In 1999, Kachemak Bay became Alaska's first <> and the nation's largest addition to the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, a group of protected estuaries and associated land and water bodies offering long-term research and educational opportunities. The reserve is a non-regulatory partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

The reserve's mission is to enhance understanding and appreciation of the Kachemak Bay estuary and adjacent waters to ensure that these ecosystems remain healthy and productive. To accomplish this, reserve staff members conduct ocean water quality monitoring, study ocean currents and circulation patterns, and lead scientific workshops, teacher trainings, and hands-on marine science programs.

The reserve office is housed in the Islands and Oceans Visitor Center on the Homer Bypass. Contact the reserve at (907) 235-2799, www.kbayrr.org.