The National Shoreline Management Study (NSMS) contributes to ongoing efforts to improve coastal management. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initiated the study through collaborative efforts with other agencies and in coordination with states. The study is an interagency activity among National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with contributions from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The primary focus areas of NSMS are:
- Erosion and accretion and its causes
- Environmental implications of shoreline change
- Economic implications of shoreline change
- Agency roles and contributions in restoring and renourishing shores
- Systematic movement of sand
The NSMS is supporting dialogs between Federal, state and local stakeholders about collaborative and systems approaches for managing the Nation's shores. This study takes into account the regional diversity of our coasts. It will make recommendations about the use of systems approaches to sediment management, and roles for Federal and non-Federal participation in shore protection. The implementation of systems approaches, in conjunction with the concept of shared responsibility for shore management, will provide the comprehensive framework necessary to meet current challenges for shoreline management.
