Coastal States Organization (CSO) and American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) have issued a call for policies, funding, and science to address the unprecedented challenges facing our nation’s coasts. In an era of rising sea, changing Great Lake levels, increasing storm intensity, coastal erosion and flooding, and lack of available coastal sediment, Congress and the Administration must take major steps to help coastal managers maintain critical resources. CSO and ASBPA call for action to improve sediment management, permitting of coastal projects, funding for project planning, design, and implementation, responsible coastal development, and critical science and research.
Read the full Joint Policy: https://asbpa.org/get-involved/policy/joint-policy-cso/
“The proposed beach and inlet management policies build upon a foundation of nearly fifty years of successful state-federal partnerships for sound coastal management under the Coastal Zone Management Act and would ensure the ability of this partnership to adapt and respond to chronic and emerging coastal issues while supporting multiple uses of our coastal resources,” said Bradley Watson, Executive Director of CSO. CSO represents the nation’s coastal states, territories, and commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource and policy issues.
“The Biden Administration has committed to following science to address climate change and its impacts. Both scientific data and casual observation are clearly showing our coasts are threatened. With a record setting hurricane season in 2020 and accelerating sea level rise, the time for action is now – coastal adaptation must be a priority of the incoming administration,” added Derek Brockbank, Executive Director of ASBPA. ASBPA represents local coastal governments, coastal industry, and community stakeholders who want to preserve, protect, and enhance the beaches, shores, and coastal systems in the US.
The joint policies set forth key recommendations for how to balance the multiple uses and values of our coastal resources, while ensuring those values are maintained or improved for future generations:
“Beach and inlet management are critical responsibilities for state coastal zone managers. These policies will ensure that state coastal managers have the tools and resources necessary to respond to emerging coastal hazards and to plan for the future of our nation’s coasts,” said Steve Couture, Administrator of the New Hampshire Coastal Program and Chair of CSO.
“Beaches are the leading tourist destination in the United States, and tourism is one of our nation’s largest industries. Beaches also help protect public and private infrastructure, large and small businesses, and state and local tax bases from coastal storm damage. Beaches and dunes provide coastal habitats for shorebirds, sea turtles and other wildlife. But beach managers need sensible federal policy, together with good science and funding to ensure these many values can be maintained,” said Tony Pratt, retired administrator of shoreline and waterway management for the state of Delaware, and president of ASBPA.
The full set of policy recommendations are available here:
CSO Contact: Rachel Keylon, Federal Affairs Director, rkeylon@coastalstates.org, O: 202-800-0747, C: 206-349-3880
ASBPA Contact: Derek Brockbank, Executive Director, derek.brockbank@asbpa.org, 202-827-4246
Please consider joining the ASBPA.