Coastal Resource Management

About half of the United States population lives in coastal counties, which account for only about a quarter of the nation’s total land area, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Coastal areas are becoming the most crowded and developed parts of the nation. With this population growth, more and more pressure will be placed on coastal resources and coastal ecosystems.

Coastal resources are important for a variety of reasons. Coastal wetlands serve as breeding and nursery sites for oceanic species, birds, and other wildlife. Coastal waterways provide opportunities for numerous outdoor recreation activities including wildlife viewing, boating, and fishing. Coastal areas provide numerous economic, ecological, and aesthetic values. Healthy coastal wetlands are an effective way to clean polluted waters and filter out sediments, thereby positively impacting both human health and water resources.

Responsive Management has conducted numerous studies on coastal resource issues. For example, Responsive Management conducted a coastal resource management evaluation for NOAA’s Coastal Services Center, a market inventory and needs assessment for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, a Manatee education and outreach assessment, an evaluation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and a coastal resource study on behalf of the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve assessment was conducted to assess existing programs related to coastal training and to determine current and desired levels of coastal training among decision-makers in Georgia. The assessment was designed to identify any overlaps among various coastal training efforts; the full range of coastal issues that may need to be addressed through training and information but are not currently being adequately addressed; the professional decision-making groups that should be targeted for coastal training, including those not currently being adequately served; and the best strategies, technologies, and formats to educate and inform the decision-making groups, including a prioritization of the groups that most need specific additional information. The study entailed two multi-modal surveys of coastal training decision-makers and organizations and institutions that participate in or offer coastal training. Based on the findings of the market inventory and needs assessment, Responsive Management developed recommendations and strategies for meeting coastal training needs. In general, the findings suggest that overall interest in coastal training is high and that encouraging attendance is a matter of increasing opportunities and facilitating attendance rather than increasing interest.

The coastal resource study conducted on behalf of the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve entailed a detailed market analysis and needs assessment of coastal resource decision-makers in New Jersey. The market analysis involved a statewide inventory of existing programs, information, and outreach efforts that currently exist for coastal resource professionals. The needs assessment involved a statewide survey of coastal resource professionals including state legislators, businesses, non-profit organizations, state agencies, universities and grade school teachers to better understand their needs regarding coastal resource information and training opportunities. By comparing the needs of the professionals with the needs fulfilled by existing programs, gaps in coastal outreach and training programs were more clearly identified.
Statistical analyses can be performed to assess latent demand for information and training about specific topic areas regarding coastal resources. In New Jersey, Responsive Management’s study discovered several topic areas that should be considered for future programmatic efforts including:

1. Habitat issues: fire management, special area management, and urban sprawl;
2. Coastal issues: severe weather emergency management, saltwater intrusion, public access, and coastal hazards;
3. Water quality issues: wastewater management, septic system issues, and storm water protection and cleanup;
4. Education, planning, and regulation issues: public safety, GIS education/outreach, organizational/management skills, and regulations;
5. Resource management and other issues: environmental technologies, renewable energy, and land trusts and conservation acquisitions, and
6. Ocean science topics: climate prediction.

Information like this can help natural resource and outdoor recreation organizations plan coastal resource programs that meet the needs of the coastal resource professional community and ultimately lead to enhanced coastal resource protection and conservation.

In a needs assessment for environmental education in Florida conducted by Responsive Management, coastal resources were among the top five highest priority environmental issues in Florida requiring environmental education efforts. Specific issues related to coastal protection centered on beach preservation and development.

Invasive species are another coastal resource issue affecting natural resource and outdoor recreation organizations. More invasive species are being found in coastal areas, often disrupting the food chain and eliminating native species. According to the World Resources Institute, scientists estimate that on any given day, as many as 3,000 different species are carried in the ballasts of the world’s ocean fleets. In a national aquatic invasive species survey of state agencies, Responsive Management found that all respondents felt that the issue of aquatic invasive species was important, with a majority (57%) indicating that it was very important.

Responsive Management’s experience with projects on coastal resource issues includes workshops on survey research methods for coastal managers, including at NOAA’s Coastal Service Center. Other Responsive Management coastal resource projects include the following: