Coastal Zone Enhancement Program (CZMA Section 309)

What is the Coastal Zone Enhancement Program (CZMA Section 309)?

The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Section 309 outlines the Coastal Zone Enhancement Program, a federal program administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management that encourages state and US territory coastal management programs to enhance their coastal resource management. Under Section 309, states and territories are incentivized to develop and implement strategies that improve specific areas of their coastal programs. These enhancements focus on nine key areas, and the coastal zone enhancement objectives are defined for each of those nine areas in the below list:

Wetlands

Protection, restoration, or enhancement of the existing coastal wetlands base, or creation of new coastal wetlands.

Coastal Hazards

Preventing or significantly reducing threats to life and destruction of property by eliminating development and redevelopment in high-hazard areas, managing development in other hazard areas, and anticipating and managing the effects of potential sea level rise and Great Lakes level rise.

Public Access

Attaining increased opportunities for public access, taking into account current and future public access needs, to coastal areas of recreational, historical, aesthetic, ecological, or cultural value.

Marine Debris

Reducing marine debris entering the Nation's coastal and ocean environment by managing uses and activities that contribute to the entry of such debris.

Cumulative and Secondary Impacts

Development and adoption of procedures to assess, consider, and control cumulative and secondary impacts of coastal growth and development, including the collective effect on various individual uses or activities on coastal resources, such as coastal wetlands and fishery resources.

Special Area Management Plans (SAMPs)

Preparing and implementing special area management plans for important coastal areas.

Ocean/Great Lakes Resources

Planning for the use of ocean resources.

Energy & Government Facility Siting

Adoption of procedures and enforceable policies to help facilitate the siting of energy facilities and Government facilities and energy-related activities and Government activities which may be of greater than local significance.

Aquaculture

Adoption of procedures and policies to evaluate and facilitate the siting of public and private aquaculture facilities in the coastal zone, which will enable States to formulate, administer, and implement strategic plans for marine aquaculture.

Florida's participation in this process is crucial to maintaining the health, productivity, and sustainability of its coastal and marine resources.

Drafting the Assessment and Strategies

Every five years, coastal management programs are directed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their current coastal management efforts. This assessment identifies areas where the program has successfully met its coastal management goals and areas that need enhancement. The assessment also includes prioritization of each enhancement area as high, medium, or low priority. It’s important to note that the prioritization is not necessarily based on a statewide ranking but rather on the coastal management program’s focus and administrative purview. Based on this assessment, the program then develops strategies that outline specific actions to address identified gaps or challenges in the following five years.

Steps in the Drafting Process:

1. Assessment: A thorough evaluation of the current coastal management program is conducted. This includes analyzing past successes, identifying challenges, and pinpointing opportunities for improvement.
2. Stakeholder Input: Input from partner agencies and other stakeholders is gathered to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the status and prioritization of the state's coastal management needs.
3. Draft Strategy Development: Based on the assessment and stakeholder input, the coastal management program drafts a set of strategies that include specific objectives, actions, and timelines for enhancing the state's coastal management efforts.
4. Public Review: The draft assessment and strategies document is made available for public review, allowing interested parties to provide feedback and suggestions.
5. Final Strategy Submission: After incorporating feedback, the final assessment and strategies document is submitted to NOAA for approval and funding.

Current and Past Assessment and Strategies Documents

FCMP is currently implementing the strategies in the fiscal year 2021 – 2025 enhancement cycle document. The document for the previous enhancement cycle, fiscal year 2016 – 2020 is also available. You can also learn more about the Coastal Zone Enhancement Program and access other coastal management programs’ documents at the NOAA Office for Coastal Management website, https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/enhancement/.

How to Participate

Your input is invaluable to ensuring that Florida's coastal resources are protected and managed effectively. Once available, the draft assessment and strategies document for the fiscal year 2026 – 2030 enhancement cycle will be posted on this page. Reviewing the draft document and providing feedback is a great way to participate in the Section 309 process and help guide the future of our coastal management program.

Contact Us

For more information about the Coastal Zone Enhancement Program/CZMA Section 309 process, please contact: