Coastal Zone Management Act Performance Management System

Coastal Zone Management Act
Performance Measurement System:
Coastal Management Program Guidance
April 2011 (Updated June 2022)

Office for Coastal Management
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Note to Readers
The Office for Coastal Management has not made any changes or updates to this guidance for
2022. This guidance is identical to the April 2019 guidance, which incorporated the most recent
updates.
Previous Updates
In April 2019, the Office for Coastal Management had made minor changes to Performance
Measures 5 and 11. In June 2018, the Office for Coastal Management had revised Performance
Measure 11 to 1) include state-level work; 2) differentiate policy and planning work from other
project work; and 3) combine reporting for projects that increase public awareness of hazards with
all other non-policy and planning projects. This guidance was also updated in 2017 and 2015. A
clean version of the guidance is presented for only the currently required measures to improve
access and readability; the list of original measures is included as an informational reference in
Appendix A.

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Table of Contents
Note to Readers

i

Coastal Zone Management Act Performance Measurement System

1

List of Current Performance Measures

2

CZMA Performance Measurement System Documentation

3

CZMA Performance Measurement System Timeline: Reporting Timeline for Annual Performance
Measures
3
Government Coordination and Decision-Making
Goal
Annual Performance Measures
Performance Measure Descriptions

4
4
4
5

Public Access

9

Goal
Annual Performance Measures
Performance Measure Descriptions

9
9
9

Coastal Habitat

13

Goal
Annual Performance Measures
Coastal Habitat Categories
Performance Measure Descriptions

13
13
13
14

Coastal Hazards

17

Goal
Annual Performance Measures
Performance Measure Descriptions

17
17
17

Coastal Dependent Uses and Community Development
Goal
Annual Performance Measures
Performance Measure Descriptions

21
21
21
21

Appendix A – Comprehensive List of Original Performance Measures

25

Coastal Zone Management Act Performance Measurement System
This guidance supersedes previously issued guidance documents. This document provides updated
guidance to state and territorial coastal management programs on requirements and eligible activities
for reporting through the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Performance Measurement System. All
coastal management programs are required to successfully complete annual reporting for the CZMA
Performance Measurement System as described by this guidance document.

2

The CZMA Performance Measurement System was developed to track measures of effectiveness of the
National Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program. The National CZM Program is administered at the
federal level by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management. This office is responsible for providing leadership
in advancing national coastal management objectives and maintaining and strengthening state and
territorial coastal management capabilities. The National CZM Program is implemented on a day-to-day
basis at the state level in states and territories with federally approved coastal management programs.
Each coastal management program has a unique approach to implementing the national goals of the
Coastal Zone Management Act. State and territorial coastal management programs contribute to these
goals with a variety of approaches, some of which are not readily quantifiable through the use of
national performance measures.
The National CZM Program also developed a strategic plan, National Coastal Zone Management Program
Strategic Plan 2018-2023, in cooperation with a volunteer workgroup of state and territorial coastal
management programs and the Coastal States Organization, and with input from all state and territorial
coastal management programs, to guide program activities. The plan articulates a vision, mission, and
strategic goals. It also identifies key indicators and maps these to the CZMA Performance Measurement
System performance measures as a data collection mechanism to demonstrate progress in meeting
goals. The National CZM Program has established a national target for Performance Measure 11 and is
tracking progress toward the target. This national target will be an important way for the National CZM
Program to assess progress in reaching its strategic goal related to hazard resilience.

Vision
Through a strong federal, state, and territory partnership, the nation’s oceans and coasts are
economically vibrant, resilient, and healthy for this and future generations.

Mission
To ensure the conservation and responsible use of the nation’s valuable coastal resources by facilitating
informed planning and decision-making along the coast; increasing the resilience of coastal communities
by anticipating and addressing coastal hazards; and ensuring a healthy coast for the public to enjoy.

