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An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

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Recommendation 14–7The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should align its conservation programs and fundingwith o<strong>the</strong>r programs aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution, such as those of <strong>the</strong>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and <strong>the</strong> National <strong>Ocean</strong>ic and Atmospheric Administration.In particular, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service should:• require that its state conservationists coordinate with representatives of federal andstate water quality agencies and state coastal management agencies, and participate inwatershed and coastal management planning processes, to ensure that funding <strong>for</strong> agriculturalconservation programs complements and advances o<strong>the</strong>r federal and state managementprograms.• provide enhanced technical assistance in <strong>the</strong> field to better support growing agriculturalconservation programs.Recommendation 14–8The National <strong>Ocean</strong> Council (NOC), working with states, should establish reduction of nonpointsource pollution in coastal watersheds as a national goal, with a particular focus onimpaired watersheds. The NOC should <strong>the</strong>n set specific, measurable objectives to meethuman health- and ecosystem-based water quality standards. The NOC should ensure thatall federal nonpoint source pollution programs are coordinated to attain those objectives.Recommendation 14–9The National <strong>Ocean</strong> Council should streng<strong>the</strong>n ef<strong>for</strong>ts to address nonpoint source pollutionby evaluating <strong>the</strong> nonpoint source pollution control programs established under Section 6217of <strong>the</strong> Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments and under Section 319 of <strong>the</strong> CleanWater Act and making recommendations to Congress <strong>for</strong> improvements to <strong>the</strong>se programs,including <strong>the</strong>ir possible consolidation.Improvements to <strong>the</strong> programs should:• require en<strong>for</strong>ceable best management practices and o<strong>the</strong>r management measuresthroughout <strong>the</strong> United States, with increased federal support <strong>for</strong> states to develop andimplement those practices and measures.• eliminate counterproductive financial disincentives.• enhance cooperation and coordination between federal and state water quality andcoastal management agencies.Recommendation 14–10To ensure protection of coastal resources nationwide, Congress should provide authorityunder <strong>the</strong> Clean Water Act and o<strong>the</strong>r applicable laws <strong>for</strong> federal agencies to establishen<strong>for</strong>ceable management measures <strong>for</strong> nonpoint sources of pollution and impose financialdisincentives related to programs that result in water quality degradation if a state persistentlyfails to make meaningful progress toward meeting water quality standards on its own.Recommendation 14–11The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, <strong>the</strong> National <strong>Ocean</strong>ic and Atmospheric Administration,and o<strong>the</strong>r appropriate entities should increase assistance and outreach to provide decisionmakers with <strong>the</strong> knowledge and tools needed to make sound land use decisions that protectcoastal water quality. State and local governments should adopt or revise existing codes andordinances to require land use planning and decision making to carefully consider <strong>the</strong> individualand cumulative impacts of development on water quality, including effects onstormwater runoff.496 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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