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The ocean front is tlie single most valuable natural resource in 

 California. The bulk of the State's population is concentrated within 

 a few miles of the sea, and its impact upon the people's way of life 

 is great. But the California coastline is shrinking rapidly as demand 

 for its values increases and as public access to attractive frontage 

 decreases. Undeveloped shoreline, including bays, estuaries, and salt 

 water marshes, can no longer be regarded as ordinary real estate 

 subject to residential or commercial-industrial development. 



In California, coastal and seaward areas must be protected for 

 present and future generations. The ecologically rich Kelp Forests, 

 for example, which grow from 100 to 1,000 feet off shore must be 

 protected. Kelp was once prevalent along the entire California coast, 

 but sewage, pesticides, industrial wastes and thermal pollution have 

 greatly reduced this forest to a mere 18 square miles. For scientific, 

 economic, and ecological reasons, as well as scenic and recreational con- 

 siderations, this remarkable oxygen producing plant must be allowed 

 to make a comeback. 



Only prompt and bold action can protect the quality of one of the 

 world's most spectacular shorelines from further deterioration. 



S. 3507 is an important first step in that it encourages and assists 

 the various States in preparing and implementing management pro- 

 grams to preserve, protect, develop, and restore the resources of the 

 coastal zone of the United States. This bill authorizes Federal grants- 

 in-aid of up to 66% percent to coastal States to develop coastal zone 

 management programs. In addition S. 3507 authorizes grants to help 

 coastal States implement these management programs, once approved 

 b}^ the Secretary of Commerce, and States would be aided for up to 

 50 percent of the costs in the acquisition and operation of estuarine 

 sanctuai'ies. 



In fiscal year 1973 the bill authorizes $12 million for management 

 program development grants, not to exceed $50 million for adminis- 

 trative grants and $6 million for estuarine sanctuaries grants. 



Dr. Joel Hedgpeth of Oregon State University makes the follow- 

 ing very tragic comment with regard to the acquisition and preserva- 

 tion of estuarine sanctuaries in California. 



In poiithern California, for example, there is nothing left. In northern Cali- 

 fornia, Tomales Bay, which might not fit some definitions, is an ideal candidate 

 because of the 10 years of study that has been carried out there and the circum- 

 .stances that one entire shore (almost), is within control of the Point Reyes 

 National Seashore. There are some interesting lagoons in northern California, 

 just north of Eureka. 



Clearly we are already too late. We must act quickly to begin to 

 save what is left of our coastline and to attempt to restore past 

 despoliation. 



Recently the Institute of Governmental Studies at tlie University 

 of California at Berkeley publislied a book entitled "California's Dis- 

 appearing Coast: A Legislative Challenge" by Gilbert E. Bailey and 

 Paul S. Thayer. 



The book summarizes the condition of California's coastline as 

 follows : 



Today — a quarter of the 1,000 mile coastline — from tlie Mexican border to 

 Santa Barbara — is already largely occupied by cities, suburbs, industries, mili- 

 tary l)ases, power plants, sewage discharge pipes, tract homes and higli-rise 

 blofkades of buildings interposed between the coa'^t and the i)eople. From 

 Monterey to coastal areas north of San Francisco the story is much the same. 



