The wells national estuarine research reserve (wells reserve or reserve) was designated in 1984 and is located on the south coast of maine

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (Reserve) will receive $3.01 million in federal funding from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) for the period of July 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023. The Reserve will use $780,500 in federal funds matched by $334,500 in non-federal funds to support operations and management, research, monitoring, education, teacher training, decision-maker training, science communication, a Davidson Fellow, volunteer and visitor support, and protected area stewardship activities. The NOAA program aims to assist states in developing, acquiring, monitoring, researching, educating, and constructing facilities for National Estuarine Research Reserves to create natural field laboratories for data collection and studies of estuarine systems.

The reserve is administered by the wells national estuarine research reserve management authority (RMA), which is submitting this application for federal fiscal year 2022 funds to support operations and management, research, monitoring, education, teacher training, decision-maker training, science communication, a davidson fellow, volunteer and visitor support, and protected area stewardship activities from july 1, 2022 through december 31, 2023. The RMA is requesting $780,500 in federal funds, which will be matched by $334,500 in non-federal funds.