390 



In addition to the above coordinating machanisms, the State coordi- 

 nates activities through the following two agreements. In southeastern 

 Alaska about 2,000 miles of shoreline are in a national forest. This area 

 is managed, and respective activities are coordinated through, an in- 

 teragency agreement among the U.S. Forest Service, the Alaska 

 Department of Natural Resources, and Alaska Department of Fish 

 and Game. Timber sales are held by the U.S. Forest Service and they 

 issue permits for all activities such as for log storage and rafting 

 grounds, only after the plans have been reviewed and approved by 

 the Alaska Department of Fish and Grame. 



Second, is the waterfowl protection agreement. Waterfowl areas 

 in national forests bordered by tidal and submerged lands are man- 

 aged through a Federal-State agreement among the U.S. Forest Serv- 

 ice, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and Alaska Department 

 of Fish and Game; no activities are conducted on the lands unless 

 agreed upon by all three parties. 



Problems regarding estuarine management center on the need for 

 more professional personnel, more funds to enlarge the scope of plan- 

 ning and classification of estuarine uses, and more comprehensive 

 studies of estuarine uses. At present, supposedly the tax base is not 

 sufficient to support an adequate staff ; however, recent oil discoveries 

 on the northern slope may drastically change this situation. Also 

 needed are more precise definitions of territorial/sea boundaries and 

 more waste disposal facilities. 



Section 3. A Coastal State's Organization for Managing Estuarine 



Resources 



The preceding section presents a picture of several selected coastal 

 State estuarine management frameworks which show the wide range 

 in management capabilities. Because it is difficult to gain an overview 

 of the 24 coastal State frameworks, the following description is 

 presented as a single State-level estuarine management-organization- 

 legislative framework. It is considered to be analogous to those of 

 coastal States, and it is intended to show what the average State-level 

 organization includes. It is neither extremely strong nor very weak. 



The analogous State organization consists of an agency such as the 

 division or department of State lands and resources which has signifi- 

 cant responsibilities for management provided for by statute. 



This issuing and approving agency has responsibility for developing 

 natural resources for issuing/approving leases for the removal of ma- 

 terial from natural Avaterways; for granting permits for structures 

 and projects, such as laying cables on coastal lands; and for selling 

 or leasing the lands under navigable waters and along State-owned 

 estuarine areas. However, permits are not required for the disposal 

 of "spoil" into estuarine areas. 



Related to this agency are other agencies whose responsibilities in- 

 volve the use of estuarine resources, generally in a particular area, as 

 follows. The State fish commission or division has the responsibility 

 for the protection, propagation, and preservation of food fish and for 

 the protection and development of commercial fisheries. The commis- 

 sion studies, researches, and inventories the marine life and food fish 

 resources; manages fish hatcheries; sets seasons and regulations on 



