• ------- COASTAL THE PRESIDENT'S COASTAL STEWARDSHIP CHALLENGE "America is blessed with a coastline of astounding beauty and natural wealth. We cherish its economic, cultural, and recreational bounty and feel a special responsibility for its stewardship. Yet, often through ignorance, but sometimes through neglect, we have placed birds, fish, and other animals — indeed our entire "living coast" — at risk. Therefore, I am especially proud of the Coastal America partnership. This new initiative will enable federal agencies to work more closely with each other and with states, local elected officials and private citizens. Together, we can protect, preserve and restore our living coastal heritage for ourselves, our children... and all the children of America's future." President George Bush February 1991 ...bright sandy beaches ... lush marshes filled with wildlife ... tide pools teeming with life ... vibrant coral reefs in crystalline waters America's Coasts Throughout human history, people have relied on the coast and its resources for their livelihood. Bays, sounds, and estuaries are among nature's most productive ecosystems, providing essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds, and aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. The richness of our coastal waters allows us to rely on them for food, recreation, and a wide range of commercial activities. In fact, coastal living resources contribute billions of dollars annually to our Nation's economy. At the same time, our cities, ports, and commercial centers are built along the coasts. Such uses demand fresh water, the very life blood of estuaries. These activities also generate wastes that must be disposed. These conflicting demands take a heavy toll. ------- AMERICA The Challenge Saving our coasts — restoring, protecting, and maintaining critical coastal resources — is a big job that grows more challenging every day. Our coasts are threatened. While progress has been made, coastal degradation continues to be a ©Tom Blagden, Jr. Increasing population pressures areas, mostly in Louisiana, have threaten the sustainability of our been substantial, exceeding coastal ecosystems. Nationwide, 32,000 acres per year in some losses of wetlands in coastal recent decades. Toxic metals, pesticides, and organic chemicals have accumulated in bottom sediments and endanger the diversity and stability of aquatic communities. Many of our coastal living resources are declining, from economically important coastal fish such as striped bass, salmon, and Atlantic bluefish to marine mammals, waterfowl, us. Population Density ^ endangered coastal species. Source: Harvard University significant national priority. Today, over one-third of the U.S. population resides in the narrow band of coastal counties, where the population density is more than four times the national average. Predictions are that over half of the U.S. population will soon reside within 50 miles of the coast. Federal environmental laws have accomplished much to protect these valuable resources. However, in the past, the approach has been fragmented, leading to piecemeal efforts to protect living resources. We need a fresh approach that goes beyond conventional roles and demonstrates innovative, aggressive action at the national, regional, and watershed levels. A cooperative approach is essential to improve the Federal response. ------- COASTAL AMERICA A PARTNERSHIP FOR ACTION Coastal America is a coordinated, multi-agency effort to solve environmental problems along the Nation's shoreline. This comprehensive program ensures close cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies, the private sector, and citizens. National Sponsorship Coastal America will provide national leadership to solve critical threats to our living coastal resources. Projects will be designed to complement and leverage existing efforts to address coastal problems in seven geographic regions of the Nation. Regional Focus Within each region, federal, state, and local partners will identify critical resource problems and set priorities for action. This regional approach will provide the flexibility to respond to unique problems. The Northeast and Great Lakes are two of the seven geographic regions. Habitat Degradation and Loss LHoastal habitats are being degraded and lost for a variety of reasons. Examples include: increased water use and waste disposal for municipal and industrial operations, commercial centers, port facilities, and recreational areas. Shoreline modification, improper dredge material disposal, and water and sediment pollution are responsible for the majority of habitat and species loss in coastal areas. These activities threaten critical habitats, reduce the buffering capacity of the natural environment, and frequently result in serious shoreline erosion. They may also alter the bottom, disturbing sediments, vegetation, and benthic habitat, adversely affecting many fish and invertebrate species. Northwest Great Lakes Northeast Southwest Southeast Alaska Nonpoint Source Pollution Jonpoint source pollution, for example, runoff from urban and agricultural lands, is among the most