As we approach the first day of summer, more and more people will be turning to our coastal environment for recreational opportunities. This issue of Coastal Services highlights just a few of the ways the public's love of outdoor activities impacts the environment, and our jobs as coastal resource managers.
The cover story for this edition focuses on golf course construction. The game of golf is becoming an increasingly popular pastime, and the development of golf courses is keeping that same pace. Whether you play the game or not, it's easy to appreciate the lush landscaping and dramatic views many coastal courses are able to provide.
After finishing the article, we were still left with the question of how significantly golf courses impact the environment. The range of information suggests that there are either serious impacts or none at all.
It is good to note that it is not only coastal managers who want to ensure that building and maintaining those breathtaking views doesn't negatively impact the surrounding environment. The golf course industry is also demonstrating its commitment to ensuring a healthy ecosystem.
Coastal managers may be interested in looking at the "Environmental Principles for Golf Courses" created jointly by a group of golf and environmental organizations as a basic framework for the siting, design, construction, and maintenance of golf courses. These principles can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.gcsaa.org/environ/envprin.html. Many of the Best Management Practices they cite have already been incorporated in the regulations of South Carolina's coastal zone management program, which is the focus of our cover story.
This article and others in this edition of Coastal Services once again illustrate that by working together and maintaining open communication we can ensure a healthy environment for all of those who want to swim, boat, and play in our coastal areas.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
