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THE NEED TO KNOW THE INSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL ARRANGEMENTS 

 OF EACH PORTION OF THE ESTUARINE ZONE 



The institutional and political organization of each part of the estu- 

 arine zone is the framework within which any management program 

 must operate. It is thus axiomatic that detailed knowledge of all 

 aspects of these arrangements are an intrinsic part of the data base 

 needed for management. Such information includes: the political 

 makeup of the estuarine zone ; i.e., the States, counties, municipalities, 

 and special districts and/or interstate groups involved; the legal 

 responsibilities and authorities of each of these ; groups with manage- 

 ment responsibilities in the system ; existing zoning information and 

 other applicable governing regulation; water quality standards and 

 status of implementation ; and Federal activities in the estuarine zone. 



THE NEED TO ESTABLISH GOALS AND USES 



The data base described earlier is prerequisite to the establishment of 

 goals and uses in the estuarine zone. Once these are established, they 

 form a vital portion of the data base because the acquisition of further 

 information is governed by the desired uses. Hence, we must know 

 what we want to achieve. We must know where we are going. Goals and 

 uses for each estuary and the various portions within each estuary 

 must be established. Goals must be identified in terms of long-, 

 medium-, and short-term achievements. Uses must be established from 

 an objective point of view. It must be ac^^epted that not all waters are 

 suitable for all purposes. Potential uses, conflicts, and alternatives 

 for development must be identified, described, and evaluated. This 

 knowledge is essential to the setting of priorities for research, plan- 

 ning, and other actions. 



This bring us to the hardest decision of all, for after uses are desig- 

 nated and alternatives are identified and evaluated, specific goals must 

 be established. Then trade-offs must be made and sacrifices must be 

 endured if, indeed, optimum benefits are to be achieved. With respect 

 to all that needs to be done, we must not lose sight of our objectives. 

 Where will we be able to swim that we cannot now swim ; are there 

 places for boating where we do not dare boat now ; are our waterfront 

 environments unhealthy or devalued, and if so, should these values be 

 restored; can and should we safely and successfully grow shellfish 

 where they cannot now be grown ; what are the health, recreational, 

 and commercial effects of pollution from large vessels or small boats 

 or from casual uses of our waters ; where miijht we catch fish that none 

 can now be caught ; are there waterborne diseases and what measures 

 will correct them ; what values should we place on the physical prop- 

 erties of width, depth, and appearance of water which must be restored 

 or preserved ; what will be the long-term effects of excess plant nutri- 

 ents ? Then, with respect to all of these and similar questions, we must 

 necessarily balance against lost values, the burdens which their cor- 

 rection will create and be sure that the burdens we create are com- 

 mensurate with the AT^alues regained. 



