Chapter II 



The Planning Initiative: Building a 

 Management Framework 



The management framework is essentially a vehicle for decision 

 making. Conflicting needs and uses must be balanced without 

 compromising the environmental goal of restoration and main- 

 tenance of the estuary. Not surprisingly, these decisions are often 

 fraught with tensions. Therefore, each Management Conference 

 must serve as a forum for open discussion, cooperation, and 

 compromise among disparate interests, resulting in consensus. 

 Such a forum is the instrument for collaborative decision making 

 that leads to acceptance and support for implementation actions. 



When creating its committee structure, the Conference targets four 

 constituencies: elected and appointed policy-making officials from 

 all governmental levels; environmental managers from federal, 

 state, and local agencies; local scientific and academic com- 

 munities; and private citizens and representatives from public and 

 user interest groups — businesses, industries, and community and 

 environmental organizations. These constituents are all key mem- 

 bers of the Conference. 



A Management Conference is a forum for 

 open discussion, cooperation, and com- 

 promise that results in consensus. 



Because each estuary is a unique body of water, its problems, 

 citizens' concerns and preferences, state and local governments, 

 and institutions are also unique. So flexibility is the key to organizing 

 and managing an effective estuary program. Local needs and 

 values are among the important forces driving the creation of a 

 specific management organization — a framework that will deter- 

 mine program goals and objectives and how to achieve them. 



Collaboration and 

 Flexibility: Essential 

 Ingredients 



Building a Constituency 



11 



