While the issues critical to coastal systems and the factors driving coastal change are national in scope,
there are significant regional differences in coastal setting, climate, habitat, resources, and human impacts.
Every region of the Nation faces a unique suite of issues and related societal costs. The assessment of
critical issues and the development of appropriate responses requires engagement at the State and regional
levels where problems are identified and solutions developed. The proposed Program will develop
coordinated efforts in 10 coastal regions defined on the basis of oceanographic, geologic, political, and
climatic boundaries. Program activities in each region will reflect the priority concerns and needs defined
through stakeholder engagement. Figure 2 lists critical issues and priority studies for each of these
regions. Throughout this report, brief examples are given illustrating some of the critical issues and
science needs facing coastal regions. Program implementation will be designed to meet these regional
needs while building the information and understanding required for broad application and policy
development on a national scale.