Resolution: Coastal Zone Management Act Reauthorization: An Opportunity to Fund and Implement the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy and Address Climate Change
Adopted on February 24, 2009

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Whereas, the Great Lakes basin has more than 10,000 miles of coastline, a resource whose protection is essential to the region; and

Whereas, the Coastal States Organization represents the governors of the nation’s coastal states, territories, and commonwealths, including all eight of the Great Lakes states; and

Whereas, the Coastal States Organization has created a Call for Action in order to communicate a clear and consistent message to the Congress and the next Administration regarding the needs of its member states; and

Whereas, the Call for Action outlines three significant federal actions: 1) creating a National Ocean and Coastal Trust Fund, 2) supporting regional, state, and local efforts to adapt to climate change, and 3) recrafting and reauthorizing the Coastal Zone Management Act; and

Whereas, reauthorization of the Coastal Zone Management Act has been a longstanding priority of the Great Lakes Commission; and

Whereas, all of the Great Lakes states have, or are in the process of developing, coastal programs under the Coastal Zone Management Act; and

Whereas, the Coastal Zone programs are the result of an exemplary state-federal partnership that directly benefits the communities and resources of the Great Lakes and provides an institutional mechanism for implementing the goals of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC); and

Whereas, the Great Lakes states’ coastal program managers support the Coastal States Organization’s Call for Action; and

Whereas, more than 25 organizations have lent their support to the Coastal States Organization’s Call for Action; and

Whereas, learning to adapt to the effects of climate change will be necessary for the sustainability of the region, the states, and communities of the Great Lakes.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission supports the redrafting and reauthorization of the Coastal Zone Management Act, and recognizes it as one mechanism for national investment in regional, state and local climate change adaptation efforts; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Commission supports a National Ocean and Coastal Trust Fund insofar as the goals of such a fund are consistent with the goals of the GLRC; and

Be It Further Resolved, that state coastal programs be recognized by Congress as one potential institutional and administrative mechanism for implementing the recommendations of the GLRC Strategy; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Commission fully supports the Coastal States Organization’s Call for Action as a key policy option for implementing the goals of the GLRC.

Adopted at the 2009 Seminnual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, Washington, D.C., Feb. 23-24, 2009.