AFS and CERF Submit Public Comments on WOTUS

CERF joined the American Fisheries Society (AFS) to submit public comments outlining concerns with the “Updated Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’,”a proposed rule by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Environmental Protection Agency published in the Federal Register on 20 November 2025. In 2023, the US Supreme Court decided in Sackett v. EPA that “Waters of the US” (WOTUS) regulated under the Clean Water Act (CWA) must be “relatively permanent” and have a “continuous surface connection” with traditional navigable waters, potentially removing approximately two-thirds of the nation’s remaining wetlands and up to 5 million miles of streams from protection. In the public comments, CERF and AFS argue that the proposed rule further erodes these protections by imposing new and confusing standards that restrict protections in a manner not required by Sackett and in contradiction with the science and the purpose of the CWA. For example, the proposed rule defines “relatively permanent” to mean “standing or continuously flowing bodies of surface water that are standing or continuously flowing year-round or at least during the wet season” without clearly defining wet season, thus adding confusion and potentially removing from protection waters with unpredictable or non-seasonal connections (such as some ephemeral streams). The 45-day public comment period closed on 5 January 2026; the final rule is expected to take effect later this year. You can read the full comments and all previous CERF comments and statements on WOTUS on the Policy & Advocacy website.

Read Full Comments

We are pleased to announce that CERF has a new mission state­ment!

CERF’s mission is to advance research, knowledge, and stewardship of coasts and estuaries and sustain the education and professional development of a diverse and inclusive commu­nity.

CERF Joins More Than 50 Scientific Societies Issue Letter to Congress Expressing Concerns Regarding Executive Order on Federal Grantmaking

CERF joined a coalition of more than 50 scientific societies to issue a letter to the United States Congress expressing concerns over provisions in the 7 August 2025 Executive Order (EO) titled “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.” The letter urges Congress to provide necessary oversight at federal science agencies to prevent potentially significant damage to US leadership in scientific and medical research.

The US federal grantmaking ecosystem serves as the gold standard for supporting cutting-edge research and driving technological innovation worldwide. While ongoing evaluation and oversight of this ecosystem contribute to its effectiveness, the directives within the EO raise questions regarding the possibility of politicization in federally funded research.

The letter urges Congress to take action to safeguard the integrity of the independent, merit-based peer-review system. It also raises concerns over the expansion of “termination for convenience” authority, and the many inefficiencies introduced in the grantmaking process by requiring grant recipients to provide written explanations for each drawdown of funds. Finally, the letter supports the EO’s goal of ensuring that grants are given to a broad range of recipients but raises questions over how “repeat players” will be determined.

The letter is addressed to congressional leadership, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The letter was also sent to the congressional committees with oversight of federal science agencies.

View the full text of the letter and the list of signatories.

CERF is currently accepting applications for volunteers! Please consider signing up for one of our many volunteer positions by 1 October 2025. Many committees will begin their work after the CERF 2025 Conference in Richmond, Virginia, and will run through the CERF 2027 conference; however, there will also be committees that start after the conference and many shorter-term opportunities.

We depend on member volunteers to carry out CERF’s mission and vision, make progress on our strategic plan, and carry out critical programming. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of CERF. Volunteering not only serves CERF but is also personally rewarding to members at all career stages and professional pathways. Volunteering provides opportunities to identify personal strengths, refine leadership skills, build professional connections, and gain important skills and experiences.

The results of The Federal Impacts Survey, conducted to quantify the impact of federal and state policies on scientists in the fields of ecology, evolution, marine science, and environmental science has been published on the Impacts on Science Website. The survey found eight major impacts of federal and state policy changes since 20 January 2025:

• Disruption of research with societal importance
• Concerns for closure of important labs
• Jobs, early career bottleneck, and career progress
• Decline in government efficiency and expertise
• Concerns about biased or removed information and data gaps
• From positive impacts to irreparable harm
• Concerns in the ability to meet legal mandates

In addition to CERF members, the survey was sent to members of 14 societies and received 1,392 responses. You can read more information about the survey from the Joint Society Announcement.

Meet CERF’s 2025-2027 Governing Board

Please join us in congratulating CERF’s new President-elect, Secretary, Members-at-Large, and Student Member-at-Large. Thank you also to our continuing Board members, and our new Affiliate Society representatives.

