lie 



On the one hand, the ill effects of our actions cannot be foreseen in time to cor- 

 rect them. On the other, when irreversible events might occur, we do not .know 

 how to prescribe the right amount of corrective action and are forced to base re- 

 gulations on the most conservative estimates of probabilities. The solution of 

 engineering problems suffers from the lack of knowledge of the dynamics of in- 

 shore water movements. There is no theory suitable to describe the turbulent 

 motions of water particles in the surf zone, nor can our instruments accurately 

 measure currents in this area. In the process of altering our land and water for 

 beneficial purposes, man frequently produces catastrophic side effects. For in- 

 stance, dredging is carried on for a variety of reasons, such as 



Creation of useful property, marinas, recreational areas ; improved flushing 

 action in bays, and estuarine creeks; commercial mining of sand and gravel. 



It is not only what is done along the shores that affect coas:t and beaches. Ac- 

 tion far upstream may have drastic consequences. The flushing of minor embay- 

 ments within estuaries in heavily influenced by seasonal fluctuations in salinity, 

 largely through natural changes in river flow. Regulations and evening-off of 

 river flow may prevent flushing actions and allow buildup of predators which rob 

 shellfish beds of much of their richness. Basic research in microscale estuarine 

 circulation must continue if predictions of the effects of our actions in regulating 

 the flow of rivers are to be made. 



With apologies to Taylor Pryor and any other Commission members 

 who are here for the blatant plagiarism, I did think it was that im- 

 portant that that part of the Commission report be read into the record 

 as illustrating the kinds of research information the coastal labora- 

 tories ought to be responsible for. 



The committee goes on to state the needs for increased research on the 

 dynamics of estuarine waters, on the identification of specific pol- 

 lutants, and the tracing of tlieir effects, and on the mechanisms whereby 

 organisms take up and accumulate various kinds of pollutants — or in 

 connection with coastal zone pollution problems. 



Increased knowledge of the coastal zone region and its habitats is 

 necessary to conservation and management of fisheries resources. Sur- 

 vival requirements of young fish are insufficiently understood. More in- 

 formation is needed respecting rhythms in the relationships governing 

 physical and biological environments over long periods of time. 



The question, of course, is how to establish a system of laboratories 

 which can most competently carry out the research needed for solu- 

 tion of these problems and for all aspects of coastal zone manage- 

 ment. Both the Commission and subsequently convened advisory 

 groups agreed that such research must be carried out by university 

 laboratories within the rubric of coastal zone laboratories, and they 

 recommended creation or continuation of several such laboratories, 

 and that they must be multidisciplinary in scope. 



The advisory groups, starting with the Commission report, devel- 

 oped in most cogent terms a rationale for a U.S. Government position 

 respecting the coastal zone laboratories, and guided by the need and 

 objectives of the Nation in the maintenance, restoration, and proper 

 use of the coastal zone. 



For instance, one of their most important contributions, not only to 

 the question of laboratories per se, but to the national program at large, 

 was a suggested designation of coastal zone regions, based on consid- 

 eration of ecological regions, commonality of problems, and geo- 

 graphical factors. 



They suggested that the coast of the United States be considered 

 in terms of 10 major areas: Northwest Atlantic, Middle Atlantic, 

 Southeast Atlantic, Gulf Coast, Pacific Southwest, Pacific Northwest, 

 Alaska, Hawaii, Great Lakes, and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands areas. 



