Enter the National Estuaries Week Photo Contest

NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is hosting a photo contest to celebrate National Estuaries Week from September 19 to 27, 2026. Submit your best photos from the National Estuarine Research Reserves that display the beauty of the reserves, critters that live there, and the people who work and play there. The Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve spans 100 miles of the Hudson River Estuary across four, unique component sites.

A 2025 Photo Contest winner in the category of “Play,” submitted by DEC’s own Chris Bowser.

Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and will be featured in NOAA’s social media campaign during National Estuaries Week. Submit your photos under the following categories:

• Learn
• Play
• Vistas
• Smiles
• Work

To enter:
Submit your images (minimum of 1200 pixels wide, no more than 10 photos) to OCM.NERRS.PhotoContest@nullnoaa.gov. All images MUST include the following information: photographer’s name, short description of when and where the photo was taken, and what is shown in the photo.

Photos must be submitted by Monday, August 31, 2026, to be eligible for the contest.