Goals
1. Coastal communities, states, and territories effectively plan and prepare for change.
2. Coastal and ocean ecosystems are protected, preserved, and restored for use and enjoyment.
3. Strengthen the program’s ability to advance coastal management.

List of Current Performance Measures
Note: Placeholders have been included in the list of performance measures to reflect those that
were deleted in the 2014/2015 streamlining effort; this is to avoid confusion with tracking and
numbering of existing measures.
Government Coordination and Decision-Making

1. Percent of federal consistency projects reviewed where the project was modified due to
consultation with the applicant to meet state/territorial CZM policies, by category.1
2. Number of acres of a) permit-estimated loss and b) required gain or mitigation due to
activities subject to CZM regulatory programs, by category.2
3. [This measure was removed in 2014/2015.]
4. Number of training events related to government coordination offered by the coastal
management program and number of participants.
Public Access
5. Number of public access sites a) created through acquisition or easement and b)
enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
6. Number of public access sites a) created and b) enhanced through CZM regulatory
requirements.
7. Number of training events related to public access offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.
Coastal Habitat
8. The a) number of acres of coastal habitat protected by acquisition or easement and b)
number of acres of coastal habitat under restoration with assistance from CZM funding
or staff, by category.3
9. [This measure was removed in 2014/2015.]
10. Number of training events related to coastal habitat offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.
Coastal Hazards
11. Number of a) state-level policies and plans completed; b) local-level policies and plans
completed; c) projects completed at the state level; and d) projects completed at the
local level to reduce future damage from coastal hazards with assistance from CZM
funding or staff.
12. Number of training events related to coastal hazards offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.

1

Federal Agency Activity; Federal License or Permit; Outer Continental Shelf; and Federal Financial Assistance
Tidal (Great Lake) Wetlands; Beach and Dune; Near-shore Habitat; and Other Habitat Types
3
Tidal (Great Lake) Wetlands; Beach and Dune; Near-shore Habitat; and Other Habitat Types
2

Coastal Dependent Uses and Community Development
13. Number of coastal communities that a) developed or updated sustainable development
ordinances, policies, and plans; b) completed a project to implement a sustainable
development plan; c) developed or updated port or waterfront redevelopment
ordinances, policies, and plans; and d) completed a project to implement a port or
waterfront redevelopment plan with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
14. Number of coastal communities a) that developed or updated polluted runoff
management ordinances, policies, and plans and b) completed projects to implement
polluted runoff management plans with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
15. Number of training events related to coastal dependent uses and community
development offered by the coastal management program and number of participants.

CZMA Performance Measurement System Documentation
Coastal management programs will annually report measures under the following categories:
Government Coordination, Public Access, Coastal Habitat, Coastal Hazards, and Coastal
Dependent Uses and Community Development. The CZMA Performance Measurement System
measures are intended to be aggregated and reported at the national level to communicate
effectiveness. Documentation of reported data is an essential component of CZMA Performance
Measurement System implementation and communication of the national results. The purpose
of documentation data is to establish a record of reported activities. The documentation data
should provide sufficient information to demonstrate that all reported activities were eligible
under the CZMA Performance Measurement System guidance. A unique identifier is requested
for each project or activity reported. This identifier should be developed by the coastal
management program and provide sufficient information to allow it to reference more detailed
documentation about the reported activity or project. It is also important that the unique
identifier, in combination with the other requested data, provide the assigned Office for
Coastal Management program specialist with sufficient information to evaluate eligibility.
Therefore, it is helpful if the identifier references either a CZM task or project title, if applicable.
If necessary, additional descriptive information should be provided as comments within the
report.

