374 



To show or indicate this broad spectrum of development, the man- 

 agement frameworks of a few selected States are presented. They 

 provide a basis for defining strengths, deficiencies, or weaknesses in 

 the States' role and establish a path, leading to a more dynamic and 

 effective role of the States in estuarine management. 



The following section of the report previews the management sys- 

 tems of selected Coastal States, large to small, rich to less prosperous, 

 populous to sparsely developed, urban to rural, and highly industrial- 

 ized to mostly pastoral. The selected States are Massachusetts, Mary- 

 land, California, Florida, and Alaska. Following this will be a typical 

 State's management framework. State laws, and States' views on 

 estuarine management. 



MASSACHUSETTS 



Massachusetts is a relatively small, densely populated, highly urban, 

 highly industrialized, and affluent New England area. The population 

 of Massachusetts is about 5,400,000 ; the tidal shoreline is about 1,500 

 linear miles including about 45,000 acres of coastal marshland; and 

 about 85 percent of the people live in urban coastal areas. Ownership 

 of the 1,519 miles of shoreline is as follows: 



Federal Government, 110 miles or about 4,500 acres of coastal 

 wetlands. 



State government, 45 miles. 

 Local government, 50 miles. 

 Universities, and so forth, 25 miles. 

 Private, 1,289 miles. 



Massachusetts' coastline is widely used by the surrounding New 

 England and east coast community as a prime resort/ vacation/his- 

 torical area. The condition of Massachusetts' shoreline areas affects not 

 only the populace of Massachusetts but also that of the surrounding 

 area since so many people throng to Massachusetts for their livelihood, 

 enjoyment, and relaxation. 



Massachusetts has developed legislation and corresponding organi- 

 zational structure for the management of its estuarine areas. The two 

 principal enactments are an act providing for the protection of the 

 coastal wetlands of the Commonwealth (General Laws, ch. 768, act of 

 1965) and an act relative to removal, filling, and dredging in coastal 

 waters. 



Other enactments include the new oil pollution and offshore mineral 

 resource laws. 



The estuarine management activities in Massachusetts are focused 

 on the department of natural resources, headed by a commissioner. 

 This department has both operational and regulatory responsibilities 

 in estuarine areas. The coastal dredge and fill law, the coastal wetlands 

 law and new oil pollution and offshore mineral resource laws are all 

 administered by the divisions of this department. The organization of 

 this department is described in figure V.2.2. 



