About Us
Restore America’s Estuaries is a national alliance of 10 coastal conservation groups dedicated to restoring and preserving America’s estuaries and coasts. We are a powerful voice for coastal restoration in the nation’s capital.
Founded in 1995, Restore America’s Estuaries is dedicated to the protection and restoration of bays and estuaries as essential resources for our nation.
RAE member organizations restore coastal habitats in 11 estuaries and 16 states nationwide. Stretching from Maine to California, we have unmatched national reach and effectiveness; our local projects restore coastal wetlands, open fish passages, remove invasive species, build living shorelines, transplant seagrasses, replant salt marshes, and restore shellfish habitat.
As the leader of a national alliance, we provide a unified voice for coastal conservation in Washington D.C. and advance the science and practice of habitat restoration through on-the-ground projects, groundbreaking science, high-level meetings, and our biennial National Coastal and Estuarine Summit.
As the leader of a national alliance, we provide a unified voice for coastal conservation...
Accomplishments and Future Goals
Through extensive projects and community events, Restore America’s Estuaries has effectively changed the future course of our nation’s estuaries. We have advanced, funded, and implemented on-the-ground restoration projects on a national basis, addressed emerging issues, including climate change and estuary economics. Together with our partners we have united the coastal restoration community, key government decision-makers, and citizens behind coastal and estuarine habitat restoration issues. In the future, we hope to continue these widespread conservation efforts in order to preserve our nation’s estuarine habitats for the enjoyment of future generations to come.
The ongoing importance of estuaries has never been clearer than these past years. With our daily lives disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and so many lives lost we looked for ways to find calm and a sense of safety. Across the country, people flocked to estuaries to find peace and solitude in numbers like never before. The tranquility of outdoor spaces reconnected many with forgotten passions and opened the door for new possibilities.
In addition to this solace, estuaries played an important role in protecting our coastal communities from another record hurricane and storm season. Intact coastal wetlands saved communities billions of dollars in reconstruction and countless lives. Until we fully address climate change, the trend of record storms is not apt to reverse. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we prioritize nature-based solutions and sustainable management to protect the over 40% of our nation’s population that live within estuary regions.
I greatly appreciate the support of the Board, our staff, and partners for making 2021 another year of impact I hope this year brings more chances to meet and I look forward to seeing you all December 4-8 2022 in New Orleans for the 2022 RAE Summit and working together to protect and restore our nations estuaries and bays.
Best Regards,
Daniel Hayden, President and CEO
Non Discrimination Policy
Restore America’s Estuaries does not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, creed, religion, color, personal appearance, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity marital status, parental status, family responsibilities, the presence of any sensory, physical, or mental disability, matriculation, membership in any labor organization, lawful source of income, political affiliation, or political ideology, in the administration of its programs or activities.
Restore America’s Estuaries does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and Part 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.
If you have any questions about this notice or any of Restore America’s Estuaries’ non-discrimination programs, policies, or procedures, you may contact: Nicole Lekus, Operations Manager, Restore America’s Estuaries, 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 603, Arlington, VA, 22201, (215) 527-5850, nlekus@estuaries.org.
If you believe that you have been discriminated against, you may contact the Operations Manager as identified above or follow the below reporting instructions:
RAE encourages complaints, reports, or inquiries about illegal practices or serious violations of RAE policies, including illegal or improper conduct by RAE itself, by its leadership, or by others on its behalf. Accusations of retaliation for reporting harassment or other improper behavior also fall into this policy, as do complaints of discrimination. Complaints, reports, or inquiries may be made under this policy on a confidential or anonymous basis and should describe in detail the specific facts demonstrating the basis for the complaints, reports, or inquiries. They should be directed to the RAE President or Chair of the Board of Directors via writing at RAE@estuaries.org, via phone at (703) 524-0248, or via fax at (703) 524-0287. If both of those persons are implicated in the complaint, report, or inquiry, relevant information should be directed to the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors via the same communication methods. RAE will conduct a prompt, discreet, and objective review or investigation.