CZMA Performance Measurement System Timeline: Reporting
Timeline for Annual Performance Measures
Reporting for July 1 Awards
Reporting Period (each calendar year)

Deadline for Submission

July 1 to the following June 30

July 30

Reporting for October 1 Awards
Reporting Period (each calendar year)

Deadline for Submission

October 1 to the following September 30

October 30

Government Coordination and Decision-Making
Goal
Improve coordination and participation in the implementation of the coastal management
program, and improve government decision-making through technical assistance and
consultation on projects affecting the coastal zone.
CZM Role and Actions
• The National CZM Program provides a framework under the CZMA federal consistency
provisions to effect change through state policies in support of national priorities, to
provide technical assistance and dedicated staff resources in the review of coastal zone
projects, and to achieve regulatory efficiencies through a coordinated, predictable
project approval process.
• The National CZM Program balances the need for economic development with resource
protection through implementation of state regulatory programs to avoid, minimize, or if
necessary, mitigate the loss of coastal habitats.
• The National CZM Program is a federal-state partnership that supports comprehensive
planning, coordinated decision-making, and public participation in coastal management.
Capacity Building
The National CZM Program establishes capacity-building networks by developing
partnerships and supporting their growth and independence. Through capacity-building
networks, the National CZM Program provides critical project management and
coordination assistance to build local and state capacity. The following are capacity-building
activities of the program that are specific to the government coordination and
decision-making category:
• The National CZM Program conducts training events to provide coastal decision
makers with knowledge and tools to understand and comply with program policies,
regulations, and decision-making processes.

Annual Performance Measures
1. Percent of federal consistency projects reviewed where the project was modified due to
consultation with the applicant to meet state/territorial CZM policies, by category.4
2. Number of acres of a) permit-estimated loss and b) required gain or mitigation due to
activities subject to CZM regulatory programs, by category.5
3. [This measure was removed in 2014/2015.]
4. Number of training events related to government coordination offered by the coastal
management program and number of participants.

4
5

Federal Agency Activity; Federal License or Permit; Outer Continental Shelf; and Federal Financial Assistance
Tidal (Great Lake) Wetlands; Beach and Dune; Near-shore Habitat; and Other Habitat Types

Performance Measure Descriptions
1. Percent of federal consistency projects reviewed where the project was modified due to
consultation with the applicant to meet state/territorial CZM policies.
The purpose of this measure is to describe the role of the National CZM Program in the
coordination and simplification of government decision-making through consultation activities
during the review of federal consistency projects. This measure only captures federal
consistency projects that can be tracked from original proposal or submission to final decision
by the coastal management program or network partners. It may be difficult to capture all
proposed projects. For example, projects that are informally proposed or that are withdrawn or
substantially altered following informal consultation are not easily captured. The Office for
Coastal Management recognizes that some projects are reviewed prior to formal submission
through an early coordination process. Projects that are modified due to consultation during an
early coordination or interagency review process that can be tracked from initial proposal to
final decision should be included in the measure. Each coastal management program should
establish a protocol for when to include projects based on program databases or tracking
systems that will ensure that projects are only counted once for this measure. Long-term
project reviews that span multiple reporting periods should be included in the reporting period
when the final consistency decision is issued.
This measure focuses on federal consistency projects that require consultation and
modifications for the project to meet enforceable policies. “Modified Due to Consultation with
the Applicant” means that the coastal management program or networked agencies consulted
with the applicant to modify portions of the project that did not meet enforceable policies. The
project is then modified and found consistent. Instances where standard conditions are
developed for a type of project or applicant and incorporated into consistency decisions without
consultation with the applicant cannot be reported for this measure.
Report the Following:
a) Total number of federal consistency projects technically reviewed (determined to be
applicable for federal consistency review) during the reporting period.
b) Number of federal consistency projects reviewed where the project was modified due to
consultation with the applicant to meet state CZM policies by category.6
Documentation Required:
● Identify the data tracking mechanism (e.g., database name) used to report data.
● For each category, list each federal consistency project reported as modified during the
reporting period using a unique identifier. If a large number of projects are modified
within a category, the coastal management program can group those projects in a way
that still allows the individual project records to be referenced, retrieved from a
database, or otherwise documented. For example, Docks & Piers Sect. 1123:
CD-#001-085.
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Federal agency activities; federal license or permit activities; Outer Continental Shelf projects; and Federal
financial assistance to state agencies or local governments.

