Coastal Erosion Responses for Alaska - the National Sea Grant ...
Coastal Erosion Responses for Alaska - the National Sea Grant ...
Coastal Erosion Responses for Alaska - the National Sea Grant ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Erosion</strong> <strong>Responses</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Alaska</strong>: Workshop Proceedings 35<br />
<strong>Alaska</strong> <strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Grant</strong> College Program • AK-SG-06-03, 2006<br />
State and <strong>Coastal</strong> District Plan<br />
and Policy Influence on <strong>Coastal</strong><br />
Hazards: Background and<br />
History of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Alaska</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong><br />
Management Program (ACMP)<br />
Randy Bates<br />
<strong>Alaska</strong> Department of Natural Resources, Office of Project<br />
Management and Permitting, Juneau, <strong>Alaska</strong><br />
The state of <strong>Alaska</strong>’s coastline consists of approximately 44,500 miles which,<br />
measured ei<strong>the</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> tide line or measured around an average perimeter<br />
that parallels <strong>the</strong> mainland limits of <strong>the</strong> Territorial <strong>Sea</strong>, exceeds that of <strong>the</strong><br />
entire continental United States (The <strong>Alaska</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> Management Program,<br />
as amended June 2, 2005). The <strong>Alaska</strong> coastal area has national and international<br />
significance <strong>for</strong> its vast, healthy ecosystems and is a generous source<br />
of renewable and non-renewable resources, including proven and potential<br />
energy resources. Three-quarters of <strong>Alaska</strong>’s people live on or near <strong>the</strong> coast.<br />
Many earn <strong>the</strong>ir living from direct use of coastal resources and many more<br />
from indirect uses, such as <strong>Alaska</strong>’s growing tourist industry. The Native people<br />
of <strong>Alaska</strong> maintain a cultural and economic intimacy with <strong>the</strong> coast that<br />
dates back thousands of years.<br />
<strong>Alaska</strong> began considering comprehensive coastal management in <strong>the</strong> mid-<br />
1970s, after passage of <strong>the</strong> federal <strong>Coastal</strong> Zone Management Act of 1972. At<br />
<strong>the</strong> time, state and local interest in participating in coastal zone management<br />
resulted in part from ambitious plans <strong>for</strong> federal oil and gas leasing off <strong>Alaska</strong>’s<br />
coasts. Several federal agencies managed large portions of <strong>Alaska</strong> (over 60%)<br />
and <strong>Alaska</strong>’s offshore areas, affecting <strong>the</strong> economies and lifestyles of local<br />
communities. <strong>Coastal</strong> communities also argued strongly <strong>for</strong> a voice in decisions<br />
that might affect <strong>the</strong>ir livelihood and way of life. Increasing demands <strong>for</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> use and enjoyment of <strong>Alaska</strong>’s rich and diverse coastal resources (such as<br />
timber production, tourism, mining, fisheries, recreation, and oil and gas development)<br />
created a need <strong>for</strong> an effective <strong>for</strong>um <strong>for</strong> responsible development and