pervasive threats to coastal fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. With some historical successes in controlling point sources of pollution, nonpoint source pollution now accounts for the majority of documented water quality problems in coastal waters. Nonpoint source pollution is a challenging management problem because the sources are widespread and diverse and the necessary control mechanisms are difficult to carry out. Gulf of Mexico Local and Watershed Action Within each region, site-specific coastal resource problems will he addressed on a watershed basis. The Qiesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay are just two examples of the many important watersheds along our Nation's coastline. Contaminated Sediments BJjhe nature of water circulation in estuaries and coastal water bodies causes sediments and associated pollutants to accumulate in bottom sediments. The toxic contaminants in these sediments create the potential for continued environmental degradation long after the sources have been controlled. This can contribute to loss of habitat for benthic species, changes in species diversity and number, and declining health for other species in the food chain. PENNSYLVANIA NEW JERSEY MARYLAND Washington D.C. Baltimore DELAWARE VIRGINIA ------- A Strategy for Action Coastal America is a comprehensive, intergovernmental approach warranted by the magnitude of the problems and the importance of the resource. The initiative is the first step toward forging a strong, long-term alliance among the public and private sectors, to address coastal problems by sharing information, pooling field expertise, and combining management skills and resources. Coastal America proposes activities designed to produce demonstrable environmental results in the short term, coupled with long-term environmental improvements. Coastal America will work to ensure optimum use of existing resources devoted to coastal protection and management. • Through site-specific actions, Coastal America will provide in-the- field experience with new, innovative and experimental approaches. • By undertaking these projects in a new spirit of multi-agency and intergovernmental cooperation, Coastal America will provide the basis for continued — and expanded — teamwork as we address the major challenges facing the Nation's coastal resources. Through a series of relatively small efforts, Coastal America will provide models for successful action and demonstrate new approaches to •resolving coastal living resources concerns. Projects will be designed to address specific coastal problems in seven geographic regions: Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest (including Hawaii), Gulf of Mexico, Southeast, Northeast, and Great Lakes. Within each region, needs will be verified and priorities will be established jointly by the Coastal America partners. These include the initial principal Federal agencies, other Federal agencies, state and local agencies, the private sector, and the public. The approach will provide the flexibility necessary to deal with regional variations in problems and priorities. Examples of regional activities that could be conducted include: establishing priorities for habitat protection, enhancement, and restoration; and developing region- wide education programs. Within each region, site-specific problems will be addressed on a watershed basis through these cooperative efforts. Examples of watershed projects could include: restoring a wetland, protecting coastal streams from storm water runoff, cleaning contaminated sediment sites, and sponsoring public education efforts. At the national level. Coastal America will enhance Federal, state, and local abilities to manage and protect coastal resources. Examples of these activities include: the development of biologically-based criteria to measure ecosystem health; a nationwide approach for tracking coastal management actions to provide for accountability; and finally, a national focus on public education and outreach to facilitate public awareness, support, and involvement. Coastal America: A Partnership for Action, represents a turning point in the way government responds to these major coastal problems. This comprehensive, coordinated approach will demonstrate innovative and effective strategies for ensuring that our Nation's coastal heritage will be preserved for future generations. Coastal America sounds a clarion call for a new day for our coasts. Coastal America will ensure cooperative planning and management at the national, regional, and watershed levels. For Further Information Contact: Coastal America 722 Jackson Place, N.W. Washington, B.C. 20503 (202) 395-5750 Cover Photo: Islands of salt-marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Harbor River, St. Helena Sound, South Carolina. ©Tom Blagden, Jr. ------- ------- Coastal America will demonstrate successful models of action to conserve, protect, restore, and maintain the Nation's coastal living resources. THE SOLUTION A Partnership Coastal America lays the groundwork for an unprecedented level of cooperation among the Federal agencies with principal