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and towns. Indeed only a cooperative, intergovernmental approach 

 can succeed because each level is ineffective by itself. Regional 

 agencies covering the estuarine zone can promise the best results, 

 but only by strengthening the existing decision-making machinery, 

 as suggested here, can local government rise to this challenge. 

 Local government has the capability to play a leading role in 

 estuarine management, and it is essential that it do so. For, 

 ultimately, any such program must rely on local initiative, organi- 

 zation, planning, and support. 



