Abstracts
Shoreline Stewardship Support for Local Government
Clive Callaway1, Sarah Kipp
1The Living by Water Project
clivec@jetstream.net
This brief presentation introduces a Shoreline Stewardship Tool Kit, designed to help with environmental due diligence and risk management matters and assist local government officials in informed decision-making. Its focus is on marine and freshwater shorelines (including estuaries); it includes information on climate change and adaptation.
The economic, social and ecological values of shorelines can be substantial. From a legal perspective they are one of the most complex parts of the landscape. They can often represent highly valuable pieces of real estate; poor decisions on shoreline development can have long lasting ramifications.
Developed by The Living by Water Project (LbyW) through its Community-based Action Program for Shorelines, the Tool Kit brings together a wide range of topics that link to shoreline stewardship: demographic and related development trends (baby boomers, second home purchasers, condos); climate change (rising sea levels, changes in temperature and precipitation); the wide range of regulations influencing shorelines, including archaeological;economic values; and, issues such as biodiversity, West Nile Virus, or fire protection guidelines. The Kit is linked to a workshop program designed especially for elected officials and local government support staff. It is intended to help in day to day decision-making and contact with citizens concerning ocean and lake fronts, stream and riversides.
Tool Kit resources include On the Living Edge, Your Handbook for Waterfront Living. This LbyW book is already being used by some elected officials, planners, realtors, and many shoreline residents.
2005-04-05 |
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