The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) consists of estuarine areas of the United States and its territories which are designated and managed for research and educational purposes.

Each Reserve within the system is chosen to reflect regional differences and to include a variety

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of ecosystem types in accordance with the classification scheme of the national program as presented in 15 CFR Part 92 1. Each Reserve supports a wide range of beneficial uses of ecological, economic, recreational, and aesthetic values which are dependent upon the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem.

The sites provide habitats for a wide range of ecologically and commercially important species of fish, shellfish, birds, and other aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.

Each Reserve has been designed to ensure its effectiveness as a conservation unit and as a site for long-term research and monitoring.

As part of a national system, the Reserves collectively provide an excellent opportunity to address research questions and estuarine management issues of national significance.

For detailed descriptions of the sites, refer to the NERRS Web site at www.nerrs.noaa.gov or contact the site staff listed in Appendix I