National Estuaries Week shines a light on sensitive habitats

Coastal North Carolina contains more than 2 million acres of estuarine habitats, the transitional areas where freshwater from rivers meets salty seawater.

Restore America’s Estuaries, the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, and the Association of National Estuary Programs, have chosen to draw attention to these fragile ecosystems that continually face challenges by celebrating National Estuarine Week, September 21-28.

National Estuaries Week is a time to recognize “the countless recreational, economic and environmental benefits our estuaries provide, while acknowledging that they are under threat due to a warming climate and continued development that threatens to destroy these national treasures” – Daniel Hayden, president and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries, said in a statement. “We hope you will take some time during National Estuary Week to enjoy your local estuary and celebrate the benefits it provides.”

National Mouth Day, first organized in 1988, was later expanded to a week-long celebration. Last year, there were 36 events in 11 different states with over 11,400 volunteers. About 40 projects took place or are scheduled across the country this week, including several on the North Carolina coast. A full list of events can be found on the website.

Rebecca Ellin, program manager for the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, said there is still time to participate in activities planned to celebrate North Carolina estuaries.

The reserve program includes 10 state-protected areas totaling more than 44,000 acres of estuarine land and water. Four of these sites are also federally protected in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Under the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Coastal Management Division, a land acquisition program was established in the early 1980s as part of the North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act, which went into effect in 1974.

Bioblitz takes place throughout the week at three preserves: Masonboro Island, Kitty Hawk Woods and Rachel Carson in Beaufort. Visitors are encouraged to take photos of flora and fauna and submit them to iNaturalist, a website where anyone can record observations in nature.

“Documentation of species on reserves contributes to natural species records and provides baseline data on extant species,” Ellin said.

Preserve staff will have booths Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Olde Beaufort Farmers Market in Beaufort for Estuary Day and at the Femme in STEM event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

Femme in STEM showcases the diversity of science, technology, engineering and math fields that open up career paths and celebrates women in STEM fields. The event “is a reminder of how important it is for young girls to see someone like them in science and other STEM subjects. The reserve staff will have a booth during the event and will engage all age groups in hands-on educational activities,” Ellin explained.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation kicks off the weekend with an estuarine-themed movie night beginning Friday at 6 p.m. at its Wrightsville Beach office. Employees will also have a booth at the Olde Beaufort Farmers Market on Saturday.

The nonprofit organization is a member-supported organization with offices in Wanchese, Newport and Wrightsville Beach and is one of 10 member organizations of Restore America’s Estuaries.

But first, what is an estuary?

Coastal Federation education coordinator Bonnie Mitchell, from the Wrightsville Beach office, said estuaries “create a unique habitat rich with life.”

“These coastal bodies of water support a variety of species, filter pollutants from the water, and act as natural buffers against storms. They play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems that directly impact public health by improving water quality, supporting fisheries that provide nutritious food, and protecting shorelines from erosion and flooding,” Mitchell said.

Coastal education co-ordinator Rachel Bisesi from the headquarters, often called “marine nurseries”, said that “estuaries provide a safe haven for many young marine animals to grow up because there is plenty of food and hiding places and fewer large predators.” than in the open ocean. “Almost all seafood spends part of its life in estuaries, and keeping it healthy is important to coastal communities and the economy.”

Director of Education and Outreach Sara Hallas at the Wanchese office added that estuaries are her “favorite habitats” and she loves that “there’s always a dynamic here that makes the estuary constantly changing and there’s always something new to discover. Just as an estuary is important for animals to rest and find shelter, it is also important for humans to reflect and connect.”

Hallas reiterated to Bisesi that these habitats are important nurseries for animals, where they find shelter in calm water from larger predators, as well as for aquatic wildlife that lay eggs and raise their young, and when ready, move out to deeper waters.

“This reinforces the Federation’s motto: ‘No wetlands, no seafood’, as most seafood harvested – commercially and recreationally – depends on an estuary at some point in its life cycle. Estuaries are also important areas where animals can rest and refuel during long migrations, Hallas said.

Ellin said coastal and estuarine habitats along the North Carolina coast have great diversity because they encompass two different biogeographic regions – the northern range of southern species and the southern range of northern species – and different tidal ranges and types of sounds.

The preserves “protect a range of coastal habitats found in North Carolina and are representative of the diversity of these conditions. Examples of habitats protected by reserve habitats include salt marshes, maritime forests, ocean beaches, mudflats, marine forests, marsh forests, ponderosa pine forests, and these coastal habitats include North Carolina estuaries.”

Director Bill Crowell, Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP), said estuary protection is critical for several reasons, including estuarine ecosystem function and biodiversity, economic value, water quality, flood mitigation and cultural significance .

Like the reserve program, APNEP falls under the state Department of Environmental Quality. APNEP is one of the first of 28 national estuarine programs established under the Clean Water Act in the late 1980s and protects an approximately 28,000-square-mile watershed in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

Crowell said the Albemarle-Pamlico region is one of the largest and most productive estuarine ecosystems in the United States.

“Estuaries are essential to functional ecosystems because they serve as important habitats for a wide range of species, including fish, birds and invertebrates. They provide areas for breeding and breeding, supporting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,” he said. “Estuaries support important economic activities such as fishing, tourism and recreation. Healthy ecosystems contribute to a vibrant local economy, providing jobs and supporting livelihoods.”

Estuaries improve water quality because they act as natural filters, trapping pollutants and sediment, Crowell said. “This is essential to maintaining the good health of both the estuary itself and the coastal waters it connects to,” Crowell said. And estuaries help with floods. “Healthy estuarine ecosystems can absorb excess rainfall and storm surges, reducing the risk of flooding in surrounding communities and increasing resilience to climate-related impacts.”

There is also a social connection. “Many communities have deep cultural ties to estuaries, drawing on them for food, recreation and heritage. Protecting these areas helps preserve cultural identity and traditions, he said.

Ellin explained that reserves stretching from the northern border of North Carolina to the southern border are protected for long-term research, education and management.

“Research and management efforts work to manage our North Carolina coastal sites and resources in the face of increased use and changing environmental conditions by monitoring changes and testing and evaluating restoration techniques such as living shorelines,” Ellin said. “Teachers, students and policy makers learn about the importance of our estuaries through interpretive field trips to these locations and how to incorporate science into their activities and everyday decisions that may impact coastlines and estuaries.”

Estuaries not only protect habitats and provide platforms for research and education, but also provide storm protection and economic benefits to nearby communities. “Estuary protection protects coastal habitats and their contribution to healthy ecosystems and communities,” Ellin said.

All three Coastal Federation educators admitted that these ecosystems are increasingly threatened.

“Habitat loss and development, as well as stormwater pollution and climate change are impacting the health of the estuary,” Bisesi said.

Mitchell said pollution, overdevelopment and climate change threaten these vital resources. “If we don’t take action now to protect estuaries, we not only risk losing key wildlife habitats, but also jeopardizing the well-being of our communities. Protecting estuaries is essential not only for biodiversity, but also for protecting public health and ensuring the sustainability of coastal life.”

Hallas added that in addition to the threats Mitchell mentioned, estuaries are also at risk as a result of a recent ruling that has drastically reduced wetland protections across the United States. “How could we not protect something so precious to all living things, including the source of life: clean water.”

Hallas said that because estuaries provide protection from floods, storms, erosion and water quality, “I think it’s our job to protect them in return.” Estuaries are “an oasis of beauty on the North Carolina coast, a refuge for both people and wildlife.”

The Coastal Federation publishes the Coastal Review.