responsibility for the stewardship of coastal living resources: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Minerals Management Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Park Service. The President's Council on Environmental Quality will coordinate this effort. The creation of Coastal America complements other actions taken by the President to protect America's coastal resources. These actions include the North American wetlands Shared Concerns Of the many problems threatening our coasts, three are shared by many coastal regions: • Loss and degradation of habitat • Pollution from nonpoint sources • Contaminated sediments All three cause species declines and severely damaged habitats. Coastal America will aggressively address these conservation programs, Farm Bill reauthorization, habitat restoration and acquisition, anadromous fish enhancement activities, and recent budget initiatives in the areas of oil spill prevention, rapid response to oil spills, and targeting resources for treatment of municipal sewage discharges. This new initiative sets forth an innovative approach to work in partnership with other Federal programs, and integrate Federal actions with state, local, and non- governmental efforts. This partnership will ensure that our stewardship of coastal living resources is coordinated, efficient, and successful. three widespread problems, which are the result of increased population on the coast and its increased demand on coastal resources. Some of the factors contributing to these problems include: Dredging and dredged material disposal. These activities result in disturbance of sediments, vegetation, and benthic (bottom) communities, Changes in salinity. Changes in the balance of freshwater and saltwater in coastal ecosystems leads to the loss of species that are sensitive to this balance. Shoreline modification. Physical alterations reduce the coast's biological productivity and buffering capacity, leading to serious erosion and habitat loss. Toxic pollutants. Sixteen coastal states have issued consumption advisories for fish and three have issued advisories on consuming waterfowl. Pollution. Each day over 2,000 sewage treatment plants and industrial factories discharge billions of gallons of effluent, treated to various extents, directly to estuaries and other coastal waters. ------- CQ4SHL AMERICA UHM1E THE COASTAL AMERICA PROCESS The Coastal America process joins the forces of federal agencies with state, local, and private alliances to collaboratively address environmental problems along our nation's coasts. The federal partners include those agencies with principal responsibility for the stewardship of coastal resources, those with responsibilities for infrastructure development and maintenance, and those whose activities impact coastal environments. The challenge has been to integrate the federal partner's capabilities and existing resources with state, local, and nongovernmental efforts to address specific local problems. This is accomplished by sharing information, pooling resources, and combining management skills and technical expertise, and by bringing the partners to the table with a broad, problem-solving orientation that is guided by the concepts of sustainable development and ecosystem management. The Coastal America collaborative interagency problem solving structure enables national policy issues to be identified and resolved, regional plans and strategies to be developed, and local projects to be implemented. National policy issues identified by regional interagency teams are forwarded to a national team comprised of senior level representatives from the partner agencies. This group forwards their joint recommendations to a policy committee, comprised of subcabinet-level representatives from each of the federal signatory agencies, for action. This organizational structure enables early identification of policy issues and conflicts at the local, regional and national level and encourages timely resolution of these issues by senior level policy-makers. Regional interagency teams develop plans and strategies which serve as frameworks for program implementation and project selection. This collaborative planning process is guided by the concepts of ecosystem management and sustainable development and seeks to incorporate environmental objectives into major development plans. The process of exchanging information on agency plans encourages the early identification of collaborative opportunities to restore the environment while moving forward with vital economic development. Local project implementation is expedited by the partnership process. Within each region, the teams identify site-specific coastal problems and maintain a working list of priority projects which include federal, state, local, private, and public participants. The interagency collaborative partnership process encourages the pooling of resources and expertise which results in cost- effective, innovative solutions. For more information contact the Coastal America office at (301)713-3160 ------- THE COASTAL AMERICA PARTNERSHIP FEDERAL PARTNERS: Since the establishment of the partnership