program is managed by the Environmental 

 Protection Agency (EPA) to identify nationally significant estuaries 

 threatened by pollution, development, or overuse, and to promote 

 the preparation of comprehensive management plans to ensure 

 their ecological integrity. The program's goals are protection and 

 improvement of water quality and enhancement of living resour- 

 ces. 



What Is the National 

 Estuary Program? 



