The Congressional Estuary Caucus was established in early 2017 to help educate leaders at all levels of government on the importance of estuaries and ensure we sustain the robust support for proven programs that work to preserve and restore our estuaries.

Estuaries are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. These singular ecosystems are best characterized by their brackish water – a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salt tidal water from surrounding areas. Estuaries are home to a diverse set of plants and animals that rely on the delicate balance of salt and fresh water to survive; in addition estuaries serve as vital nursery grounds for many fish and ocean mammal populations.

Individuals across the country rely on estuaries for food, jobs, recreation, and coastal protection. The health of local communities and our nation’s economy is deeply intertwined with the health of our estuaries. More than half of the U.S. population lives in coastal areas, with coastal watershed counties providing an estimated 69 million U.S. jobs and contributing an estimated $7.9 trillion to the GDP annually.

Estuaries are as important as they are delicate and in recent years many have faced significant challenges, ranging from harmful algal blooms to invasive species, which threaten their survival and the survival of the areas that surround them. For years Congress has worked, in bipartisan fashion, to implement and support initiatives aimed at protecting the many unique estuaries in the United States. Representatives from every corner of this great nation have come together repeatedly to address the problems facing these ecosystems so that they may be enjoyed by future generations.

Economic Value of America’s Estuaries