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Oceans, Coasts, & Estuaries |  |
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National Coastal Condition Report IWe are pleased to announce the availability of the National Coastal Condition Report I which describes the overall condition of the U.S. coastal waters as fair to poor, varying from region to region. The Report compiles several available data sets from different agencies and areas of the country and summarizes them to present a broad baseline picture of the condition of coastal waters. The Report, primarily evaluates estuaries – areas where rivers meet the ocean – in the continental United States. Indicators of coastal conditions were derived from data on water quality, sediment quality, biota, habitat, and ecosystem integrity, as they relate to ecological and human health. This Report describes the condition of coastal waters based primarily on data from estuaries and, where available, snapshots of the condition of near-coastal waters. A combination of data, mostly from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is used to present indicators of coastal condition and assessment and advisory data as it relates to human health. The Report also highlights several exemplary programs at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels that show coastal condition at various regional scales. We believe this Report, as the first attempt by federal partners to provide the public with a comprehensive picture of the health of the nation's coastal waters, will serve as a useful benchmark for analyzing the progress of coastal management programs into the future. A paper copy of the Report (EPA620-R-01-005) is available by calling 800-490-9198. A Fact Sheet (Printable PDF format 111KB) summarizing the Report is also available by calling the same telephone number and referenced as EPA842-F-02-001. EPA has also issued a Coastal Research and Monitoring Strategy (PDF, 1.1MB, 70 pages) that assesses national needs for coastal research and monitoring, and recommends an integrated framework for protecting vital coastal resources. Continue to National Coastal Condition Report Download Site.
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