591 



nomics, and law. Unlike the previous discussions on study needs con- 

 cerning technical subjects, the research and study needs to supply 

 information necessary for wise planning is more difficult to define in 

 terms of separable projects. Certainly, the guidelines are more diffuse 

 and the areas of overlap are greater, for here we are dealing with 

 human factors, with intangible values, with esthetics, and with recrea- 

 tional satisfactions. Further, it is in this area where we must conie to 

 grips with the conflicts existing in estuarine use and abuse. It is in 

 this area where the hard questions subject to litigation arise, for having 

 developed all of the information required to support technical man- 

 agement of the estuaries, we must now amalgamate this knowledge 

 with a comprehensive plan of management which will provide for a 

 program of optimum beneficial action. 



PLANNING 



By definition, the need here is to establish comprehensive long-range 

 use plans for each estuary, including industrial and recreational areas 

 as well as wildlife and fishery preserves. A necessary balance between 

 preservation, study, multiple use, and development of estuarine areas 

 must be achieved in this planning, and hence, we must also determine 

 methods for developing desirable uses in areas where none exist now. 

 Because one of the greatest unrealized values of the Nation's estuaries 

 will be for recreational purposes, there is a need to identify the opti- 

 mum recreational carrying capacities for the various estuarine areas. 



It is necessary to increase capabilities for estuarine resources ap- 

 praisal, coordination, and planning to assure that research findings 

 are used to maximum advantage and to assure that all the possible 

 uses and all the possible available resources will receive optimum con- 

 sideration in the multiple use concept of planning, development, and 

 management of the estuarine zone. Methods must be developed which 

 will enable the planning agency to answer questions that relate the 

 cost of treatment applied to waste to the value of benefits attainable 

 or resulting from such treatment. While the costs of waste treatments 

 are reasonably well known, the value of the benefits that would result 

 frequently are less tangible and their quantification requires first the 

 development of an acceptable methodology for making such a study. 



There is no doubt that increasing pressure will be brought on estuary 

 planning agencies to beautify shore front land. Landscape architects 

 and others trained in land development should do research toward 

 developing planning criteria. 



And, as is required in all management schemes, research must be 

 done which leads up to the development of alternative master plans 

 for the long-term uses of estuarine and land-related zones. 



ECONOMICS 



The economics of conservation and development, and the planned 

 utilization of estuarine resources must consider all aspects of the eco- 

 system as well as human factors. Past and present techniques have 

 seldom defined the beneficial uses of the resource adequately. Research 

 is needed to develop techniques which permit the consideration of 

 social, economic, and esthetic factors as well as technological factors. 



