CSO’s partners include federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations
*CSO co-hosts Knauss, Digital Coast and Coastal Management Fellows with our federal partners.
CSO coordinates and partners with the nation’s coastal management leaders through the National Ocean Service Roundtable, representing the coastal zone management program alongside the National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, the Sea Grant Association, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and the Integrated Ocean Observing System Association.
CSO partners with the NOAA Office of Coastal Management and seven national NGOs to deliver data, tools, and resources for coastal management to states and communities through the Digital Coast web portal. The partnership also works to unify and coordinate national NGOs working coastal management issues through conferences, webinars, workshops, and meetings to give coastal professionals a forum to collaborate on key coastal issues.
CSO convenes state-led Work Groups on important and timely topics. Work groups give states an opportunity to learn from each other and develop national consensus on policy positions.
The Coastal Hazards Planning & Adaptation Work Group provides guidance to CSO on legislative and policy issues related to climate change. They engage with federal agencies and national NGOs on priorities for coastal resilience and adaptation.
Staff POCs: Marisa Borreggine and John Ryan-Henry
The Communications Work Group develops communications tools and messages that explain the value of coastal management and support state coastal zone management programs and CSO. Members provide input and guidance on messaging materials, identify connections with social media campaigns, and participate in communications community of practice.
Staff POC: Rebecca Dennis
The Environmental Justice Work Group is currently focused on developing CSO’s first environmental justice policy. This policy will explicitly outline the intersections between environmental justice and coastal management and guide CSO’s future priorities both internally as an organization & as representatives for the broader coastal management field.
Staff POC: Natalie Cross
The Funding Implementation Work Group helps members access existing and obligated federal funds as quickly and efficiently as possible, by developing a consensus-based set of challenges and recommendations to NOAA for improving efficiency in providing funding to CZM programs, and providing peer-learning for CZM programs in navigating federal bureaucracy to receive federal funds.
Staff POC: Derek Brockbank
The Offshore Energy and Infrastructure Work Group provides a platform for coordination between CSO member programs and for constructive engagement with external partners on offshore energy production, aquaculture, beach management and ocean planning.
Staff POC: John Ryan-Henry
Through the Coastal Non-Point Source Work Group, we convene staff from coastal zone management programs and their colleagues from allied water quality agencies. We facilitate information sharing between federal agencies, states and territories to respond to coastal non-point and water quality issues. The work group helps coastal programs navigate the last stages of the coastal non-point measures approval process and to exchange information on how to run their approved coastal non-point programs.
Staff POC: Vidya Balasubramanyam
Developed consensus recommendations for CSO federal coastal erosion policy.
Shared funding opportunities with members.
The CSO Legal Council brings together state attorneys and coastal zone managers to discuss timely legal themes and issues impacting the coastal states. The group works to provide opportunities for members to coordinate with other states on key issues and cases, share ideas, and network with counterparts from across the nation.
Staff POC: John Ryan-Henry
