The National Estuary Program (NEP) was established in 1987 when amendments to the Clean Water Act provided that the significant estuaries of the United States must be identified, and protected. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA) in its publication Where the Rivers Meet the Sea, "An estuary occurs where saltwater from the sea meets and mixes with fresh water from the land." Estuaries are places where fresh and salt water mix. They are known as bays, harbors, sounds, or lagoons, as well. As much as 80% of the fish that are caught for food or for recreation depend on estuaries for all or part of their lives, according to the National Association of Estuary Programs. Because of their vital role in the impact of marine life, estuaries are often referred to as "cradles of the sea." The water bodies of the United States...