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

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a Cooperative Agreement to the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Authority on October 1, 2025, under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420), obligating $888,967 in federal funds matched by $377,558 in non-federal funds for a total project cost of $1,258,525.

The Wells Reserve, designated in 1984 and located on the south coast of Maine in Kennebunk, will conduct operations and management, research monitoring, education, teacher training, decision maker training, science communication, volunteer and visitor support, and protected area stewardship activities through March 31, 2027. The reserve will implement diverse integrated programs across research, education, training, monitoring, and stewardship, and will develop a draft 2025–2030 management plan during the award period. The reserve also plans to support a Davidson Fellow as part of its programming.

The reserve is administered by the wells national estuarine research reserve management authority (RMA) which is submitting this application for federal fiscal year 2025 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 cooperative agreement award will be from october 1, 2025 through march 31, 2027. The RMA is requesting $888,967 in federal funds which will be matched by $377,558 in non-federal funds for a total project cost of $1,258,525. During the grant award, the reserve will focus on implementing and offering diverse integrated programs in areas of research education training, teacher training, monitoring, and stewardship. During this award, they plan to develop a draft of their 2025 to 2030 management plan.