Federal Consistency Intergovernmental Coordination and Review
Since colonial times Americans have depended on the coastal
areas for commerce, transportation, food supply, recreation and
scenic beauty. By the late 1960's, more than half the nation's
population was located near the coasts. User groups competed for
access to the nation's coastal resources and conflicts increased
dramatically. Recreational fishermen competed with commercial
fishermen. Resorts and residential developments limited the
access previously enjoyed by local residents. Declining coastal
water quality led to closings of shellfish beds and swimming
beaches. Commercial and recreational fisheries declined. In
1972, Congress addressed the increasing conflict by enacting the
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) . The CZMA sought to
preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore and
enhance the resources of the nation's coastal zone. It
encouraged coastal states to develop and implement comprehensive
management programs that would bal