411 



Thus, the essential aspects of the new and improved State's role are 

 effective legislative policy enabling protection, with a corresponding 

 efficient organization capable of actually managing the estuarine areas 

 as an integral and essential part of the total water resources of the 

 State and/or region. 



Based on the above suggestions and viewSj and on the obvious need 

 for a stronger and more effective State role ni estuarine management, 

 it is felt that the more effective and strengthened State role should 

 approximate as closely as possible the following f rameworlc. 



The new State role must include the exercise of primary responsi- 

 bility by developing an overall statewide estuarine management pro- 

 gram that provides for direct, eJffective State management and the dele- 

 gation of the requisite authority to its political subdivisions for local 

 direction and management in accordance with the statewide manage- 

 ment plan. 



Such a program should include : 



(1) A mechanism for its implementation. 



(2) Provision for: 



(a) coordination of State and Federal programs ; 

 (6) inventory of estuarine resources; 

 ic) acquisition of selected coastal areas ; 



{d) financial assistance and coordination of research and study 

 of area problems ; 



( e ) control regulation and enforcement ; 

 (/) a program of public education and awareness; and 

 (g) manpower training programs. 

 The needed State actions to assume their new and strengthened role 

 are: 



(1) Establishment or designation of a specific State organization 

 provided with the authority and means to develop and implement the 

 comprehensive phase of management for the estuarine zone. 



(2) Control and enforcement of water quality standards as an es- 

 sential element in the long-range management plan. 



(3) Consideration of legislation designed to preserve the public 

 interest in the wetland and tidal areas. Such legislation should give 

 authority to the State to delineate wet lands of significant natural re- 

 source value and to give them long-term protection. The State should 

 initiate the action and should not have to wait until a particular wet 

 land or estuary is in imminent danger of destruction. 



(4) Establishment or authorization, as needed, of appropriate local/ 

 regional management organizations or special districts to provide ef- 

 fective implementation of the comprehensive management plan for 

 the State's estuarine zone. 



(5) Propose or work toward appropriate interstate compacts or 

 relationships needed for management, regulation, and optimum mul- 

 tiple-use development in interstate waters including : 



(a) Institution of State-level permit requirements for dredg- 

 ing, filling, or other modification of wet lands and other estuarine 

 resources ; 



(b) Kequirement for all State and local agencies engaged in 

 activities that may physically or otherwise modify estuarine re- 



