About
Estuaries:
Insights on the NEPs - Albemarle-Pamlico
Estuaries
One
of the first National Estuary Programs to complete its management
plan. Four primary components: water quality, vital habitats,
fisheries, and stewardship.
Water
Quality: Through basinwide management, the state identifies
water quality problems, develops appropriate management strategies,
maintains water quality standards and aquatic habitat, ensures
equitable distribution of waste assimilative capacity for
dischargers, and improves public awareness and involvement
in management of surface waters.
Vital
Habitats: Comprehensive basinwide wetlands restoration
plans have been developed for all five basins within the APNEP
region to ensure the status of existing wetlands and riparian
areas and identify and prioritize potential wetlands restoration
sites.
Fisheries:
Fishery management plans have been developed by the state
for all commercially or recreationally significant species
to ensure their long-term viability. Each plan includes management
goals and objectives, status of relevant fish stocks, stock
assessments for multiple species, fishery habitat and water
quality considerations, and social and economic impacts of
the fishery.
Stewardship:
Following program restructuring, the Albemarle-Pamlico National
Estuary Program (APNEP) has streamlined its public involvement
and outreach function to include a newly appointed 24-member
Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) which includes representation
from both North Carolina and Virginia. The CAC provides community
involvement, participation, and support to the APNEP on measures
concerning restoration and protection of the natural resources
of the Albemarle-Pamlico region. As an advisory committee,
two representatives from the CAC serve on the Policy Board,
and CAC representatives consult with members of the Science
& Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) and Management Advisory
Committee (MAC).
For more
information about the program:
Citizen's
Report 
Estuary
Fact Cards
| 
Estuary
Recipe |