estuaries and other coastal water bodies to be 

 entitled "Physical Facts of the Estuarine Environ- 

 ment." The program in part involves the extension 

 of on-going activities, but also includes a sizeable 

 effort new in concept and scope in that it 

 envisages a coordinated geologic, hydrologic, and 

 topographic study. In general, it involves a sub- 

 stantial increase in basic data collection, investiga- 

 tions of related water bodies considered to be 

 typical, and a sharp step-up in hydraulic research. 

 The Coastal Hydrology Program, proposed to 

 begin in Fiscal Year 1970, includes enlargement of 

 basic data collection especially in the coastal 

 waters themselves, comprehensive scientific studies 

 in selected estuaries, and step-up of hydraulic and 

 hydraulic-related research. The funding of this 

 program as proposed is probably substantially 

 greater than can be approved for irrmiediate 

 implementation. 



IV. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 



The National Park Service is responsible for 

 administration of the National Park System, which 

 includes 20 areas with significant marine resources. 

 Eleven are National parks and monuments where 

 resource protection is the major management 

 objective, and nine are National seashores and 

 lakeshores where recreation is the primary manage- 

 ment consideration. Nine marine areas have been 

 proposed for addition to the National Park System 

 and five are under study. 



The National seashores and lakeshores have 

 only recently been added to the National Park 

 System in order to reflect the need to protect 

 outstanding stretches of shoreline, particularly 

 near heavUy populated urban areas. Cape Hatteras 

 National Seashore was authorized in 1937, but not 

 established until 1953. Cape Cod National Sea- 

 shore was authorized in 1961, and authorization 

 of Padre Island, Point Reyes, Fire Island, 

 Assateague Island, and Cape Lookout National 

 Seashores followed closely. 



Last year, the Pictured Rocks in Michigan and 

 Indiana Dunes National Lakeshores were author- 

 ized for establishment as National lakeshores. 



Lands for the National parks and monuments 

 were carved from the public domain or were 

 donated to the Federal Government. Lands re- 

 quired for the National seashores and lakeshores, 

 however, were largely privately owned and re- 

 quired special appropriations for purchase. 



Appropriators for planning, development, con- 

 servation, and acquisition for the marine-related 

 units under the management of the National Park 

 Service are as follows: 



Planning 



Development 



Conservation 



Total 



FY 68 FY 69 



(millions of dollars) 



.1 .1 



6.9 5.8 



L2 1.9 



8.2 7.8 



Acquisition 



(Bureau of Recreation) 



11.1 



13.2 



Management programs at National seashores 

 and lakeshores emphasize opportunities for such 

 outdoor recreation as swimming, picnicking, hik- 

 ing, bicycling, and camping. Natural and historical 

 values are protected. 



Marine life on coral reefs in the Buck Island 

 National Monument and the Virgin Islands Na- 

 tional Park can be viewed by underwater nature 

 trails. Since many park visitors are unable to use 

 the -trails, the National Park Service currently is 

 investigating other means of underwater observa- 

 tion. 



V. BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND 

 WILDLIFE 



Bureau responsibility in fishery research related 

 to estuaries is centered in its marine gamefish 

 research, almost all related to coastal and estuarine 

 zones. The central theme is to determine how and 

 why the abundance, survival, distribution, migra- 

 tion, and well-being of game fish are affected by 

 natural and man-made variations in the environ- 

 ment. In 1960, the first laboratory was established 

 in what eventually will be a system of coastal 

 research centers to carry out a coordinated nation- 

 wide program. Laboratories are at Sandy Hook, 

 New Jersey; Tiburon, Cahfornia; Narragansett, 

 Rhode Island; and two Gulf of Mexico labora- 

 tories: Panama City, Florida and Port Aransas, 

 Texas. 



The National Wildlife Refuge system consists of 

 Federal lands and waters dedicated to wildlife 

 conservation. Activities include planning and 

 executing a balanced management program for 

 migratory waterfowl, upland wildlife, and other 

 forms of wildlife in these areas; preservation of 



III-86 



