VI-72 



operating a large data collection and dissemination system which 

 depends on contributions from diverse sources. 



The two-years effort in collecting information on the estuarine 

 zone has led to these conclusions about the problems of locating 

 and acquiring data: 



(1) Most agencies, groups, and individuals will permit 

 ready access to their files and data records, but lack 

 manpower and/or incentive to "assemble, coordinate, and 

 organize" them for the use of other groups. 



(2) Large central data systems often have difficulty 

 acquiring data, because users -- who are also the 

 potential contributors — frequently encounter problems 

 caused by system inflexibility and the slowness of 

 ponderous size, often becoming sceptical of its value and 

 loathe to contribute information. 



(3) All data sources mentioned in Table VI. 2.1, with the 

 exception of the county governments, have been queried 

 for this information and have already resnonded to the 

 greatest extent possible; therefore, the data gaps 

 existing in the Inventory represent the limits of 

 present capability in providing data. 



