Big news for estuaries and the communities that depend on them: a bipartisan group of lawmakers—Representatives Mike Levin (CA-49), Brian Mast (FL-21), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), and Jen Kiggans (VA-2)—has introduced the Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act. This vital legislation would reauthorize and expand the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) and reauthorize the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP).

“At its core, the bill is about protecting our nation’s most economically valuable coastal ecosystems, “ says Rebecca Roth, executive director of the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association. “It’s also a strategic investment in community well-being. We thank Representatives Levin, Mast, Bonamici, and Kiggans for their leadership on this bill; they know that as the challenges facing our coasts intensify, we need strong, effective programs like the NERRS and CELCP that protect people, places, and economies.”

The Resilient Coasts and Estuaries Act is a practical, bipartisan step forward—and a clear message that science-based, community-driven conservation matters. The bill has earned support from more than a dozen national organizations, including those focused on sustainable recreation on the coasts, such as the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Surfrider Foundation, National Audubon Society, American Sportsfishing Association, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, and the Angler Action Foundation.

Elevating NERRS as a National Priority

The Reserve System—a network of 30 sites across nearly 1.4 million acres—provides science, data, training, and technical assistance coastal communities need to thrive in a changing world. This legislation ensures that the Reserve System will not only continue its critical work, it will deepen and expand its work to protect coastal environments and support communities. If passed, the bill would:

• Direct NOAA to designate five new National Estuarine Research Reserves, increasing access to estuarine science and education nationwide.
• Reaffirm NERRS as a cornerstone of federal coastal policy.
• Expand the reach of Reserve programs that support resilience, habitat restoration, and adaptation at the local level.

A Boost for Coastal Land Conservation

The bill seeks to revive the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), authorizing $60 million annually and opening eligibility to nonprofit organizations. The bill would prioritize funding for projects in communities that lack resources for coastal hazards, areas threatened by extreme weather, and areas that might help mitigate the effects of environmental changes. This will help bolster the resilience of vulnerable coastal ecosystems and communities from the impacts of sea level rise, while protecting the habitats and wildlife that they support.

The Grand Bay Reserve in Mississippi.