V-315 



have delegated authority to control land use to their local 

 governmental units, they legally retain the ultimate authority to 

 control the use of shorelines and related uplands in the estuarine 

 and coastal zone and thus to decide whether these lands are to be 

 used for industry and commerce, parks and recreation, fish and 

 wildlife habitat, residential housing, or other purposes. They 

 determine the forms and functions of local government generally in 

 managing water and related land resources, and the same holds true 

 for the interstate instrumentalities which, at their option, they 

 may create for management purposes. Fisheries and other living 

 estuarine resources are under their direct control. Each State 

 presides over the legal system which governs private relations and 

 resolves the conflicting rights, interests, and privileges of its 

 citizens in the development and use of estuarine and coastal 

 resources. And, finally, even in those areas in which the Federal 

 Government exercises exclusive or primary authority, the nature of 

 this Country's political process gives State groups and officials 

 substantial power to influence the objectives and the exercise of 

 Federal policies. 



CONCLUSIONS 



The powers which the States possess clearly are strategic ones in 

 achieving balanced development, conservation, and preservation of 

 the resources of the estuarine and coastal zone. The National 

 Estuarine Management Program accordingly should continue to vest 



