612 



oped with strong regional emphasis based on ecology, geography, and 

 a commonality of problems and objectives. Planning for estuarine use 

 and development must be based on broad public benefits rather than 

 narrow private interests. A system of criteria by which to gauge estu- 

 arine quality is necessary. Key management roles require adequately 

 trained people in ecology, engineering, economics, planning, and law. 

 Finally, the public must be informed of its stake in the estuary. 



THE FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS IN ESTUARINE RESEARCH 



The primary objective of a program of research and study is to 

 supply the knowledge, understanding, and predictive capability to sup- 

 port a comprehensive national program for the preservation, study, 

 use, and development of the Nation's estuarine zone. To promote the 

 coordination of research activities wdth management needs, a program 

 of responsibilities and the role of the Federal and State Government is 

 proposed. These programs are parallel to those suggested in part III 

 of this report because of the essential sameness of the goals to be 

 achieved. The difference lies in that the comprehensive program is pri- 

 marily concerned with the institutional environment, i.e., the frame- 

 work of law, political institutions, and organizational mechanisms 

 that man must use to provide himself the capability to control, de- 

 velop, and use the estuarine zone ; the research and study program is 

 concerned primarily with the natural environment, i.e., the framework 

 of knowledge that provides the technical support to achieve the objec- 

 tives of the comprehensive program. 



The Federal role in estuarine research 



The Federal Government is responsible for defining the policy and 

 objectives of a national research and study program to support wise 

 comprehensive management of the estuarine zones of the United 

 States. It is also the responsibility of the Federal Government to {a^ 

 implement its portion of the announced national program, {h) coordi- 

 nate the research activities of its appropriate departments and agen- 

 cies, and {c) augment and encourage the development of new knowl- 

 edge by State and local agencies as well as by educational institutions. 

 Many of these responsibilities are already receiving attention and the 

 Federal role is one of continuation and augmentation ; those responsi- 

 bilities not yet satisfied require new Federal activities. 



The overall Federal role in research should be : 



(1) To provide the impetus for the enhancement, augmenta- 

 tion, and initiation of a national program of research needed to 

 support a comprehensive management system and by offering 

 guidelines for State, intrastate, local, and academic actions con- 

 sistent with developing needed estuarine knowledge. 



(2) To provide continuing support and guidance through grants 

 to State, interstate, and local agencies, and to academic institu- 

 tions, foundations, and individuals meeting the research and study 

 needs of the comprehensive management plan. Purposes of such 

 grants should include : 



{a) Research and study of estuarine problems 



{b) Establishment of estuarine zone laboratories 



(c) Inventory activities in the States' estuarine zones 



