The Soundfront Series: Protecting The Estuarine Region Through Policy And Management

North Carolina has more than 2.2 million acres of coastal sounds, salt marshes, and rivers. Under the common law Public Trust Doctrine, almost all of these areas are owned or held in trust by the state for the public's use and enjoyment. Of the many public trust issues raised by growth-related conflicts, two are particularly applicable to the management of estuarine shorelines: (1) the boundary between upland private property and public trust lands and waters; and (2) the obligations of the state to protect public uses and environmental integrity. The roles of federal, state, and local governments as they relate to these issues are discussed in this guidebook, one in a series written for managers and stakeholders in estuarine areas. It acquaints readers with regulatory tools such as zoning and public involvement, along with nonregulatory tools such as land acquisition and conservation easements, used in the protection of the estuarine environment. Funding and financial matters are also addressed.