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U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

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CHAPTER 9MANAGING COASTS ANDTHEIR WATERSHEDSThe pressures of c<strong>on</strong>tinuing growth are acutely felt in coastal areas. While largelyattributable to activities taking place at the coast, some pressures originate hundredsof miles away in inland watersheds. To more effectively manage coasts, statesneed a str<strong>on</strong>ger capacity to plan for and guide growth—<strong>on</strong>e that incorporatesa watershed approach to govern coastal and ocean resources. In additi<strong>on</strong>,to assist states in such development and support the move toward anecosystem-based management approach, federal area-based coastalprograms should be c<strong>on</strong>solidated to better integrate and capitalize <strong>on</strong>the strengths of each. Finally, to reach the goal of ec<strong>on</strong>omically andenvir<strong>on</strong>mentally sustainable development, changes should be madeto federal programs that currently encourage inappropriategrowth in fragile or hazard-pr<strong>on</strong>e areas.Attracting Crowds, Creating OpportunitiesWhile coastal watershed counties comprise less than 25 percentof the land area in the United States, they are home tomore than 52 percent of the total U.S. populati<strong>on</strong> (Appendix C).A study of coastal populati<strong>on</strong> trends predicts average increases of3,600 people a day moving to coastal counties, reaching a total populati<strong>on</strong>of 165 milli<strong>on</strong> by 2015. 1 These figures do not include the 180milli<strong>on</strong> people who visit the coast every year. 2Populati<strong>on</strong> growth and tourism bring many benefits to coastalcommunities, including new jobs and businesses and enhanced educati<strong>on</strong>alopportunities. Burge<strong>on</strong>ing industries associated with tourism and recreati<strong>on</strong> incoastal areas (such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, fishing and dive stores, vacati<strong>on</strong>housing, marinas, and other retail businesses) have created <strong>on</strong>e of the nati<strong>on</strong>’s largestand fastest-growing ec<strong>on</strong>omic forces (Appendix C).Implicati<strong>on</strong>s of GrowthThe popularity of ocean and coastal areas intensifies pressures <strong>on</strong> these envir<strong>on</strong>ments,creating a number of challenges for managers and decisi<strong>on</strong> makers. Increased developmentputs more people and property at risk from coastal hazards (Chapter 10). Everyyear, milli<strong>on</strong>s of dollars are spent replenishing sand at the nati<strong>on</strong>’s beaches and protecting150 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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