An Internet Mapping System for Coastal Resource Management and Data Dissemination in Support of a Special Area Management Plan

摘要

Federal and state Coastal Zone Management Acts are designed to take a comprehensive approach towards the management and protection of coastal resources; however, the complexity and conflicting use of coastal resources often leads to policies that are broad, general and do not address small-scale community issues. A Special Area Management Plan (SAMP), combined with appropriateanalytical tools and community support, provides a model from which a comprehensive community-level approach to resource management can take place. In Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, a SAMP was initiated to address loss of green space, watershed management, water quality issues of nutrient loading and pesticide use, and the health and spatial extent of shellfish. The Murrells Inlet SAMP model illustrates an effective methodology for incorporating science and technology into coastal and ocean resource management and bridging the gap between science and technology and coastal resource managers. The current structure of data warehousing limits the ability of resource managers to access and incorporate appropriate data and information into the decision-making processes. The Internet Mapping System (IMS) presentation developed for the Murrells Inlet SAMP is a model for data mining, data housing and sharing the broad spectrum of relevant data for managing coastal resources. This IMS also functions as an educational, outreach, and data dissemination tool that is designed to be highly functional and user-friendly.