in 1992, the number of Coastal America's federal partners has grown from five to twelve. The Federal Partners are the: Department of Agriculture Department of Defense Department of the Army Department of Commerce Department of Energy Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of the Air Force Department of Interior Department of the Navy Department of Transportation Environmental Protection Agency Executive Office of the President REGIONAL TEAMS: To encourage a stronger geographic focus, Mid-Atlantic and Pacific RTTs were established. The Mid-Atlantic team extends from Virginia to New York, and the Pacific team includes Hawaii and the Pacific Territories. There are now nine Regional Implementation Teams: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, Southwest, Northwest, Pacific Island, Alaska and Great Lakes. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Since 1992, the regional teams have initiated 150 restoration and protection projects in 26 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia in collaboration with over 300 nonfederal organizations. Working in partnership, thousands of acres of wetlands are being restored, hundreds of miles of streams for anadromous fish are being reestablished, and habitat for endangered species of fish, birds and mammals is being protected. CONTACTS: The Coastal America Coordinating Office Virginia K. Tippie, Director Bill Klesch, Technology Transfer Coordinator Phone #: 301713-3160 Fax#: 301713-1433 Gene Cope, Education/Outreach Coordinator Phone # 202 720-5546 Address: Coastal America 1305 East West Highway SSMC4, Room 11141 Silver Spring, MD 20910 i ------- AMERICA UPDATE • a inner'95 PRINCIPALS MEETING There will be a meeting of the Coastal America Princi- pals on June 14th to review the partnerships progress to date and outline priorities for the future. The Principals will also review and vote on the Coastal America operating procedures and the FY 96 program. A Coastal America progress report will include an update on regional strategies and priorities, technology transfer efforts and education/outreach initiatives. Discussion regarding Coastal America operating procedures will focus on issues related to selection of the Chair, Vice Chair, Director and Deputy Director. The FY 96 program discussion will focus on the national coordinating office budget, office staff commitments and setting priorities for future national and regional activities. The Principals Group is a policy committee composed of subcabinet-level representatives from each of the federal signatory agencies. The Coastal America Principals are: D. James Baker (Chair), Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; James Lyons, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environ- ment, USDA; Rodney A, Coleman, Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs, Installations and Environment, Air Force; John H. Zirschky, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, Army; Douglas Hall, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, DOC; Sherri Wasserman Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security, DOD; Susan F. Tierney, Assistant Secretary for Policy, DOE; Andrew Cuomo, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD; Bonnie Cohen, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, DOI; Robert B. Pirie, Jr, Assistant Secretary for Installations and Environment, Navy; Frank Kruesi, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, DOT; and Robert Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator for Water, EPA. The meeting will be held from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at the Commerce Department, Washington, DC. If you would like to receive a summary of the meeting, please contact the Coastal America office. PARTNERSHIP PRESENTATIONS In April, Coastal America Director Virginia Tippie gave presentations on the Coastal America partnership process at a Mobile Bay Symposium in Alabama and at the Wetlands 95 Conference in Tampa, Florida. In both presentations, she stressed the importance of bringing all stake holders into the process of solving the complex problems that affect watersheds. nra • < t and r art nd show f • Ms. Tippie also presented the Coastal America partner- ship process in a live televised special on global pollu- tion. A group of experts on pollution prevention met in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 3rd for presenta- tions and round table discussions. The meeting was the first in a series on pollution prevention presented by the National Environmental Technology Network (NETN). The series is also available on video and comes with a study guide. For more information, contact NETN at 1-800292-7051. ------- AIRBORNE MULTISENSORY PROPOSAL The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing and testing new remote sensors and processing concepts to improve tactical, strategic and environmental support to the operating forces of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Department of Energy (DOE) is using this data to develop a data base for multisensory research in support of their efforts in arms control, nonproliferation