Project documentation is only required for projects reported as modified, not for all federal
consistency requests reviewed.
2. Number of acres of a) permit-estimated loss and b) permit-required gain or mitigation due
to activities subject to CZM regulatory programs.
The purpose of this measure is to describe the role of the National CZM Program in maintaining
an appropriate balance between development and habitat protection through CZM regulatory
programs. Coastal management programs administer regulatory programs to achieve this
balance; they also pursue many other approaches, such as comprehensive planning,
monitoring, mapping, education, training, and outreach. In addition, the permit review process
often involves project modifications to implement best management practices and reduce
impacts to habitat. Quantification of the outcomes related to these types of project
modifications to protect habitat is very difficult, in part because of the range of regulatory
programs and tracking mechanisms used by coastal management programs. Therefore, this
measure focuses on the outcome of permit decisions by measuring the estimated acres of
habitat loss contained in the permit and the acres of habitat that the permit applicant is
required to mitigate for activities subject to CZM regulatory programs. Both of these numbers
can be considered estimates, and the actual number of acres lost or mitigated may vary.
CZM regulatory programs should be defined by each coastal management program to include
core CZM enforceable policies that prevent the loss of tidal (or Great Lakes) wetlands, beach
and dune habitat, and nearshore (intertidal, subtidal, submerged) habitat, and programs that
require mitigation for unavoidable impacts or losses of coastal habitats.
Permit-estimate loss refers to the loss in acres of habitat that an activity subject to core CZM
regulations is estimated to result in under an approved permit or other administrative decision.
Do not include impacts that are considered temporary or short-lived in nature.
Required gain or mitigation refers to the habitat acres to be acquired, restored, or created as
compensation for estimated losses due to an activity subject to core CZM regulations. For
coastal management programs that allow the purchase of “credits,” such as for a mitigation
bank, please use an estimate of mitigated acres based on past credits for completed creation,
restoration, or acquisition projects.
Report the Following:
a) Number of acres of permit-estimated loss due to activities subject to CZM regulatory
programs, by category.7
b) Number of acres of required gain or mitigation due to activities subject to CZM
regulatory programs, by category.8
7

Tidal (or Great Lakes) wetlands; Beach and dune habitat; Nearshore (intertidal, subtidal, submerged) habitat; and
Other types of habitat.
8
Tidal (or Great Lakes) wetlands; Beach and dune habitat; Nearshore (intertidal, subtidal, submerged) habitat; and
Other types of habitat.

Documentation Required:
● Description of the data-tracking mechanism (e.g., database name, internal report) used
to report this measure.
● For each category, list a unique identifier and the number of the acres of
permit-estimated loss and required gain or mitigation. For project types that involved
small individual estimated losses, documentation can be combined to report the total
estimated loss. For example, all residential dock and pier projects can be combined to
estimate a total estimated loss based on average size and impacts. However, the unique
identifier for the grouping must still allow the individual permit or project records to be
referenced or retrieved from a database.
3. [This measure was removed in 2014/2015.]
4. Number of training events related to government coordination offered by the National
CZM Program and number of participants.
This measure captures training events offered by the National CZM Program. The CZM Program
provides scientific and technical information and skill-building opportunities to individuals who
are responsible for making decisions that affect coastal resources. Using a range of approaches,
coastal management programs provide coastal decision makers with the knowledge and tools
they need to address critical resource management issues. Training includes events for
audiences that focus on more technical subject matter than those provided through educational
activities. Training can include activities that are tailored to a specific audience, such as wetland
regulators or a local agency permitting program, and should be limited to training events
offered by or funded by the coastal management program. Training events that are funded by
CZM federal or matching funds but conducted by partners should be included. Training events
can be provided online to provide remote access; however, if there is not a registration or a
sign-up process, only report those events for which the number of participants can be
documented.
This measure does not include coastal management program staff training but can include
training events for staff of network partners or local coastal programs. Do not include
publications (e.g., manuals) or other materials that are distributed without an associated and
targeted training program.
Training events related to government coordination include the following types of processes to
increase local, state, and federal agency capacity and technical understanding: interagency or
intra-agency streamlining, decision-making efficiency, and active stakeholder participation.
Events can be related to federal consistency; development or local implementation of new state
rules; interagency permit streamlining or coordination; development of special area
management plans other area designations; resource management requirements for emerging
issues; and comprehensive planning to address management needs.