Seeking Candidates for Estuaries and Coasts Reviews and Perspectives Editor

CERF is seeking a new Reviews and Perspectives Editor for the journal Estuaries and Coasts. The primary responsibilities are to assist the co-editors-in-chief in continuously improving the intellectual quality of the journal by soliciting, promoting, and managing high-quality review and perspective articles that advance knowledge of estuarine and coastal systems. The Editor will also assess and take steps to continuously improve the intellectual quality of the journal and adhere to CERF’s core value to steward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in publication practices.

CERF desires the following attributes for candidates:

CERF is committed to supporting our members affected by recent US policy decisions. We recognize that many of our members have lost (or will lose) their employment because of government actions. We want you to be able to continue to stay connected to CERF and take advantage of your benefits such as the job board, webinars, access to Estuaries and Coasts and Wetlands, and discounted registration to the conference. 

Now more than ever, the CERF community is a valuable resource that we want you to continue to be part of. Therefore, the Governing Board has approved free renewal for our affected members. CERF will waive the 1-year membership renewal fee for recently lapsed or renewing members in 2025 who have lost jobs due to current government actions. 

CERF Joins CASS to Submit Public Comments on WOTUS 

On 23 April 2025, in response to the request from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on “Implementation of the Definition of Waters of the United States” (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0093), CERF joined the nine other societies of the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies (CASS) to submit public comments. The purpose of this docket is, in light of the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, to seek perspectives on defining ‘‘waters of the United States’’ (WOTUS) consistent with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction and how to implement that interpretation as the agencies consider next steps.

In response, CASS submitted public comments to Administrator Lee Zeldin and Assistant Secretary Robyn S. Colosimo. The comments expressed concern about the loss of protections to wetlands and other aquatic habitats in a revised WOTUS definition. For example, the EPA estimated this decision may result in the loss of protection of 63% of the nation’s wetland acres, and recent results from the EPA’s National Wetland Condition Survey estimated 81% of the nation’s existing wetlands were in poor condition. Further loss of federal protections will result in continued degradation and loss of these ecosystems, which will have dire consequences for fish, fisheries, wildlife, watersheds, water quality and supply, flood control, as well as the people and economies that rely on them. CASS reiterated a science-based approach to Clean Water Act protections, such as those outlined in the comprehensive 2015 EPA scientific report “Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence,” which synthesized more than 1,200 peer-reviewed publications. This is consistent with previous statements and public comments submitted by CERF, CASS, and other societies on WOTUS.

Participate in the AGU April Days of Action

Are you a US-based CERF member looking for ways to support coastal and estuarine science and management at the national level? The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has developed Days of Action for 14-25 April, when Congress is in recess and legislators are in their home districts. It’s an ideal time to meet with them and show strong, bipartisan support for science and the multiple societal benefits it provides. It is a crucial time to participate with your unique experience and perspective. 

AGU has developed a suite of helpful tools for those new to reaching out to legislators or looking for guidance on communicating the need for scientific research:

CERF Joins SETAC and Coalition of Environmental Advocates in Calling for Strong Support of Environmental Science and Management

CERF joined a coalition of environmental advocates, led by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), in submitting formal letters to both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate, urging support for policies that protect environmental and public health through science-informed decision-making. The coalition included 10 professional societies, representing thousands of U.S.-based scientists and advocates, three nonprofit organizations, and over a dozen businesses. The letter was also signed by around 500 individuals.

Under the current US Administration, there is mounting concern over proposed policy changes that could undermine environmental protections, public health, and science-based decision-making. The letter expresses concerns about actions that are being initiated that would weaken the US’s support for environmental science through budget cuts, workforce reductions, and executive actions resulting in dismantling of environmental regulations, cautioning that such measures will impair the US’s ability to protect human and environmental health and harm the economy in the process.

CERF Urges Congress to Protect US Science and Federal Science Workforce

Last week, CERF joined with other scientific societies and organizations in two letters to the US Congress, urging them to defend the US scientific research enterprise, including protecting scientific integrity, federal research funding, and the federal workforce that supports research funding agencies.

On 4 March, CERF joined the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and 50 other science groups in sending a letter to congressional leaders urging them to oppose recent executive actions that are harming the U.S. scientific enterprise.

Call for CERF 2027 Conference Co-Chair Nominees

CERF is seeking volunteers to co-chair the 29^th Biennial CERF Conference to be held 7-11 November 2027 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA. This is a creative opportunity to put your stamp on the premier international estuarine science and management conference and develop relationships and have fun with a great group of dedicated professionals.

