In Winter 2003/2004 the Coastal States Organization (CSO) sponsored a national survey of state coastal resource managers to better understand their science and technology needs. The web-based survey was sponsored by CSO with funding provided by the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET) at the University of New Hampshire. This survey builds upon a previous survey conducted by CSO in 1999. CSO contracted with the Urban Harbors Institute (UHI) at UMass-Boston to prepare the survey questions and final report. The University of New Hampshire Survey Center was contracted to conduct the survey and analyze the results.
Two hundred thirty (230) respondents completed the survey from 33 states, territories and Commonwealths. Organizations participating in this survey included the Coastal States Organization (CSO), National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA), Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP), Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM), Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA), and the Atlantic States Fishery Management Commission (ASFMC).
While some analysis of the data and recommendations how on the report should be used are provided, this report is not intended to offer specific interpretations of the results. Rather it is intended to raise awareness on those topics, research, information, and technology needs that are important to coastal resource managers for the purpose of initiating further dialogue on what exactly this data means and how it can best be applied to improve our future efforts
