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PRINCIPLES OF TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT 



The following 10 principles underly a program of technical manage- 

 ment. The implementation of these principles constitutes the frame- 

 work of the proposed program of research and study. 



Ecosystems as management wnits 



Estuarine resources occur in interacting complexes. What man does 

 to one resource can and does have significant effects on the others. Estu- 

 arine and coastal areas exist as ecological systems, frequently as in- 

 tegral parts of large river basin complexes. The systems concept is thus 

 the most logical approach to sound management of coastal areas. Any 

 plans for the successful development, management, and regulation of 

 estuaries in the United States must be consistent with the ecological 

 and economic principles by which such systems operate, with and 

 without modern man. Because estuarine systems differ from the land 

 systems in having moving fluid, the land laws and practices often do 

 not provide for sensible management and new laws and practices must 

 be developed to recognize the limitations and requirements of estua- 

 rine systems. Hence, a management program must involve a .total 

 effort toward providing a total solution. More often than not, piece- 

 meal solutions create additional problems, and we find ourselves forced 

 to commit all of our resources to current crises and not able to prepare 

 for the more difficult problems of tomorrow. 



Programs for estuarine research and study capable of providing 

 total solutions require not only a multidisciplinary approach but also 

 a sizable concerted effort, because the areas are both large and com- 

 plex. Estuarine studies are not wholly the problems of one disci- 

 pline nor of only a select number of State institutions, but must be 

 carried out by a number of agencies, both private and governmental. 

 A great deal of coordination is needed. The magnitude of the problem 

 is such that use can be made of all interested groups to attain the ob- 

 jectives of optimal estuarine utilization. The single-purpose concept 

 of water resources which has been generally abandoned in the devel- 

 opment of our upland water resources is still being used in the estua- 

 rine area. Such public works as powerplants, new ship channels, diked 

 areas, ete., are still being planned and constructed as individual en- 

 tities without regard to the entire circulation scheme of the estuary. 

 A great deal of effort must be applied to seek new ideas and even bold 

 ideas for the management of estuaries as total ecosystems. 



The nvuXtiple-use 'philosophy 



As a general guide, the multiple-use philosophy must prevail for 

 future planning of estuarine use. Maximum consideration must be 

 given to both public and private enterprise and values in these coastal 

 areas with particular efforts to accommodate all compatible uses prac- 

 ticable. In general, the exploitation of a single resource or a use that is 

 contrary to, or irreversibly precludes other desirable uses, cannot 

 be permitted. Tlie achievement of a desirable balance among uses 

 was a principal purpose of the Congress in commissioning the national 

 estuarine pollution study. However, it needs to be stressed that public 

 recreation areas, wildlife sanctuaries, national defense areas, and other 

 situations of this type are usually single-purpose but frequently 

 desirable. 



