Coastal zone decision-makers have needs for access on a relevant, timely, 
and useful basis for: a) scientific data, knowledge, and competence; 
b) adequate engineering capabilities; c) technical services, such as mon- 
itoring of environment, resources and uses, and emergency assistance 
(‘‘fire-fighting”’) ; and d) continuing technical advice. Involved are many 
sorts of technical activity ranging from additional fundamental research 
on phenomena of the environment and resources of the coastal areas and 
the effects of man-induced changes to baseline research, inventorying, 
monitoring and recovery. 
Obviously then it is necessary to know and understand the environments 
and resources of the coastal region well in order that critical economic 
activities can be pursued in the least disturbing manner. With proper 
knowledge and careful application of such knowledge it should be pos- 
sible to undertake development which will be compatible with many 
other uses and which in some instances may enhance the coastal zone. 
But gaps in knowledge of the hydrography, geology, and biology of coastal 
waters, shorelines, and wetlands minimize our chances of success in main- 
taining integrity of the environment while at the same time allowing 
reasonable and necessary economic uses. Lack of such detailed environ- 
mental knowledge makes the tasks of site selection, plant design, and fa- 
cility construction unnecessarily difficult and costly. As a result, engineering 
and construction costs for environmental protection may be much higher 
than they need be, resulting in an economic drain upon facility operators 
and, in turn, upon consumers. Taken in the large, the cumulative eco- 
nomic effects of many such operations can be considerable. Without the 
essential data base, the alternative to such wasteful over-design is unneces- 
sary and unacceptable risks of damage to the environment and to coastal 
resources. Additional fundamental knowledge and baseline information 
based on well-conceived research into the natural, social, and economic 
systems of the coastal margins is thus in order. 
Effective Coastal Zone Information Transfer and Use 
Having adequate baseline and synthesized information on coastal re- 
sources and environments is not enough; nor is knowing how to solve an 
engineering problem. Socioeconomic solutions may be known and available 
to specialists, but if these data and solutions are not communicated to the 
decision-makers on a timely and effective basis, then information and tech- 
nical ability are wasted and management is ineffective. 
We find, as did the Coastal Zone Workshop convened at Woods Hole in 
1972, that despite the general lack of detail and scope in scientific knowl- 
edge and technology, more of each exists even now than is being put to 
effective use in planning and management. More efficient systems for gath- 
ering, analyzing, and disseminating now unused knowledge would greatly 
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