Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is a part of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). Our mission is to balance the impacts of human activity with the protection of coastal and marine resources. As a networked program, CZM was specifically established to work with other state agencies, federal agencies, local governments, academic institutions, nonprofit groups, and the general public to promote sound management of the Massachusetts coast. CZM is funded primarily through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

CZM's New Website Is Scheduled to Launch on June 26

The CZM website is undergoing some major renovations so it can be re-launched in the Mass.Gov portal format. The launch date is scheduled for June 26. In addition to a dramatically different look, the new site will feature improved navigation/organization and stronger links to other state agencies and departments, particularly those within EEA. When the new site goes live, many of the current navigation pathways will be reworked and all URLs will change. Please be patient as we work through any challenges with the transfer. Also, please let us know if there are any links from your website to CZM so that we can help prevent broken links. If you have any questions, can't find something, or wish to report a broken link, please contact CZM's webmaster.

CZM Spotlights

Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan
On December 31, 2009, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) released the final Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan. Governor Deval Patrick signed the Oceans Act on May 28, 2008—requiring EEA to develop a comprehensive ocean management plan, with a draft plan by June 30, 2009, and a final plan promulgated by December 31, 2009. This document presents the final Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan for promulgation. See the EEA's Ocean Management Plan website for details. See the EEA's Ocean Management Plan website for details.

StormSmart Coasts
To help coastal communities address challenges arising from storms, floods, sea level rise, and climate change, StormSmart Coasts provides a menu of options for successful coastal floodplain management. The StormSmart Coasts website includes regulatory tools, case studies, planning strategies, and other technical assistance materials. CZM's StormSmart Coasts program implements the Coastal Hazards Commission recommendation to establish a storm-resilient communities program to provide case studies for effective coastal smart growth planning and implementation. This national model helps translate often overwhelming technical materials into user-friendly information for local planning efforts.

Massachusetts Ocean Resource Information System
In January 2012, CZM released a new-and-improved version of the Massachusetts Ocean Resource Information System, or MORIS. This web-based coastal mapping tool provides detailed geographic data used for ocean planning, coastal development, public safety, tourism, transportation planning, and marine environmental protection. Users can interactively view various data layers, create and share maps, and download the data for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS). While designed for coastal management professionals, MORIS can be easily used by anyone interested in these data and maps. With the faster, modernized MORIS, users can display new basemaps (such as Google and Bing), easily search available data layers, print and save maps, change map symbols, directly access select federal and other external data sources, and readily share and modify the 100% open source code.

Coastal Landscaping
Landscaping with native plants can help coastal property owners prevent storm damage and erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and reduce coastal water pollution—all while improving a property's visual appeal and natural character. CZM's new Coastal Landscaping website presents detailed information on the benefits of these landscaping techniques, step-by-step instructions on landscaping coastal areas, plant lists and photos, sample landscape plans, permitting information, and more.

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Policy Guide
On September 23, 2011, NOAA's Office of Coastal and Ocean Management (OCRM) approved a routine program change to the Massachusetts Coastal Management Program, which went into effect when the approval was noticed in the October 4 Environmental Monitor. The approval included the formal adoption of the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Policy Guide - October 2011. For the purposes of federal consistency review, the new Policy Guide includes the enforceable policies of the Ocean Plan, updates to underlying legal authorities, and reinstating certain Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorizations on the list of federal license or permit activities reviewed without prior approval.