OFFICE FOR COASTAL MANAGEMENT

The Coastal Zone Enhancement Program

Improvements to state and territory coastal management programs are encouraged through this program. The focus is on nine enhancement areas: wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts, special area management plans, ocean and Great Lakes resources, energy and government facility siting, and aquaculture. The program was established in 1990 under Section 309 of the Coastal Zone Management Act.

Every five years, states and territories review their programs to identify priority needs and opportunities for improvement. The programs then work with NOAA to develop multi-year improvement strategies that focus on one or more of the priority enhancement goals.

State and Territory Assessments and Strategies (2021-2025)*

Alabama

American Samoa

California (Coastal Commission)

California
(San Francisco BCDC)

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Guam

Hawaii

Indiana

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Northern Mariana Islands

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Texas

U.S. Virgin Islands

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

*Note: The California Coastal Management Program has two components—the California Coastal Commission and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)—that develop assessments and strategies for the Coastal Zone Enhancement Program. Illinois and Minnesota did not develop an assessment and strategy for this period. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands developed assessment and strategies for part of the period (2023-2025).

Projects of Special Merit

NOAA administers the annual Projects of Special Merit (PSM) competition to support innovative projects that further support state and territories’ Section 309 Strategies.

More Information

For more information, contact us.