204 



Florida, Texas, and California in the South Atlantic, Gulf, and 

 Pacific regions. Examples of this shift in population concentration 

 are found in the central California coast, which is expected to 

 grow from a population density of a little more than 350 persons 

 per square mile in 1970 to nearly 600 in 2000, and in the Texas 

 north gulf coast which will experience a population density 

 growth from 225 persons per square mile in 1970 to over 400 per 

 square mile in that same 30-year period; 



(4) Although some areas in the United States will remain rel- 

 atively lightly populated, the pressures of increased population 

 will be felt in even the most remote coastal areas, if not by local 

 population growth, then by increasing demands of more urbanized 

 populations for the amenities of the coastal zone ; often expressed 

 in terms of seasonal influxes ; 



(5) The effects of increased population density will vary accord- 

 ing to a number of considerations such as the employment struc- 

 ture, distribution of the population within the area, the biophys- 

 ical environment, institutional constraints, and so on ; 



(6) Finally, many of the conflicts generated by competing de- 

 mands on the estuarine resource, which are most visible in today's 

 metropolitan areas, will intensify in those areas in the future and 

 extend to estuarine areas which are now relatively unmodified 

 and free of intense competitive demands. 



FUTURE E(X)N0MIC ACTIVITY IN THE ESTUARINE ZONE 



The estuarine economic region in recent decades exhibits a rate of 

 economic growth slightly greater than the national average. Personal 

 income in constant dollars expanded 177 percent from 1929 to 1962, 

 while national personal income rose 170 percent. Nearly all parts of 

 the region are expected to either maintain positions of relative wealth 

 in the future or to increase their relative wealth. 



Manufacturing is the principal export activity of the region, and 

 the significance of the region as a focus for industry is sihown by the 

 level of concentration of employment. In 1960, about one-half of the 

 manufacturing industries had a level of concentration greater than the 

 national level. Significant degrees of overall specialization in the 

 region are indicated in transportation equipment excluding motor ve- 

 hicles, petroluem refining, apparel, and in both printing and publish- 

 ing land chemicals. 



Certain industries of minor importance to the overall estuarine zone 

 economy assume great importance in smaller areas. The pulp and paper 

 and lumber and furniture industries, for example, play central roles in 

 such estuarine economic areas as the M-aine coast, the North Carolina 

 coast, and the northern California coast. In the Central Florida gulf 

 coast and the Texas south gulf coast forestry and fisheries predominate. 

 Many of these economic activities locate in various estuarine areas to 

 take advantage of the unique natural resources of the estuarine environ- 

 ment found there. These activities are discussed in the next part of this 

 chapter. 



The overall economic growth of the estuarine zone will continue at 

 a high rate in future decades. Significant concentrations of industry 