and treaty verification. As part of their joint research, NRL and DOE are seeking sites for remote sensing that will help them test the capabilities and accuracy of the data gathered. Coastal America regional teams have been invited to utilize the remote sensing technology to gather data for their own environmental projects. Remote sensing can be used to measure a variety of environmental conditions including water content in soil, landscape elevations, height of vegetation, and tidal extent. Certain sensors can also be used to identify different types of vegetation. Remote sensing data could be a very useful tool in planning habitat restoration projects, mapping project sites, evaluating success of completed projects, remapping topographic changes, and performing long term monitoring. Several Coastal America Regional Chairs have submitted projects that would benefit from remote sensing. Data gathering will be done free of charge, but data analysis will be the responsibility of the requesting regional team. Projects sites on the East Coast and Florida are being added to existing surveillance flights scheduled for this summer. If you would like more information, please contact the Coastal America Office. REGIONAL UPDATE Coastal America regional strategies will be presented at a session of the CZ 95 Conference—Coastal America Coastal Ecosystem Management Strategies. The following Regional Implementation Team (RTF) Chairs and members will be presenting their Team's strategy: Bill Hubbard, Northeast RTF; James Brown, Southeast RIT; Rick Morat, Gulf of Mexico RIT; Doug Lipka, South- west RIT; and Owen Mason, Northwest RIT. Project managers will describe Coastal America regional projects at both the Coastal America Workshop being held in conjunction with CZ 95 and in a formal CZ 95 session—Working Toward Sustainable Development and Ecosystem Management, There is an effort underway to locate volunteers with professional environmental experience to serve as Regional Education/Outreach Coordinators. The potential volunteers are being recruited by the nonprofit Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement and would assist the RIT Chairs in activities such as plan- ning project events, organizing meetings, distributing information and creating educational documents. RIT Chairs interested in having a volunteer in their region should contact Gene Cope at the Coastal America office. A five minute video describing the Coastal America partnership has recently been completed. Each RIT chair has been sent two copies for use in their region. While producing the video, it became evident that there is a need for better film documentation of Coastal America regional project activities and events. Three quarter inch, one inch, or Betacam tape are the most useful for making high quality videos. RIT Members and project managers who do not have film crews REGIONAL CHAIRS NORTHEAST MID-ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO PACIFIC ISLANDS SOUTHWEST NORTHWEST ALASKA GREAT LAKES Bill Hubbard James Johnson Elizabeth Gillelan Suzette K m a George Dodson Hiram Boone TBD Peter Seligman Owen Mason Rosa Meehan Gene Fleming 617647-8552 410962-4900 410267-5660 404 331-4916 404331-5313 60 '88-2138 619553-5403 503 32t 3828 907 786-3544 312353-6320 ------- available locally can contact Gene Cope to arrange for a professional crew to video tape project activities and Northeast The Northeast RIT is considering a proposal that would take the partnership inland to provide interagency coordination to solve problems affecting entire water- sheds. Several new project sites have been requested by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. The RIT has requested that remote sensing data be gathered for Coastal Connecticut and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A partnership between NOAA, FWS and the Army has been formed to implement the Saschuest Point Saltmarsh Restora- tion project in Rhode Island. restoration project that would be part of the reuse plan for a closed military base. The 70-acre site is near San Francisco Bay at the Hamilton Army Airfield. Northwest Walter Briggs will replace Owen Mason as the North- west RIT Chair. The transfer of the Chairmanship will take place at the CZ 95 Conference in July. The RIT has requested remote sensing data for the Trestle Bay Restoration project (Oregon) and the Duwamish River Estuary project (Washington). Alaska Mid-Atlantic The next meeting of the Mid-Atlantic RIT is scheduled for June 26, in Philadelphia, Pennsylva- Northeast ma. Southeast Mid-Atlantic Southeast Pacific Islands The Southeast RIT will be holding a meeting on June 21, in Atlanta, Georgia. Greater participation in meetings by nonfederal organi- zations has been encouraged. George Oodson is serving as the RIT s Co-Chair with Suzette Kimball. The RIT has endorsed a restoration project for Dare County Air Force Range, North Carolina. The RIT has requested that remote sensing data be gathered for the Munyon Island (Florida) and Right Whale (Georgia and Florida) projects. Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico RIT has tentatively scheduled their next for August 15th. Southwest The Southwest RIT has identified several projects that would benefit from remote sensing: an eel grass project in San Diego Bay and various projects in San Francisco Bay. The RIT is working on a potential wetlands Alaska The Alaska RIT has expanded the Kenai River project to include nine sites on private property and a commercial campground. The RIT has requested that remote sensing data be gathered to assist with an effort to delineate and inventory wetlands. They are also interested in documenting coastal changes in estuarine habitat used by migrating water fowl. Great Lakes The Great Lakes RIT's Sea Lamprey Control project is progressing on schedule. Project cost will probably be reduced to reflect the new, simpler design for sea lamprey traps. The new design is a result of discussions among the partners, including the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. ------- NATIONAL UPDATE New Coastal America Office Location: The new address for the Coastal America coordinating office is: Coastal America; 1305 East West Highway; Room 11141, Building 4, Silver Spring, MD 20910. CZ 95/Coastal America Workshop: Coastal America will be holding a one day workshop in conjunction with the Coastal Zone 95 (CZ 95) Conference in Tampa, Florida. The workshop will be held on July 17th, the day before the formal CZ 95 sessions begin. Coastal America will also hold two sessions as part of the CZ 95 Conference: Coastal America Coastal Ecosystems Manage- ment Strategies, and Working Toward Sustainable Develop- ment and Ecosystem Management. For more information, please contact the Coastal America office. Coastal America Retreat: Planning is underway for the annual Coastal America Retreat. Detailed information is not yet available, but the retreat will be held in the early fall in the Northwest Region. Education/Outreach Workgroup: The Education/ Outreach Workgroup recently completed and distrib- uted a five minute video that explains the Coastal America process and shows several regional project examples. The Workgroup is continuing to develop a concept to create a network of National Marine Learn- ing Center and create educational materials for the public. Technology Transfer Workgroup: The Technology Transfer Workgroup is coordinating Coastal America CZ 95 activities and initiating efforts to improve the understanding and transfer of innovative environmental technologies and techniques. Policy Workgroup: The Policy Workgroup has drafted Coastal America operating procedures which have been reviewed and approved by the National Implementation Team. The operating procedures cover a wide range of issues including the selection process of the Chair, Director and Deputy Director. The Coastal America Principals will review and vote on the operating proce- dures at the June Principals Meeting. C A OFFICE I .. K' , Telephone: J0I7 • Fax:30170-1 Out •>nc- 202 ~ ) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER The Coastal America Partnership: Lessons Learned - Technology Transfer Report is a comprehensive document that explains the value of the Coastal America process and describes the key lessons learned from a variety of regional projects. The document was developed to improve communication among project managers working on similar restoration projects so that successful environmental techniques and technologies can be better understood and utilized. Chapters focus on wetlands restoration, river systems, beach dunes, offshore habitat, nonpoint source pollution, and assisting species at risk. The report will be distributed at the CZ 95 Conference in July. If you would like to receive a free copy of the report, please contact the Coastal America office. CALENDAR Principals Meeting NIT Meeting SERIT Meeting MARIT Meeting NIT Meeting June 14 June 14 June 21 June 26 July 12 NIT Meeting August 9 GOMRIT Meeting (tentative) August 15 Publications: The following publications are available from the Coastal America office: Sustaining the Commitment To Our Coastal Environ- ment: 1994 Coastal America Progress Report - A third year progress report that summarizes national and regional accomplishments for 1994. The Fragile Fringe: Coastal Wetlands of the Continental United States - An 18-page, consensus report that describes the function and values of coastal wetlands. Toward a Watershed Approach: A Framework for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Protection and Manage- ment - A 22-page, full color consensus publication on watershed management. Covering the Coast: A Reporter's Guide to Oceans and Coastal Issues - A guide for environmental reporters and managers with definitions of coastal terms, information on coastal issues, key laws and associated programs. Coastal America is a partnership among Federal, state and local governments and private alliances to collaboratively address environmental problems along our nations shoreline. The Federal partners: Department of Agriculture, Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior, Department of the Navy, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and The Executive Office of the President. ------- |