Participants are the people who participated in the reported training event. Coastal
management programs should document the number of participants for each event reported at
the time it is conducted. If a sign-in sheet or registration is not possible, the program should
ensure that the person conducting the event records a count of participants at the time of the
event.
Report the Following:
a) Number of training events related to government coordination offered by the coastal
management program and the number of participants.
Documentation Required:
● List each training event using a unique identifier, the corresponding number of
participants, and associated CZM award number. It is not necessary to list individual
participants; by submitting these data through the CZMA Performance Measurement
System, the program is certifying its accuracy. Indicate if the activity was conducted
jointly with a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Public Access
Goal
Create or enhance public access sites over the next 5 years.
CZM Role
● The National CZM Program protects, creates, and enhances public access to the coast
through regulatory programs, acquiring new public access sites, and enhancing
recreational facilities such as boardwalks and piers.
Capacity Building
● The National CZM Program conducts training events to provide coastal decision makers
with knowledge and tools to comprehensively plan for and manage public access.

Annual Performance Measures
5. Number of public access sites a) created through acquisition or easement and b)
enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
6. Number of public access sites a) created and b) enhanced through CZM regulatory
requirements.
7. Number of training events related to public access offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.

Performance Measure Descriptions
5. Number of public access sites a) created through acquisition or easement and b) enhanced
with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
An important goal of the CZMA is to ensure adequate public access to the coastal zone. Coastal
management programs accomplish this goal using approaches that are most effective for their
local coastal zone. These approaches can include conducting public access inventories,
developing access guides, ensuring that sites are marked as public, and identifying new areas
for access. The purpose of this measure is to describe the role of the National CZM Program in
providing for new and enhanced public access in the coastal zone. However, not all coastal
management programs use CZM funding or staff to create new public access sites or enhance
existing recreational facilities. If the program, as a matter of policy or custom, does not conduct
such activities, report that “the coastal management program does not use CZM funding or
staff to create or enhance public access sites.”
Examples of public access sites include dune walkovers providing access to the shore; publicly
owned property including parks, beaches, and piers providing fishing access to coastal waters;
boardwalks or trails associated with coastal habitat such as wetlands, forested habitat, and
11

marshes; access to historic areas or structures, such as lighthouses; and boat launches, ramps,
docks, and marinas that are publicly owned.
Created sites are properties acquired for public access through fee-simple ownership or through
an easement. There may be instances where a property has been in public ownership but not
open to the public. In this case, the property can be counted as a new site if it has not been
counted previously and it is opened to the public during the reporting period. However, in the
case where there is an unimproved site that is open to the public and it is improved for
recreation (i.e., facilities are constructed) during the reporting period, the addition of those
facilities should be considered an enhancement to an existing public access site. Enhancements
can include activities eligible under CZMA Section 306A, including educational signage; trail or
boardwalk construction or renovation; the addition of fish cleaning stations, parking, or
bathroom facilities; and other low-cost construction to improve recreational facilities.
Enhancements can also include substantial (e.g., coast-wide) projects that enhance the
awareness or use of coastal access sites, such as access inventories, access websites or apps, or
outreach campaigns. This should not include minor or routine updates to guides, websites or
apps, or individual site brochures or guides.
It is acceptable to report sites created or enhanced due to CZM-funded staff that provide critical
management, planning, or coordination for a specific project completed during the reporting
period. However, do not include instances where CZM staff involvement is limited primarily to
permit review or consultation. Because CZM funding may have provided only a portion of the
funding necessary to create a public access site, the Office for Coastal Management will use text
with this measure that indicates that public access sites may have been created in cooperation
with coastal management program partners.
Report the Following:
a) Number of public access sites created through acquisition or easement with assistance
from CZM funding or staff.
b) Number of existing public access sites enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or
staff.
Documentation Required:
● List each public access site reported using a unique identifier, the associated CZM award
number, and an indication of the primary CZM role (funding or staff support) for the
specific recreational site reported.

