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the administration of drainage projects; (7) promotion of industrial 

 or other economic development; (8) maintenance of property and other 

 essential records; and (9) administration of local courts to estab- 

 lish justice and equity in interpersonal relations. 



Although the primary responsibility for the management of the 

 resources of the estuarine and coastal zone now rests with the 

 States, the above listing clearly demonstrates that local governments 

 today in fact are making many of the most crucially important deci- 

 sions which actually govern the management and use of these resources, 

 Located "on scene" they are themselves major users of the zone's 

 resources. Moreover, they are highly responsive to public and pri- 

 vate interests in the nongovernmental sector which also are directly 

 engaged in developing and using these resources to satisfy human 

 wants and needs. In both respects, therefore, local governments 

 today occupy the most crucial spot in the management of estuarine 

 and coastal resources, because of the consequences, for the good or 

 ill of the estuarine or coastal resources concerned, of the States' 

 local assignment of control over local activities. 



Local governments naturally desire to promote the economic growth 

 of the local area and to improve the community's property-tax base 

 which traditionally has financed most of their activities. However, 

 each local unit usually is too small to envision or respond effec- 

 tively to the needs of an entire estuary or coastal area. 

 Frequently, they also have lacked funds, and therefore the staff. 



