Docks and Piers: Inventory of Laws, Regulations, and Policies for the Southeast
While the coastal issues that make the headlines are usually the homes threatened by erosion and the developer illegally filling in marshlands, for many state regulatory programs, it's residential docks and piers that take up the most time. When is a dock too long? What about crossing extended property lines? And at what point does a creek have too many docks?
At the request of the Georgia Coastal Management Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center compiled dock information for four states—Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Federal laws, state laws and regulations, permitting policies, and contact information are included in a tabular format that is easy to use.
"Before you try something new in your state, it is always helpful to learn from those who have treaded before you," says Melissa Patterson, who compiled the information. "We included simple information, like how much a dock permitting fee costs, to the more complex requirements for docks. But because of the tabular format, the information is easy to find."
To get a copy of the residential docks and piers inventory, call Melissa Patterson at (843) 740-1200 or e-mail her at Melissa.Patterson@noaa.gov.
Expanding the Usefulness of Ocean and Coastal Data
Ocean and coastal data can help officials address a variety of issues, including ocean health, climate change, erosion, fisheries production, water quality, homeland security, and marine transportation. NOAA and other organizations provide ocean data products to meet these needs.
Collectively known as ocean observing systems, the sensors that gather ocean data are found on satellites, buoys, boats, airplanes, seafloor observatories, and other platforms. This wide variety of sensors and the large number of organizations that collect and use ocean data create numerous data compatibility issues.
NOAA is working to eliminate these challenges and make ocean data usable and available to a wider audience. As part of this effort, the NOAA Coastal Services Center and NOAA Research are establishing regional ocean observing systems.
The Coastal Observation Technology System, an important component of this effort, is funding seven university-based programs in different coastal regions to collect ocean data and provide information products to coastal resource management programs. In addition, the program is focusing on the implementation of data standards, protocols, and guidelines. This guidance will help integrate data sets and create information and products for the coastal resource management community.
For more information about the Coastal Observation Technology System (COTS), contact Jeff Payne at Jeff.Payne@noaa.gov, or visit the COTS Web site at www.csc.noaa.gov/cots/.
