National Estuaries Week

National Estuaries Week 2026

Every September, the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA) joins with Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE), the Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP), NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (NOAA OCM), the Coastal States Organization (CSO), the Ocean Conservancy, and others to celebrate National Estuaries Week (NEW).

This year, we are excited to team up with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) to cross promote NEW and National Public Lands Day (NPLD). (We know, it’s more acronyms, but the folks at NEEF are worth it!) NPLD is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands. What does this mean for your Reserve? More resources for planning events and a bigger megaphone to promote them! We created this guidance to help you leverage your Reserve’s plans for NEW (and NPLD) to help us all tell a cohesive story about the impact and value of estuaries and the NERRS on social media.

Full Toolkit

NEW Nationwide Project Map

Submit Your Project

Are you hosting a clean-up or restoration project at your local estuary? Submit your project to our form above to be featured in our 2026 National Estuaries Week Project Map!

This year, we are partnering with the National Environmental Education Foundation to highlight our estuary conservation projects as a part of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 26. Projects were shared across both platforms to demonstrate how we care for “Our Home Outdoors” wherever we #WadeIn.”

2025 National Estuaries Week Resolution

In Washington, D.C., our elected officials have demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting and preserving estuaries by officially designating September 20-27, 2025 as National Estuaries Week through resolutions passed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate resolution, led by Senators Cassidy and Whitehouse, garnered support from a group of 30 bipartisan Senators. In the House, the resolution was championed by the co-chairs of the Congressional Estuaries Caucus—Representatives Bonamici, Larsen, Mast, and Posey—alongside 19 bipartisan Representatives, recognizing the vital importance of our bays, coasts, sounds, and estuaries.

Show Your Support on Social Media

Use the hashtag #WadeIn and be sure to tag RAE and our partners on social media with a story or image detailing why your estuary is important to you! Leading up to and during National Estuaries Week, RAE will be featuring posts across our social media channels highlighting what makes the estuaries we reside in our homes. Check out our social media toolkit if you need inspiration or visit our channels to learn more!

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About National Estuaries Week

National Estuaries Day began in 1988 to promote the importance of estuaries and the need to protect them. In partnership with the National Estuaries Program, National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, Restore America’s Estuaries, and many other organizations, we have extended the festivities to a whole week. It is an annual celebration and campaign to increase public awareness of estuaries and to encourage people to become involved in the protection of these important natural resources.