ESTUARIES Act

The ESTUARIES Act would extend a federal grant program through fiscal year 2031 that helps protect and restore estuaries—coastal areas where freshwater rivers and streams mix with saltwater from the ocean. These ecosystems are important for both environmental health and local economies. The bill would continue funding that the Environmental Protection Agency currently provides to states, regional agencies, and nonprofit organizations to develop conservation plans and address threats to these estuary systems.

Under this program, eligible recipients would include state governments, regional water pollution control agencies, coastal zone management agencies, and other public or nonprofit organizations. The grants would support activities like creating comprehensive management plans for estuaries of national significance and tackling specific environmental challenges that affect these areas, such as water quality issues and wetland degradation.

The bill passed the House in 2025 and is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. If enacted, it would provide continued federal support for local and state efforts to maintain these valuable coastal ecosystems, which support fisheries, wildlife, recreation, and other economic activities that depend on clean water and healthy estuaries.