Natural Resource Planning
The Natural Resource Planner is funded primarily through NOAA's Section 309 Base Grant of the Coastal Zone Management Act, which provides money for the planners to conduct special projects that enhance coastal management. Types of projects that planning staff are involved in include:
- Wetland Management - Wetland determination, land exchange, field testing of rapid assessment methods for the valuation of Wetlands
- Improving Public access
- Addressing Coastal hazards - reviewing proposed developments and their susceptibility to floods, typhoons, quakes
- Cumulative and second impacts - reviewing proposed developments to prevent cumulative and secondary adverse impacts
- Marine debris- removal and reduction of litter and abandoned vessels
- Special Area Management Planning - working in concert with other agencies to protect and enhance the islands many natural, coastal, cultural, historic, and economic resources
- Shoreline monitoring- Observing shoreline erosion and accretion patterns on Managaha Island and at American Memorial park
Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program
The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) was established in 2002 to protect coastal and estuarine lands considered important for their ecological, conservation, recreational, historical or aesthetic values. The program provides state and local governments with matching funds to purchase significant coastal and estuarine lands, or conservation easements on such lands, from willing sellers. Lands or conservation easements acquired with CELCP funds are protected in perpetuity so that they may be enjoyed by future generations.
Access the NOAA CELCP website - http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/land/welcome.html.