Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program seeks comments

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News Release
Minnesota Lake Superior Coastal Program seeks comments on draft assessment and strategies
(Released October 21, 2010)


Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program is seeking public comment through Nov. 12 on its draft assessment and strategies that cover activities of the program. The assessment helps the coastal program develop strategies to address priorities.


The coastal program administers grants that help balance natural resource protection with the needs of coastal communities to provide places to live, work and recreate. Minnesota’s coastal area includes portions of 31 local governments bordering Lake Superior, including the lower St. Louis River, its estuary and the North Shore.

Every five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration requires state coastal management programs to assess their activities within nine enhancement areas, including wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts of growth, special area management plans, Great Lakes resources, energy and government facility siting, and aquaculture.

Each state must then develop strategies to address the identified priorities. Once approved, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides funding to implement strategies. That can include program changes such as developing new or revising existing laws, regulations or guidelines; developing or revising a special area management plans; or creating new programs.

The draft “Section 309 Assessment and Strategies for Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program” is available at www.mndnr.gov/waters/lakesuperior/coastalenhancement. Send written comments to Clint Little, MLSCP, 1568 Highway 2, Two Harbors, MN 55616, or e-mail comments to clinton.little@state.mn.us by Nov. 12 at 4:30 p.m.

Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program, which was approved in July 1999, is administered through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Ecological Resources/Waters Division.

For more information about the Section 309 Coastal Zone Enhancement Grants Program and the nine enhancement areas, visit http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/enhanc.html.