The research cited above was part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Reconstructed Trends program. This bill includes crucial funding to control the nation's leading water pollution problem - polluted runoff. Coastal states and citizens are calling on House lawmakers to pass identical legislation. Under the CZMA, states develop their own coastal zone management plans according to federal guidelines. It also matches every state dollar invested with a federal dollar.
Polluted runoff needs to be controlled in order to protect both our environment and our economy.
Increasing population and pollution pressures are placing our coastal resources, habitats, communities, and industries at serious risk. The CZMA fosters strong federal-state partnerships to address concerns of coastal communities and helps them conserve coastal resources, provide public access, reduce marine debris, and manage coastal development and protect open space. Through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, the Center for Marine Conservation informs, inspires, and empowers people to speak and act for the oceans in order to protect ocean ecosystems and conserve the global abundance and diversity of marine wildlife. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CMC has regional offices in California, Florida, and Virginia and field offices in Alaska, Maine, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, CA, and the Florida Keys. Following last month's destructive flooding, the DEP ordered inspections for hundreds of the 1,592 dams in the state.