The partnership represents many of the NOAA Coastal Services Center’s constituent groups. Their feedback guides the development of this information resource and provides a means by which diverse groups can come together to address coastal issues.
The Digital Coast is nothing without the many organizations that contribute the content. Content contributors include those on the following list.
The Digital Coast provides the information needed by those who want to conserve and protect coastal communities and natural resources.
While the need for good geospatial data forms the foundation of the Digital Coast, the basic premise of the siteis the understanding that data alone are not enough. People need the associated tools, training, and information that turn data into information capable of making a difference. And people want this information in one connected package that is easy to use. Digital Coast does just that.
The NOAA Coastal Services Center built the prototype in 2008 and then reached out to potential users to provide feedback and guide the development of the site. These project partners, whose organizations eventually formed the Digital Coast Partnership, let the Center know what issues were most important, what type of content they would find most helpful, and the primary barriers they needed addressed.
This constituent feedback created a powerhouse website, but then it evolved into much more. The organizations, which formerly lacked a means to interact, found that they had a lot in common. They were able to work together on initiatives that not only benefited their organizations, but also had a big impact on efforts to protect coastal resources and communities. The different perspectives and the creation of new partnerships represented one of those rare all-around wins that organizations dream about.
