The 10 National Shoreline Management Study Regional Assessment (RA) reports highlight the economic, social, and environmental importance of the regional shorelines, and the changes that result from natural and human-induced influences on coastal processes, including erosion and accretion. RA reports have been developed based on existing and available information and input from a variety of federal agencies, Tribal Nations and representative groups, state and regional coastal representatives, academia, and researchers.
The primary focus areas of NSMS include:
- Description of the current state of U.S. shores
- Erosion and accretion, including their causes
- Environmental and economic implications of shoreline change
- Current natural hazard risks and anticipated future conditions
- Agency roles in restoring and renourishing shores
- Systematic movement of sand
NSMS RA report recommendations provide practicable and collaborative paths forward that support regional commitments to address current and future coastal challenges by working together, using science, streamlining processes, and identifying and leveraging resources. With a coordinated approach, risks to key natural and cultural resources can be managed, coastal economies can support the livelihoods of residents and the security of the nation, coastal ecosystems can continue to support important and scarce species, and the resilience of coastal communities can be improved.
The ten NSMS regions are: the U.S. Pacific (American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, California, the Gulf of Mexico, the South Atlantic, the U.S. Caribbean, North Atlantic, Great Lakes Overview (and lake-specific assessments).
