What We Do
The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, or APNEP, works throughout the river basins that drain into the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system. The Partnership strives to bring together diverse groups to identify how we can act together to create a healthy region, from headwaters to the coast. Initiatives that APNEP leads or supports include research studies, measures to protect or restore ecosystems, environmental monitoring programs, and education and outreach efforts. APNEP's comprehensive approach is designed to preserve the integrity of the entire estuarine ecosystem, with a special emphasis on improving water quality in the region's rivers and sounds.
We are truly a Partnership, meaning that our goals for the region's ecosystems wouldn't be possible without the collaboration and commitment of the many organizations that work alongside us. Together, our leveraged resources can ensure that the Albemarle-Pamlico region is able to support healthy human and natural communities for decades to come.
With over 3,000 square miles of estuarine waters and a land area of 28,000 square miles, the Albemarle-Pamlico is the second-largest estuarine system in the United States. The headwaters of this ecosystem are found as far as the mountains of Virginia and the North Carolina Piedmont. The ecosystem includes wetlands, farms, forests, and cities - all of which affect the downstream estuary in complex ways.
What is the Albemarle-Pamlico NEP?