The National Estuary Program was established by the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 to protect nationally significant estuaries threatened by pollution, development, and overuse. National Estuary Programs (NEPs) combine the knowledge and talents of citizens and technical advisors, senior governmental officials and staff, and elected officials (working through a Management Conference) to develop sound scientific information about the estuary and to promote effective management solutions to identified problems. The Peconic Estuary was nominated for inclusion in the National Estuary Program in 1991. 

• Peconic Estuary Partnership: 2015 Ecosystem Status Report (PDF)(87 pp, 5 MB)