Our Story

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP) – the National Estuary Program (NEP) for all Coastal Alabama – has been a leader in restoring and protecting our coastal waters since its establishment in 1995. As part of the NEP, MBNEP is a collaborative, efficient, and adaptable organization dedicated to restoring and conserving Estuaries of National Significance.

Established by Congress through amendments to the Clean Water Act in 1987, the NEP has been continuously authorized due to its strong and longstanding bipartisan support.

Like all NEPs, MBNEP is non-regulatory and works collaboratively with constituents to protect and restore Alabama’s bays and estuaries for our people, fish, and wildlife.

We’re locally run. The MBNEP is a Division of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama's Marine Research and Education Center, and functions under a unique governance structure called a Management Conference. This conference provides community leaders from industry, academia, government, non-profits, grassroots groups, and citizens with a principal voice in the decision-making process. The Management Conference is a platform for local control of natural resource management.

We’re grounded in science and best practices. The MBNEP supports these community leaders in developing and implementing a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, a scientific blueprint or long-term plan prescribing specific actions to address water quality, living resource, and community resilience challenges according to the priorities of the Management Conference.

We deliver for our State and our communities. The MBNEP invests in environmental monitoring across our two coastal counties, manages large-scale stream and shoreline restorations, builds the capacity of local governments to continuously improve our coastal environment is managed, and supports citizens in becoming wise stewards of our coastal quality of life.

On average, the MBNEP leverages over $50 for every $1 of EPA funds it receives by:

• building strategic alliances
• demonstrating environmental results
• providing seed money or staff to initiate and develop new funding sources for CCMP priorities

If you live, work, or play in Coastal Alabama, you have a vested interest in the work of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program. Learn more about estuaries and the National Estuary Program.