National Estuaries Week

During September 20 - 27, 2025, we’re celebrating National Estuaries Week! Each year, this week is a celebration of these incredible ecosystems and the benefits estuaries provide, including recreational opportunities, which are especially important to physical and mental health. Get out and wade into an estuary near you to enjoy these benefits for yourself!

Join us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and follow #EstuariesWeek to join the conversation, and post photos of what you explore as you #WadeIn to an estuary near you.

Estuaries Week Photo Contest Results

NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management recently hosted a photo contest to celebrate National Estuaries Week! Check out this year’s winners and honorable mentions! (Image credit: Justin Ridge)

Find a National Estuarine Research Reserve near you!

The 30 national estuarine research reserves are yours to explore. Get outside and go hiking, biking, or kayaking, or find another activity, to see what lies within the waters or trails. Check with your local reserve for details.

Career Profile: Erica Seiden, Program Manager

Get to know Erica and how her team works to support the preservation and management of the national estuarine research reserves.

Research Reserves are Living Laboratories

Discover how each reserve is an ideal site for research and long-term monitoring, and how results can be compared across the system! Explore projects and real-time data.

Research Reserves Deliver Dependable Data

Data from the reserves has real-world impact! Learn more about how coastal communities use system-wide monitoring data to prepare for floods, assess water quality, make navigation safer, and more.

Estuary Education

Estuaries are for everyone, including educators! Check out our variety of resources, including specially developed activities, animations, videos, teacher training workshops, real-time data, and opportunities to volunteer at a local reserve.