Overview

The ACE Basin NERR, designated in 1992, consists of about 140,000 acres and is one of 27 national reserves located along the US coastline. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) is a network of federal, state, and local partnerships that emphasize resource stewardship, monitoring of estuarine conditions, management-oriented research, technical information transfer, and environmental education. Reserves such as the ACE Basin, play an important part in preserving our coasts and serve as local links to protect and restore coastal habitats and biodiversity, promote clean coastal waters, and foster sustainable coastal communities compatible with the natural environment.

The ACE Basin NERR has developed programs that link education, research, and resource management. Management-related research enhances scientific understanding of reserve environments, provides information needed by reserve managers and coastal zone decision makers, and improves public awareness of estuaries and estuarine management issues. Education plays an important role in the ACE Basin Reserve and NERR system by providing student curricula, field trips, adult lectures, teacher workshops, volunteer programs, and a wide variety of printed media.

Mission: The ACE Basin NERR aims to protect the natural beauty, abundant wildlife and unique cultural heritage of the area through long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education and coastal stewardship.

NERR Activities

• Long-term research and monitoring of water quality, abundance and types of important plant and animal species, and overall health of the ACE Basin through the Research program.
• Science-based tools and training for coastal decision-makers through the Coastal Training Program
• Coastal education programs for students and teachers, including education cruises through the ACE Basin, through the Education Program (link to Education page)
• Stewardship training for the public on the importance and impacts of human interaction with the environment.