The Coastal Zone Management Act: Developing a Framework for Identifying Performance Indicators

In 1972 Congress passed the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) to “preserve, protect, develop, and, where possible, restore or enhance the resources of the Nation’s coastal zone.” After 30 years, can we say how well we are managing our nation’s coastal resources? Have we achieved a harmonious balance between use and conservation? If so, what worked, and if not, are we making headway? Does the present set of regulations, allocation systems, and legislation—federal, state, and local—enable coastal managers to meet the needs of the public? The Heinz Center has taken an important step toward answering these vital questions in The Coastal Zone Management Act: Developing a Framework for Identifying Performance Indicators.

A 2-year study by The Heinz Center, carried out in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), identified shared national and state coastal resource goals, based on the objectives of the Coastal Zone Management Act, and developed a framework for results-based management utilizing performance indicators. The resulting report is already being used by coastal managers around the nation to improve the management of our precious coasts and oceans.

For The Coastal Zone Management Act: Developing a Framework for Identifying Performance Indicators, please visit our publications page.

Contact Sheila David for more information .