III-l 



INTRODUCTION 



At present, planning and development in the estuarine zone is done 

 on an independent piecemeal basis. The resultant losses to fish and 

 wildlife resources, the habitat upon which they depend, and the 

 impact on recreational, scenic, esthetic qualities, and water qual- 

 ity itself appear to be proceeding at an increasingly rapid rate. 

 Whole sectors of the public object, but economic and political 

 pressures, oarticularly at the local level seem to win out and the 

 irreparable damages to estuarine and coastal regions continue. 



It is thus evident that a higher order of planning and evaluation is 

 needed. The planning must be both integrated and comprehensive and 

 in the concurrent evaluation, involve all trie uses of the waters and 

 the adjacent lands. The impact on the total environment must be 

 considered and be paramount to single purpose aspects. 



It is the purpose of this part of the study to recommend the program 

 that will provide for the necessary planning and its implementation 

 at the various levels of government. This was directed in the words 

 of Congress as follows: 



"Recommendations for a comprehensive national program for 

 the preservation, study, use, and development of estuaries 

 of the Nation, and the respective responsibilities which 

 should be assumed by Federal, State, and local governments 

 and by public and private interests." 



