Only 12 coastal states and territories take advantage of a powerful instrument in the Coastal Zone Management Act—Special Area Management Plans, or SAMPs.
It is not a simple task to use this strategic planning tool. Differences in state programs, policies, and politics can dictate the feasibility and potential success of going through what is often a lengthy and difficult process.
In the cover story of this edition of Coastal Services, Rhode Island and South Carolina—two states that have successfully developed and implemented a number of SAMPs over the past two decades—share some basic strategies that can be followed, as well as recount the rewards.
While every program that has developed a SAMP has approached the process differently, these two states show that there are some lessons that can be learned and shared.
Also in this edition we feature an article on Oregon's Coastal Atlas, a Web site that is one of the country's most comprehensive information sources about a state's shoreline.
Used by beach lovers, researchers, and coastal resource managers alike, the site features a wide variety of searchable data and metadata collected by local, state, and federal agencies, and researchers.
This portal to Oregon's coastal information gives users tools to do everything from creating maps to checking current weather conditions. The NOAA Coastal Services Center is proud to have supported this project.
You also can read articles about an Ohio National Estuarine Research Reserve's use of new, environmentally friendly construction practices, as well as a Georgia National Marine Sanctuary's efforts to develop the next generation of coastal and marine managers and researchers.
While every coastal management program has unique challenges, the articles in Coastal Services highlight states that have experience with issues from which other coastal managers can learn, as well as successful programs and projects. We hope this and every edition of Coastal Services help keep you informed about what other coastal managers are doing across the nation.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
