required for OCS leasing. Ecosystem characteriza- 

 tions, however, could provide information on the 

 distribution and vidue of wetlands and fish and 

 wildhfe resources in the vicinity of the proposed 

 development. Much of the basic site-specific infor- 

 mation will be contained in the data source appen- 

 dix. Furthennore, the ecosystem characterization 

 report would assist in assessing impacts on the 

 important natural functional processes of the 

 system, e.g., alteration of salinities and currents, 

 effects on primary and secondary productivity, 

 sediment transport processes, etc. Information 

 regarding the effects and mitigation procedures 

 specifically associated with dredging must be pro- 

 vided from supplemental sources such as the 

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dredge Material 

 Research Program. The ecosystem characteri- 

 zation should be regarded as one of a number of 

 tools required to protect and manage living 

 resources. To be effective, other more specialized 

 tools will also be required. It is important that 

 users recognize the tools available to them and the 

 purpose for which they were designed. 



PROJECT STATUS 



To date, four coastal ecosystems are being 

 characterized using the approach described. The 

 Chenier Plain study of southwestern Louisiana and 

 southeastern Texas was initiated in April 1976 and 

 is scheduled for completion in late 1978. The 

 other three studies were started in February 1977. 

 They include the coast of South Carolina— Georgia, 

 the rocky coast of Maine, and the Pacific coast 

 from Cape Mendocino, California to Cape Flattery, 

 Washington. These studies are due for completion 

 in 1979. Funding has been provided through the 

 Federal Interagency Energy-Environment Research 

 and Development Program (FIE/ER&D) adminis- 

 tered by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

 The Fish and Wildlife Service has been responsi- 

 ble for the design and management of the charac- 

 terization contracts. There are approximately 

 15 coastal ecosystems fringing the 48 contiguous 

 States. The FIE/ER&D program has provided a 

 mechanism to rapidly advance our understanding 

 of a significant portion of the coastal zone and 

 it is hoped that the techniques developed in this 

 program will have broad application by other 

 agencies to other areas. 



CONCLUSION 



Decisions facing natural resource management 

 become increasingly complex as knowledge 

 advances and interactions are better understood. 

 Improved methods of data integration will become 

 more essential to the appHcation of existing 

 information. Until holistic systems analysis 

 becomes more effective, we will have to rely on 

 modular components to integrate information. 

 Such modules, especially regarding natural systems, 

 can readily be adapted to more comprehensive pro- 

 grams, if properly designed. 



The characterization process, as outlined, add- 

 resses an important functional unit of the environ- 

 ment—the ecosystem. The approach involves the 

 delineation of the physical boundaries of the 

 system, preparation of a functional conceptual eco- 

 system model, synthesis and analysis of existing 

 information using the model as a "blueprint," and 

 the preparation of an interim pilot characterization 

 report. The latter report, after review by the user 

 group, will permit the effective production of the 

 final ecosystem characterization report. During the 

 process most of the relevant information about the 

 system will be brought together in a data source 

 appendix. Guidance throughout the project is pro- 

 vided by a user committee to assure that the 

 information will meet action program needs. 



The current energy dilemma may be the first 

 true test of our nation's ability to marshal the 

 diverse knowledge we have accumulated over the 

 past few centuries into a program which assures 

 our survival and strives at least to maintain the 

 cultural standards to which we have become accus- 

 tomed. Ecosystem characterizations can provide an 

 important ecological foundation from which to 

 plan and manage our natural resources. 



