Coastal Issues | Cumulative Impacts | Case Studies
Cumulative and Secondary Impacts: Case Studies
Below are a few examples of projects states have supported with coastal zone management funds to address cumulative and secondary impacts of development.
- Cross Agency Collaboration for Reducing Development Impacts in North Carolina
- New Hampshire Builds Local Capacity to Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution
- Texas Coastal Watershed Program
- New Jersey Launches Clean Marina Program
Cross Agency Collaboration for Reducing Development Impacts in North Carolina
North Carolina assists communities with updating their land use plans to address water quality and development issues.
With leadership from the State's Coastal Nonpoint Program coordinator, partners from across North Carolina state agencies and programs came together to fund a water quality planner position. This position, part of the Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Network, is providing targeted education and assistance to coastal communities by performing land use plan reviews, conducting meetings with local government land use planners and commissions, organizing workshops, and obtaining grants for community level smart growth projects. Through recognition of shared goals and the root causes of coastal impacts, agencies have been able to capitalize on the value of jointly funding and supporting a planning position that helps communities grow and develop in smarter ways. Outcomes achieved thus far include improved nonpoint source policies in land use plans and local ordinances, and secured funding from a competitive smart growth grant offered through the NOAA-EPA Coastal Community Development Partnership.
New Hampshire Builds Local Capacity to Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution
New Hampshire's NROC program helps communities realize they can achieve economic vitality, maintain their community character, and preserve important natural resources.
New Hampshire's Coastal Management Program and the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve have teamed up with other like-minded state agencies and organizations to form the Natural Resource Outreach Coalition (NROC). NROC assists coastal communities with a natural resource-based planning approach to manage growth pressures and minimize the cumulative and secondary impacts of development by offering customized educational presentations "Dealing with Growth" for municipal board members, staff and interested citizens. "Dealing with Growth" reviews the current status of a community's natural resources and potential impacts of growth, and introduces various techniques for managing the impacts. The presentation is followed with a series of community meetings to focus on natural resource protection goals and the actions needed to accomplish them. NROC provides sustained technical assistance to help communities and conservation groups meet their identified goals. Typically working with three new communities each year, NROC is facilitating the adoption of smart growth principles throughout coastal New Hampshire.
The Texas Coastal Watershed Program
Addressing the connection between water quality and land use is the primary goal of the Texas Coastal Watershed Program. Using the Sea Grant and Land Grant extension model, the Watershed Program educates and assists local decision makers on planning to protect land, implementing low impact development, and embracing density as a critical element of smart coastal growth that balances economic growth with environmental protection. The Program is engaged in projects ranging from the establishment of an urban wetland to treat storm water runoff in Houston to planning for a more walkable main street in a small coastal town.
The approach of the Texas Coastal Watershed Program embraces the idea that where development is occurring, it can be designed and constructed in ways that minimize impacts to coastal natural resources and water quality. Fortunately for Texas, urban patterns that enable more land preservation are also demanded by citizens seeking better places to live with more community interactions. Therefore, the Watershed Program is promoting smarter coastal growth that emulates the look and feel of our oldest and most beloved cities, such as Charleston, SC. Outcomes sought include minimizing impervious surfaces (e.g. asphalt and concrete) and imitating nature wherever possible.
New Jersey Launches Clean Marina Program
In 2005 the New Jersey Coastal Management Program launched the New Jersey Clean Marina Program, joining many other coastal states with Clean Marina certification programs. The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that addresses cumulative and secondary impacts from marina and boating activities by encouraging marina owners, yacht clubs, boatyards and boaters to adopt practices to protect water quality and coastal resources.
To assist marinas in becoming certified “NJ Clean Marinas,” the New Jersey Coastal Program, in cooperation with the Clean Marina Committee, developed a Clean Marina Guidebook, brochure, self-assessment checklist, and pledge card. The Clean Marina Program also hosts educational workshops to introduce the program to the marina and boating community and provide information on best management practices including fuel spill prevention and clean up, and landscaping for stormwater management.
The New Jersey Coastal Program developed the Clean Marina Program in partnership with New Jersey SeaGrant, Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program, Jacques Cousteau National Estuary Research Reserve, Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and several other NGOs. In recognition of its efforts, the Clean Marina Program was also recognized in Governor Codey’s 2005 Coastal Initiatives document.