Defined Coastal Zone The entire island, including the surrounding sea to the 3-mile territorial limit, is included under the GCMP's jurisdiction. Federal Program Support 1982-1989: $3.7 million. Major Program Accomplishments The Bureau of Planning (BOP) has strengthened its role as intermediary for all natural resource issues and reviews all plans and proposed legislation for the Governor. This emphasis on natural resource issues will ensure the GCMP that the implementation of its coastal policy goals will be met. The BOP and the Land Use Permit Task Force worked together to obtain a moratorium on new public land leases over the northern water lens area. SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS Protecting Natural Resources The GCMP has begun to work closely with the Historic Preservation Officer (HPO) to increase public awareness concerning the protection of historic and pre-historic sites from destruction as a result of development activities. The GCMP is supporting the HPO to produce posters to increase public awareness, a handbook for developers detailing their responsibilities regarding historic materials found at their development site and any new legislation and regulations that may be necessary to increase the protection of this valuable resource. A land use training video was developed to be used as an educational and public awareness tool. The video will be aired on local television stations and in school classrooms. Environmental educational materials were prepared for grammar school-aged children to increase their public awareness of coastal issues. Providing Public Access to Coastal Recreation The completed Public Access to Shoreline Study identifies public access sites for residents seeking recreation as well as public access sites for land use planners. The pamphlet lists all public access points and facilities and includes a map of all these facilities. Using CZM funds, construction improvements at a newly acquired public park at Cocos Island have attracted 47,000 visitor days per year compared to zero visitors before the improvements were made. CZM money was used to build facilities such as restrooms and showers. Preserving Ports and Marinas The GCMP helped fund the Master Plan for the Port of Guam, which addresses military and civilian commercial port needs, recruitment opportunities and heavy industry opportunities. Improving Government Operations The GCMP has taken the lead as a coordinator in resolving conflicts between various users of the nearshore waters (mechanized water craft users, windsurfers, snorklers, swimmers, surfers, and other recreational users) and environmental concerns. This effort has resulted in an approved plan which confines mechanized vehicles to specific locations and will conclude with the adoption of permanent rules and regulations. GCMP coordinated the views of all government agencies and private citizens through a series of working meetings and public hearings. ⚫ In June 1986, the "Guide to Land-Use Decision Making For Territorial Planning Commission/ Territorial Seashore Protection Commission Members" was completed. The book is used as a decision making and informational tool. As a result of this book, several national objectives have been promoted, including natural resource protection, coastal development management and construction, and simplified government decisionmaking procedures. The GCMP has produced guidelines for federal consistency, including a simple "fill in the blank" form. The GCMP developed two products for government personnel charged with inspecting and enforcing the varius land-use laws of Guam. These books, Training and Reference Guide for Building Inspectors on Zoning and Land-Use Laws and Regulations, and Inspectors Fieldbook, are designed to assist in training inspectors and in providing a handy reference document to be carried in the field. Mitigating Coastal Storm Damage and Coastal Hazards The GCMP was intrumental in the development of flood hazard rules and regulations for review of projects in defined floodplain or flood hazard areas. HAWAII Date of Program Approval: 1978 Federal Program Support 1982-1989: $5.6 Million Coastal Population (1985): 1,053,500 (100% of state total) Shoreline Mileage: 1,052 Miles National Estuarine Research Reserves: Waimanu Valley (3,600 acres) COASTAL RESOURCE INFORMATION Special/National Significance of Hawaii's Coast Hawaii's coastal area contains resources of great recreation, scenic, historic, and scientific value. The state, which consists of 8 major and 116 minor islands, provides critical habitat areas for the islands' unique wetland birds, strand plants, and maritime and freshwater aquatic species, in addition to strategically located military bases. Tourism is the state's largest industry, and the coastline is the state's largest tourist attraction. Principal Coastal Threats and Emerging Challenges Improvement of the regulatory processes for development activities. Development of a comprehensive management plan to address issues of emerging development pressures (i.e., marina and tourism development) on Hawaii's resources. • Increased efforts by the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management (CZM) program to expand public awareness about the state's coastal program. Effects of sea level rise on coastal real estate, especially in erosion hazard areas. COASTAL PROGRAM INFORMATION Program Description Hawaii's CZM program is based on seven objectives with supporting policies. A permit system to assure that developments comply with the objectives and special management areas (SMA) in the shoreline areas, the counties administer the Hawaii CZM program (i.e., protecting coastal ecosystems, reducing hazards, etc.) Defined Coastal Zone The coastal zone includes the waters from the shoreline to the seaward limit of the state's jurisdiction and all land areas excluding those lands designated as state forest reserves. Federal Program Support 1982-1989: $5.6 million. Major Program Accomplishments As a result of a public access initiative by the Hawaii CZM program from 1984-1986, the Hawaii Legislature appropriated $644,000 to continue the work of the public access program. This statewide public access program included an inventory of existing public access sites, and recommendations to acquire additional sites. • The Hawaii CZM program has helped developers better understand and participate in the regulatory process through the Consolidated Permit Application Process (CAP). This applicantinitiated procedure is particularly advantageous when multiple permits are involved and reduces the time for permit processing. A brochure explaining the CAP has been mailed to development and other professional organizations to encourage their use of the process. SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS Protecting Natural Resources The Kauai Historic