Celebrate National Estuaries Week with Old Woman Creek Reserve!

September 19 - 26

Each year, National Estuaries Week celebrates our incredible estuary ecosystems and the benefits they provide. We encourage all of you to get out to Old Woman Creek and see for yourself! Hike the trails, paddle the creek, volunteer for a clean-up, or try some beach yoga. Tag us on social media and use the hashtags #WadeIn and #EstuariesWeek.

Got an eye for taking great estuary pics? NOAA's Office for Coastal Management is hosting a National Estuaries Week photo contest with the following categories featured:

Learn, Play, Vistas, Smiles, Work.

Submit your images (minimum of 1200 pixels wide, no more than 10 photos) to 

OCM.NERRS.PhotoContest@noaa.gov.

All images MUST include the following information: photographer's name, short description of when and where the photo was taken, and what is shown in the photo. Deadline to submit:

AUGUST 31, 2026.

Programs and Events

National Estuaries Day began in 1988 to promote the importance of estuaries and the need to protect them. In partnership with the National Estuaries Program, National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, Restore America’s Estuaries, the Association of National Estuary Programs, the National Environmental Education Foundation, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management extended the festivities to a whole week. National Estuaries Week is an annual celebration and campaign to increase public awareness of estuaries and to encourage people to become involved in the protection of these important natural resources.