On August 31, 1992, about 18,000 acres of salt marsh and wetlands received a very special designation that recognized their importance to the coastal ecosystem. North Inlet and Winyah Bay became a part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, dedicated to maintaining resilient estuaries and coastal watersheds where human and natural communities thrive. For the past thirty years, the NI-WB NERR has been a productive site for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education, and coastal stewardship. We have achieved many milestones over that time, and have been thankful for the community support we have received throughout the years. So now it is time to celebrate!