Coastal Barrier Resources Act facts for kids
The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) is a law in the United States that started on October 18, 1982. The United States Congress created this law to help protect special places along the coast. These places are called coastal barriers.
The CBRA set aside certain undeveloped coastal barriers. These areas are part of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS). The law made sure that government money would not be used to build things in these areas. This helps protect these delicate, risky, and important natural places.
U.S. Representative Thomas B. Evans, Jr. and Senator John Chafee wrote the CBRA. They had three main goals. First, they wanted to keep people safe by stopping building in areas prone to storms. Second, they aimed to save taxpayer money. Third, they wanted to protect the natural environment of these undeveloped coastal areas.
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What are Coastal Barriers?
Coastal barriers are natural landforms that protect the mainland. They shield lagoons, wetlands, and salt marshes from strong winds, waves, and tides. The CBRA defines "undeveloped coastal barriers" as barrier islands, sandbars, spits, and tombolos. They also include nearby water areas like estuaries and wetlands.
These long, narrow landforms are made of sand and loose dirt. They are always changing and can be easily damaged by hurricanes. They also change shape due to erosion. Coastal barriers are vital homes for many types of wildlife. They are also great places for people to enjoy nature and recreation.
In 2000, another law, the Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act, added more details. It explained how to decide if an area was undeveloped when it joined the CBRS. It also started a project to create better digital maps for these areas. Even if part of a barrier is developed, the undeveloped parts can still be included in the CBRS.
Role of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Department of the Interior helps carry out the CBRA. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the main group in charge. They can approve federal money for things like emergency help or national security. They also approve funds for navigation, wildlife research, and energy exploration.
The Service has other important jobs for the CBRA:
- They keep the official maps of the CBRS. Copies are available for the public to see.
- They keep records for each CBRS area.
- They work with other government groups to see if federal money can be spent in CBRS areas.
- They check if properties are inside CBRS boundaries.
- They review and update the CBRS maps every five years. This is to show changes from nature, like erosion.
- They work with Congress, landowners, and others. This helps when there are questions about the CBRS boundaries.
Protected Coastal Areas
When the CBRA first started, it included 186 areas. These covered about 666 miles (1,072 km) of shoreline. They also protected about 452,834 acres (1,833 km2) of undeveloped coastal barriers. These were along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Soon after, Congress passed the Great Lakes Coastal Barrier Act. This law added more areas along the Great Lakes. The Secretary of the Interior identified 112 Great Lakes areas. These added about 30,150 acres (122 km2) to the system.
The Act was updated in 1990 by the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act (CBIA). This law added "otherwise protected areas" (OPAs). These are national, state, or local areas that are already protected for nature or fun. Examples include National Wildlife Refuges, national parks, state parks, and lands owned by private groups for conservation.
The CBIA made existing CBRS areas bigger. It also created new areas and OPAs in places like the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also added areas within large bays. The CBIA also asked for a report on Pacific Coast coastal barriers. However, no Pacific coast areas have been added to the system yet.
Today, the CBRS has 585 areas. These cover about 1,300,000 acres (5,300 km2) of land and water. There are also 271 OPAs, which protect nearly 1,800,000 acres (7,300 km2). These areas are along the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Great Lakes.
Changing Boundaries
Only Congress can change the boundaries of the CBRS through new laws. The only exception is a five-year review by the Service. During this review, boundaries can be changed if nature has altered the land, like through erosion. Since 1982, some laws have removed land from the CBRS. This allowed federal money to be used for development in those areas.
Congress first set the CBRS boundaries in 1982. They expanded them in 1990. Since then, Congress has made other changes. If the Service finds a small error on a CBRS map, they must review all nearby areas. This makes sure the map is fully accurate. This careful approach treats all landowners fairly. It also means Congress won't have to remap the same area again later. This process can take time. But it helps the Service keep the entire CBRS system strong and correct.
Modernizing Maps
On April 7, 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shared a report with the public. It was about updating the CBRS maps. The report showed how better digital maps can help protect people, coastal areas, and nature. It included new draft maps for 70 areas. These areas are in Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana. The report also gave a plan for updating all the other maps. The public had a chance to share their thoughts on the report. The comment period ended on August 5, 2009.
What CBRA Has Achieved
The CBRA has been very successful. By limiting government-funded building on coastal barriers, it has saved a lot of taxpayer money. It has also protected people by keeping them out of dangerous storm paths. Plus, it has helped save important coastal homes for fish and other wildlife.
The CBRA is seen as a smart way to protect nature without too much government control. It does not tell people what they can or cannot build on their land. Instead, it simply says that federal money will not be used for building in these special areas. This means that people who choose to build in risky coastal areas must pay the full cost themselves. They cannot rely on taxpayer money for development or rebuilding after a disaster.
A study in 2002 estimated that by 2010, the CBRA would save American taxpayers almost $1.3 billion. This was by stopping federal spending on roads, water systems, and disaster relief in these areas.
