609 



The concept of natural preserves or wilderness areas is well accepted 

 in terrestrial environments. It should be expanded and implemented in 

 the estuarine environment as well, for, if we are ever to achieve the 

 understanding of estuarine ecosystems essential for their wise man- 

 agement and fullest beneficial use, it is important that we set aside 

 and fully protect a series of representative estuaries along our shores 

 for scientific study and technical management. Such estuarine reserves 

 should be established in several different States, on the east coast, the 

 gulf coast, and the west coast of the United States, as well as in Alaska, 

 Hawaii, and the various island possessions. If this action is not taken 

 soon, we will find that few, if any estuaries will be left which will be 

 suitable for such studies. It is particularly urgent that use for scientific 

 study be included among the beneficial uses of estuaries. 



Coordination of estuarine activities 



Close coordination and unanimity of purpose among all agencies, 

 institutions, organizations, and individuals having an interest in estu- 

 arine areas must be encouraged. This would require cooperation of 

 Federal, State, and local governments, private enterprise, and the 

 public. Communication among the various sciences is often poor, as is 

 communication between the various levels of government and the 

 private sector. Eesults of work done by State agencies frequently are 

 narrowly distributed. State agencies oftentimes completely overlook or 

 ignore work done by the universities. Federal agencies working on the 

 national level are frequently unaware of the excellent ]j^ork doij© at 

 the State and local levels. 



It is difficult to over-emphasize the need for the coordination of data 

 gathering, storage, reduction, and retrieval. 



An especially important area of cooperation is between all levels of 

 government and the universities, for it is the universities that can con- 

 centrate on highly productive research in specific areas on a long-term 

 continuing program. This has the advantage not only of the applica- 

 tion of some of the best minds in the country, but also of training the 

 cadre of scientists which will be needed as was discussed earlier. The 

 government agencies should keep the universities aware of their needs 

 and help support appropriate research. 



It is also important to recognize that several of the United States' 

 estuarine zones overlap with Mexico and Canada. The Federal and 

 State governments should coordinate their estuarine research and 

 management programs related to these areas with Canada on both the 

 Federal and provincial level and with Mexico on the Federal and State 

 level. The Great Lakes soon will fall into the definition of an estuarine 

 protection area and hence all research and management programs re- 

 lating to the Great Lakes should be coordinated between Canadian and 

 the United States agencies. Federal funding of State estuarine re- 

 search projects has and will continue to help coordinate State and Fed- 

 eral efforts. This funding should be expanded to include local, univer- 

 sity, and private endeavors in the estuarine zone as well, to increase the 

 scope of coordination. 



The importance of regional em/pha^is 



A national program for estuarine study and management should be 

 developed with strong regional emphasis. The United States should be 



