Estuaries are places like no other. Beginning where fresh river waters flow into coastal bays and inlets, estuaries are unique, constantly changing, and critical to a very special way of life.

• Estuaries provide a safe haven and protective nursery for small fish, shellfish, migrating birds, and coastal shore animals.
• Estuaries filter small amounts of pollutants and runoff, prevent soil erosion, and protect coastal communities by buffering against waves and storms.
• Estuaries are important to our quality of life, often serving as the focal point for community life and traditions.

Show YOUR support for your local estuary by PLEDGING TO SPEND A DAY ON THE BAY!

• Celebrate National Estuaries Day! National Estuaries Day (NED) is the annual celebration of the vibrant and essential coastal areas where rivers meet the sea and a terrific opportunity to learn more about estuaries. National Estuaries Day 2011 will take place on Saturday, September 24 and events will be held  across the nation throughout that week. Click here to learn about specific opportunities to spend a day on your local bay!
  

• Celebrate your local bay any day of the year! Can't make it to NED? You can ALWAYS take advantage of volunteer opportunities and hands-on restoration projects in your nearby bay or estuary, participate in a guided walk or boat tour, or simply explore your estuary with family and friends! Click here for a list of Restore America's Estuaries' (RAE) member groups or find a National Estuarine Research Reserve near you! 
  

I, the undersigned, pledge to celebrate National Estuaries Day 2011 by spending a day on my local bay.

Whether it is bird-watching, boating, visiting the beach, hiking, camping, or volunteering at a cleanup or habitat restoration event, I pledge to get outdoors and experience the beauty of my local bay and learn more about the complex processes taking place in estuaries.

In doing so, I acknowledge that estuaries are an important part of our lives; interconnected to our economy, hobbies and culture, and a critical part of our coastal and ocean ecosystems.