Preservation Commission has played a significant role in preserving the County's archaeological and historical resources. The Commission developed the Kauai Historic Resources Management Plan which provides the framework for the preservation efforts. The plan includes a record of local historic resources, site survey criteria and standards for permit reviews. • The Hawaii CZM program is helping to create a database of rare and endangered plants and animals to help the counties and other agencies develop natural resource protection plans and development review strategies. Providing Public Access to Coastal Recreation "Adopt-an-access” project, implemented by the County of Maui, was a highly successful volunteer program that alleviated the pressure to use county funds to maintain access projects. The county recruited individuals and organizations to help maintain selected accessways. • The County of Maui also improved public shoreline accesses by installing signs identifying access areas and by organizing onsite cleanup efforts at these access areas. • The Kauai Beach Access Inventory has provided the county with a basis for maintaining public rights to accessways and easements and for protecting these accessways from encroaching development and redevelopment pressures. The inventory includes copies of assessor's maps, deeds, and deed restrictions. A Honolulu Coastal View Study has successfully addressed the issue of public coastal view protection. Proposed development on Oahu has raised concern over the impact that these developments might have on the County's important public views. This study will provide policy guidelines to developers and the public concerned with this issue. Mitigating Coastal Storm Damage and Coastal Hazards The Hawaii CZM program is developing a management program to address the problem of erosion. The goals of the program are to maintain beaches for recreation uses, maintain coastal water quality, reduce hazard to life and property, and preserve Hawaii's biological diversity. The Kauai Beach Warning Program has significantly increased the safety of offshore swimming for residents and visitors in the county. A brochure prominently displays Beach Safety Tips, which include an emergency call number and water safety signs to identify dangerous swimming conditions and tips for safer swimming. This brochure has been distributed throughout the County. LOUISIANA Date of Program Approval: 1980 Federal Program Support 1982-1989: $17.1 Million COASTAL RESOURCE INFORMATION Special/National Significance of Louisiana's Coast Louisiana's diverse coastal resources contain 40 percent of the nation's coastal wetlands. The state's vast estuarine systems and bays provide 28 percent of the nation's fishery harvest and much of the country's sugar and rice. Louisiana also provides the largest individual state contribution of oil and gas from its petroleum and natural gas reserves. Principal Coastal Threats and Emerging Challenges Large-scale restoration projects as well as better management techniques are needed to preserve Louisiana's remaining wetlands. Significant wetland loss and coastal erosion (40-60 sq. mi./yr.) is a result of natural and man-induced factors, such as relative sea-level rise, leveeing of the Mississippi River for flood control, channelization of waterways, and direct and indirect impacts from energy development activities. • The creation of better administrative procedures, such as a fine and/or penalty system to effectively deal with permit violations Effects of relative sea level rise on coastal real estate, especially in erosion hazard areas. • The degradation of water quality from point and nonpoint source pollution in the state's estuarine systems such as Lake Pontchartrain, Barataria Basin, and the Mermentau River. COASTAL PROGRAM INFORMATION Program Description The Louisiana Coastal Resources Program (LCRP) is based on the State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act of 1978 in addition to other pre-existing state laws which are incorporated into the program. The LCRP is implemented primarily by the Coastal Management Division/Department of Natural Resources (CMD/DNR) through a permit program and coordination with pre-existing state permits. Local governments may assume responsibility for the permitting of certain uses of local concern by developing a local coastal program. Defined Coastal Zone The inland boundary of the coastal zone includes all or part of 19 parishes; the seaward boundary extends to the outer limit of the United States territorial seas. Federal lands are excluded. Federal Program Support 1982-1989: $17.1 million. Major Program Accomplishments The Louisiana Coastal Management Program has developed two general permits that simultaneously expedite energy exploration activities and minimizes the loss of wetlands. The new permit procedures, in concert with a required geologic review process, have decreased the destruction of wetlands for the average oil and gas canal from 5.5 acres in 1983 to 2.5 acres in 1988 while saving the oil and gas industry over $1 million (from decreased permit processing time). The applicant must prove for each permit that there are no less damaging alternative sites or access to the site. • Since 1983 the LCRP and the U.S. Corps have issued joint public notices for permitting activities that fall within the domain of New Orleans district and the Louisiana Coastal Zone. This joint notification policy has decreased the permit review time, and has resulted in an annual savings $5.3 million to the oil and gas industry. SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS Protecting Natural Resources The LCRP is continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of marsh management planning as a technique for preserving wetlands. The LCRP has provided funding for a contract with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service to develop a manual to be used as a policy guideline for marsh management. The LCRP has also identified wetlands that should receive priority attention for federal and state acquisition. • The LCRP has developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) which facilitates the permit review process as well as allowing the state to conduct analysis such as monitoring wetlands loss. The LCRP is developing a special area management plan (SAMP) to improve the water quality for Lake Ponchartrain. Urban runoff and sewage discharge has significantly decreased the water quality of this heavily used lake. • Public awareness of LCRP activities and coastal issues has increased in recent years because the state Coastal Management Division (CMD) has taken an active role in public outreach and education. This outreach program has involved speaking to environmental, civic and industrial organizations, as well as providing educational materials to schoolteachers. |