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CBNERR

Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia

Watch our video above to learn more about CBNERR-VA and explore our Story Map by clicking here!

Designated in 1991, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA) is one of 30 protected areas that make up the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). Established to promote informed management of the nation's estuaries and coastal habitats, national estuarine research reserves inspire solutions for healthy coasts and maintain strong local economies, effectively functioning as America’s bridge between freshwater and salt.

Located in the southern subregion of the Chesapeake Bay, CBNERR-VA is a steward of four unique reserves that protect a diversity of estuarine habitat: Sweet Hall Marsh, Taskinas Creek, Catlett Islands, and the Goodwin Islands. This multi-component system is situated along the York River's salinity gradient, making CBNERR-VA a foremost authority on York River estuarine habitat and water quality.

CBNERR-VA is administered as a partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), while managed on a daily basis by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). As such, its research informs local, state and national policy. As a leader in regional estuarine coastal education, CBNERR-VA builds capacity among current and future decision makers, resource stewards, and voters.

Mission

The mission of CBNERR-VA is to exhibit leadership in coastal zone management through innovative estuarine and coastal watershed science and education programs that promote natural-resource stewardship and science-based solutions to complex socioecological challenges.

To fulfill its mission, CBNERR-VA actively uses its Management Plan to guide reserve programs, and focuses its efforts and investments in a collaborative manner that addresses place-based needs while providing regional and national impact. Functional areas include:

  • Enhancing and inspiring stewardship, protection, and management of estuaries, their watersheds and cultural connections through place-based approaches;
  • Generation, application and transfer of scientific knowledge with respect to estuarine and coastal watershed resources to increase understanding, appreciation and betterment of coastal communities; and
  • Advancement of environmental literacy and appreciation, allowing for better resource stewardship and science-based decisions that positively affect estuaries, their watersheds and communities.
CBNERR-VA's mission complements the three-part mission of VIMS to conduct interdisciplinary research in coastal ocean and estuarine science, educate students and citizens, and provide advisory service to policy makers, industry, and the public.
Pillars of Operation

Underlying the above functional areas, are CBNERR-VA’s core values and orienting principles, represented by its five Pillars of Operation: 

  • Responsible Conduct of Research;
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice;
  • Communications;
  • Advisory Service and Technical Assistance; and 
  • Five Programmatic Veins. 

These pillars are the bedrock of the Reserve’s program development, and the lens through which the reserve approaches its roadmap toward vision achievement.  Outlined in the Reserve's 2022-2027 Management Plan, CBNERR-VA’s Pillars of Operation reflect: current need and future opportunity to establish and enhance related projects; capacity to foster related projects; and a communal investment and shared priority between Reserve staff and the communities and partners it serves.

  • Responsible Conduct of Research.  Researchers have clear obligations to conduct research and dissemination of its results in a manner illustrative of integrity and high professional standards.  Shared responsibilities among those conducting research include: (1) honesty in the development of information; (2) rigor and objectivity in the precise reporting of findings,taking care to avoid biases and errors; (3) provision of transparency in declaring interests; (4) adherence to all relevant Institute policies with respect to grant submission and management, acceptable laboratory and field practices, and safety policies and practices;and (5) treatment of others in a fair and equitable manner, including appropriate referencing and giving credit, including authorship where appropriate, to those that have made significant contributions.
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.  CBNERR-VA is committed to cultivating resilient coasts, requiring that it convene, listen to and elevate the lived experience and wisdom ofVirginia’s coastal community members. Integrating local knowledge and perspective from diverse coastal voices while providing new opportunities to experience the coast and estuarine science in an equitable manner ensures that CBNERR-VA’s place-based understanding is holistic and inclusive. CBNERR-VA acknowledges that it continues to learn in this space, growing internally and externally. Its strength lies in allyship and engagement though it is not a leader by any means and as such, continues to seek learning and growth opportunities for its staff in this vein.
  • Communications.  CBNERR-VA recognizes that strong programs, reputation and trust are built on meaningful communications - both internally and externally. To this end, the reserve is committed to developing and maintaining channels of communication predicated on consistency, transparency and timeliness, among its staff, communities it serves, and partners with which it collaborates.
  • Advisory Service & Technical Assistance. CBNERR-VA recognizes that knowledge is power and seeks to empower others by sharing its knowledge of coastal and estuarine environments, related management practices and lived experience. In light of equitable and inclusive engagement, as well as meaningful communications, CBNERR-VA takes its responsibility as a conduit of information seriously. To this end, CBNERR-VA staff engage in a variety of technical assistance pursuits, advising on a myriad of topics, including status, trends,tools, opportunities and best practices, while serving on a variety of local, regional and national workgroups and steering committees. CBNERR-VA strives to provide accessible technical assistance in a fair and just manner for all those who seek it, marketing and availing itself accordingly.
  • Five Programmatic Veins. CBNERR-VA promotes cross-program integration, which, in turn, facilitates success, broader impacts, and applicability. Classified by primary function, Reserve programs include Administration, Research & Monitoring, Education & Outreach, Coastal Training, and Resource Management & Stewardship.  Reserve goals and objectives, in many cases, cut across programmatic structure resulting in shared action responsibilities.