National goals, state flexibility, and accountability in coastal zone management

Abstract

The Federal Coastal Zone Management Act sought to address key national goals through the use of individually crafted state and territorial coastal management programs. A review of state program activities and expenditures of CZMA implementation grants for the 1982–1987 period indicates that the states have retained their diversity and ability to tailor programs to meet state defined needs while still addressing key national interests. The states have devoted the bulk of their coastal management expenditures to improving the process of government decision‐making and protecting natural resources. The degree to which state programs are contributing to meeting national goals has been poorly documented. Reforms are needed to clearly identify the national interest in coastal management, relate grants, performance reports, and evaluations to those interests, and make better use of tools available for securing more focused and better coordinated national coastal policies.