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

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Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 11–2The regi<strong>on</strong>al ocean councils, working with state coastal management programs and othergovernmental and n<strong>on</strong>governmental entities, should assess regi<strong>on</strong>al needs and set goals andpriorities for ocean and coastal habitat c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> and restorati<strong>on</strong> efforts that are c<strong>on</strong>sistentwith state and local goals. The Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong> Council should develop nati<strong>on</strong>al goalsthat are c<strong>on</strong>sistent with regi<strong>on</strong>al, state, and local goals, and should ensure coordinati<strong>on</strong>am<strong>on</strong>g all related federal activities.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 11–3The U.S. Department of the Interior, Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong>ic and Atmospheric Administrati<strong>on</strong>, U.S.Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should enhance their restorati<strong>on</strong>science, m<strong>on</strong>itoring, and assessment activities. C<strong>on</strong>gress should amend relevant legislati<strong>on</strong>to allow greater discreti<strong>on</strong> in using a porti<strong>on</strong> of federal habitat c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> andrestorati<strong>on</strong> funds for related research, m<strong>on</strong>itoring, and assessments.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 11–4The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should complete, digitize, and periodically update theNati<strong>on</strong>al Wetlands Inventory.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 11–5The Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong> Council should coordinate development of a comprehensive wetlandsprotecti<strong>on</strong> framework that is linked to coastal habitat and watershed management efforts,and should make specific recommendati<strong>on</strong>s for the integrati<strong>on</strong> of the Clean Water ActSecti<strong>on</strong> 404 wetlands permitting process into that broader management approach.Chapter 12: Managing Sediment and ShorelinesRecommendati<strong>on</strong> 12–1The Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong> Council should develop a nati<strong>on</strong>al strategy for managing sediment <strong>on</strong> aregi<strong>on</strong>al basis. The strategy should incorporate ecosystem-based principles, balancing ecologicaland ec<strong>on</strong>omic c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s.In additi<strong>on</strong>, the strategy should:• acknowledge adverse impacts <strong>on</strong> marine envir<strong>on</strong>ments due to urban development,agriculture, dams, dredging, pollutant discharges, and other activities that affectsediment flows or quality.• ensure involvement of port managers, coastal planners, land use planners, and otherstakeholders in watershed planning.• emphasize watershed management as a tool to address upstream land uses that affectsediment input to rivers and coastal waters.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 12–2C<strong>on</strong>gress should direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to adopt regi<strong>on</strong>al andecosystem-based management approaches in carrying out all of its sediment-related civilworks missi<strong>on</strong>s and should modify USACE authorities and processes as necessary to achievethis goal.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 12–3The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should ensure that its selecti<strong>on</strong> of the least-cost disposalopti<strong>on</strong> for dredging projects reflects a more accurate accounting of the full range of ec<strong>on</strong>omic,envir<strong>on</strong>mental, and other relevant costs and benefits for opti<strong>on</strong>s that reuse dredgedmaterial, as well as for other disposal methods.492 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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