VI-63 



the United States can be extracted from available navigation or 

 topographic charts if someone will painstakingly measure the areas 

 at different depth contours. 



All of these data sources have one thing in common--the available 

 information is difficult to find or extract, prohibitively so for 

 the limited studies characteristic of the historical approach toward 

 studying the estuarine environment. A much broader approach toward 

 collecting such information, implemented as part of a national 

 program, would achieve economy of scale and efficiency in operation 

 by developing and applying the overall expertise as a centralized 

 function. 



Not all information existing in tne "gray" data is pertinent and 

 valuable for estuarine management. Examples of the kinds of pertinent 

 information which exist primarily as "gray" data may be summarized 

 according to their categories in the "Handbook of Descriptions" of 

 the National Estuarine Inventory. 



MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY lUEUTIFICATION 



Part V of this report deals with government entities and their interests 

 and programs in the estuarine zone. Although the states have prime 

 responsibility in most waters relating to the estuarine zone, it is at, 

 or through the county and municipal governments that much of the 

 implementation of a national plan must take place. This area of 

 specific responsibility needs more complete definition. 