Each conference has two to three volunteer co-chairs who work as a team to provide overall oversight of conference planning with support from CERF staff. Specific roles and responsibilities of the co-chairs include:

CERF and Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies Comment on New US Public Access Policies

On 29 October 2024, CERF and the nine other societies comprising the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies (CASS) sent a letter to the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) regarding the implementation of the “Ensuring Free, Immediate, and Equitable Access to Federally Funded Research” Memo, commonly referred to as the Nelson memo. The Nelson memo directs all US federal agencies with research and development expenditures to update their public access policies as soon as possible, and no later than 31 December 2025, to make publications and supporting data resulting from federally funded research publicly accessible without an embargo on their free and public release, establish transparent procedures that ensure scientific and research integrity is maintained in public access policies, and coordinate with OSTP to ensure equitable delivery of federally funded research results and data. The CASS letter strongly supports the principles of open science and the importance of freely sharing research results in a timely and equitable manner while also expressing concern about potential unintended consequences of revised public access policies on professional societies and the quality and equity of the research enterprise. The letter outlines six specific concerns about the implementation of the Nelson memo:

1. Scientific societies play a critical role in the research enterprise that was not adequately considered when developing new policies.
2. Scientific societies may face significant financial impacts because of the proposed policies.
3. Scientific societies were not engaged during stakeholder outreach by OSTP and federal funding agencies.
4. The proposed policies may lower the quality of published research.
5. The proposed policies may exacerbate existing inequities in the research enterprise.
6. Lack of coordination across federal agencies will hinder the goal of allowing all Americans to benefit from the returns of federally funded research results.

In the letter, CASS provides five recommendations on how the implementation of the Nelson memo may be improved to ensure it meets its intended goals and avoids unintended impacts on the research enterprise and scientific societies:

Vote on CERF's Revised Mission Statement and Constitution Changes

The CERF Governing Board is proposing changes to our Mission Statement and Constitution to better align with our current values and strategic direction. But we can’t change the constitution without YOUR VOTE!

The proposed new Mission Statement is:

Seeking Nominations for Estuaries and Coasts Editor

CERF is seeking a new Co-Editor-in-Chief for the journal Estuaries and Coasts. The primary responsibilities are to assess and take steps to continuously improve the intellectual quality of the journal; provide objective and timely editorial decisions to attain CERF’s goal of publishing high-quality research that advances knowledge of estuarine and coastal systems; and adhere to CERF’s core value to steward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in publication practices. 

CERF desires the following attributes for candidates:

The Governing Board is excited to announce an update to the CERF mission, vision, and values statements. The vision and values statements have been revised and approved by the Board based on the extensive community input that led to our new Visions V strategic plan and to better reflect the current culture and direction of the Federation. The mission was also revised through this input; however, as part of the CERF Constitution, a change to the mission can only be made by a vote of the membership. Therefore, we hope you’ll provide your feedback on the updated mission statement and vote to approve it in an upcoming ballot.

Have comments or suggestions on the updated mission before we send it out for approval by the membership? Please complete the form by Friday, 5 April!

A special story from Jim Hagy -

Every CERF conference is a special time. For many of the younger people in our community, it’s perhaps the first time to share your science on the bigger stage of an international meeting. For those like me who’ve been at it a little longer, we look forward to reconnecting for a time with friends and colleagues, some of whom we might not have seen since the last conference 2 years prior. And of course, we look forward to sharing our passion for science, sharing our latest work, learning what others are up to, and seeing the younger generation spread their wings. For me, returning to CERF this November for the 27th Biennial CERF conference is particularly special. Yes, it’s my 16th CERF conference – I’ve missed just one since 1991. But this year is special. I’m excited to be returning to CERF with my wife, Melissa, and this year marks nearly 30 years to the day since our first date – a stroll through historic Savannah, South Carolina – at ERF 1993. In 1993, CERF was just ERF, the Estuarine Research Federation, and the venue was Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We married in 1997, one of a few years that the biennial conference has been in Providence, Rhode Island.

Meet CERF’s 2021-2023 Governing Board

Please join us in congratulating CERF’s new President-elect, Secretary, Members-at-Large, and Student Member-at-Large. Thank you also to our continuing Board members, and our new Affiliate Society representatives.

Dear CERF Community,

The Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation is committed to equitable treatment for all. Human suffering and the trauma imposed by racism are intolerable in the CERF community.