The Nation's coastal zone — whether 

 its Gulf Coast oil country, the San 

 Francisco waterfront, Great Lakes 

 winter shipping lanes, Cape 

 Hatteras, or the water-laccd Florida 

 coastland — presents the United 

 States with urgent environmental 

 problems as well as with imm<:diatc, 

 tangible opportunities to benefit its 

 people. 



many of the multiple uses of the coastal zone, 

 and, among those which remain incompat- 

 ible, they must make difficult choices. The 

 Federal Govennnent can help, but the pri- 

 mary responsibility lies with the States; they 

 are the key to a concerted effort. 



Science and Technology in the 

 Coastal Zone 



There is not enough scientific knowledge 

 about natural coastal zone i^rocesses on which 

 to base many important management deci- 

 sions, and teclmical ability to implement 

 decisions generally is lacking. Yet with the 

 passage of time, coastal zone problems will 



become even more complex and solutions 

 more difficult. Present national competence 

 for research and development in the coastal 

 zone is scattered, and the total effort is far 

 below the level required. 



To bring research and development capa- 

 bility within the reach of the State Coastal 

 Zone Authorities, the Commission recom- 

 mends designation and support of university- 

 affiliated Coastal Zone Laboratories to work 

 on regional and local problems. These labora- 

 tories will perform functions analogous to 

 agricultural research stations and extension 

 services, and the Commission recommends 

 that they be developed and supported by 



