Current Work Plan
The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) is an advisory and planning unit of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). We receive funding from, and are part of, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Estuary Program. Our mission is to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed through the implementation of the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).
Each year the Buzzards Bay NEP prepares a one-year work plan on its proposed activities. Our Section 320 Federal FY23 Work Plan supports the core functions and staffing of the NEP. Our FY23 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act work plan describes how those funds will help implement the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Additional information about the Buzzards Bay NEP can be found on Our Program page.
Buzzards Bay NEP grants
Much of the federal funding received by the NEP is awarded as grants and subawards to Buzzards Bay municipalities and partners. Our funding often leverages funding from other state, local, federal, and private sources. Information about grants awarded by the Buzzards Bay NEP can be found on our Past Municipal and SNEP Grants Awarded page.
GPRA reports
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to conform to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and measure the performance or progress of grantees toward meeting the agency’s environmental goals. More specifically, each NEP is required to prepare annual summaries of wetlands and habitat protected. In 2005, EPA implemented on-line reporting mechanism, called the National Estuary Program On-Line Reporting Tool. For information about projects and summaries of Buzzards Bay wetlands and habitat protected or restored by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, municipalities, or lands trusts with support of the NEP, visit our Interactive GPRA Map and Reports page or visit this EPA NEP results page link.
EPA Headquarters Program Evaluation
Roughly every four years, the Washington DC office of the US EPA conducts a review of the performance of each National Estuary Program in their efforts to implement the recommendations in the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The Buzzards Bay NEP’s last program evaluation was in 2019, and our next is in 2024. This EPA Guidance document contains information about the process. Our 2024 Program Evaluation page has information on our most recent review. Read EPA’s comment letter on our 2019 implementation review comments (pdf file).
Buzzards Bay NEP Work Plan Partners
Visit the website of the citizen’s group, The Buzzards Bay Coalition.
Visit the website of the municipal official group, the Buzzards Bay Action Committee.
The Buzzards Bay NEP, The Buzzards Bay Coalition, and the Buzzards Bay Action Committee are committed to a common vision to protect and restore water quality and living resources of Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed as outline in the 2005 Buzzards Bay Memorandum of Understanding.