At
least 10 of the National Estuarine Research Reserves participated in
National Public Lands Day activities as part of their observance of
National Estuaries Day, both of which occured on Saturday, Sept. 26.
This was also the first time a Congressional Resolution has marked
National Estuaries Day.
Officials from the National
Environmental Education Foundation approached NOAA officials this year
about the possibility of joining forces on the simultaneous
environmentally oriented observance days. The Estuarine Reserves
Division encouraged the 27 state-managed reserves to sign on to
National Public Lands Day, which recruits volunteers to work on
projects in state and federal parks, reserves, refuges and similar
locations.
Reserves on the east coast and Gulf
coast participated in National Public Lands Day by using volunteers to
work on invasive species removal, native planting, cleanup and other
activities as part of their own National Estuaries Day activities.
The
reserves created and have observed National Estuaries Day for more than
20 years with outreach and educational activities to engage local
residents and raise awareness of the reserves and of coastal and
estuarine science and issues. This year, the U.S. Senate unanimously
passed a resolution introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI.
The Senate Resolution (S.Res. 247)
recognizes and supports the goals of National Estuaries Day, and
“acknowledges the importance of estuaries to the Nation's economic
well-being and productivity; recognizes the persistent threats that
undermine the health of the Nation's estuaries; applauds the work of
national and community organizations and public partners to promote
public awareness, protection, and restoration of estuaries; and
reaffirms its support for estuaries, including the preservation,
protection, and restoration thereof, and expresses its intent to
continue working to protect and restore the estuaries of the United
States.”
Most reserves observed National
Estuaries Day with a variety of educational and participatory
activities for the public, including boat tours, guided nature walks,
touch tanks, naturalist programs and more.