6. Number of public access sites a) created and b) enhanced through CZM regulatory
requirements.
The purpose of this measure is to describe the role of the National CZM Program in addressing
public access needs through regulatory and permitting requirements. All coastal management
programs provide protection of public access through a variety of mechanisms. Some examples
of legal or regulatory approaches include:

● Identifying historic access points such as traditional rights-of-way and reclaiming them
for public use;
● Ensuring that existing access is not lost when new developments are proposed or if
access will be lost, requiring that developers mitigate the loss by providing a new or
enhanced opportunity elsewhere; and
● Establishing legal protections from liability for homeowners who provide access over
their property to waterfront.
However, this performance measure is intended to provide information about those programs
that have regulatory approaches that require the creation or enhancement of public access sites
as part of permitting, federal consistency, or other regulatory requirements. If the coastal
management program does not use regulatory mechanisms to create or enhance public access
sites, report that “the coastal management program does not include a regulatory component
to create or enhance public access sites.”
A public access site is considered “created” through CZM regulatory requirements when a
permit or other administrative action requires the designation of an area as a public access site
where one did not exist previously. The created public access site must have previously been
privately held or otherwise legally inaccessible to the general public. The state does not have to
hold ownership of the new site, but there must be a reasonable assurance that the new site is
available to the general public and will be a public site in perpetuity. A public access site is
considered “enhanced” through CZM regulatory requirements when a permit or other
administrative action requires the improvement of facilities or the site itself for public
recreation.
Report the Following:
a) Number of public access sites created through CZM regulatory requirements.
b) Number of public access sites enhanced through CZM regulatory requirements.
Documentation Required:
● Description of data-tracking mechanism (e.g., database name, internal report) used to
report data for this measure.
● List each public access site reported using a unique identifier.

7. Number of training events related to public access offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.
This measure captures training events offered by the coastal management program.Training
events related to public access include the following types of events: public trust and other
public access policies or legal precedent; planning practices for minimizing resource impacts
due to public access activities; and other public access related management issues.
See the description under Performance Measure 4 on government coordination for a definition
of eligible training events and participants.

Report the Following:
a) Number of training events related to public access offered by the coastal management
program and the number of participants.
Documentation Required:
● List each training event using a unique identifier, the corresponding number of
participants, and associated CZM award number. It is not necessary to list individual
participants; by submitting these data through the CZMA Performance Measurement
System, the program is certifying its accuracy. Indicate if the activity was conducted
jointly with a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Coastal Habitat
Goal
Protect coastal habitat through acquisition or easement; restore coastal habitat.
CZM Role
• The National CZM Program uses funding and expertise to protect and restore coastal
habitat and develops and coordinates local partnerships to engage citizen stewards.
Capacity Building
• The National CZM Program conducts training events to provide coastal decision makers
with knowledge and tools to protect and restore coastal habitat.

Annual Performance Measures
8. The a) number of acres of coastal habitat protected by acquisition or easement and b)
number of acres of coastal habitat under restoration with assistance from CZM funding
or staff, by category.9
9. [This measure was removed in 2014/2015.]
10. Number of training events related to coastal habitat offered by the coastal management
programl CZM Program and number of participants.

Coastal Habitat Categories
Tidal (or Great Lakes) Wetlands
Wetlands are “those areas that are inundated or saturated at a frequency and duration
sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of
vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.” [33 CFR 328.3(b)]. Note:
“under normal circumstances” means that such areas support plant growth unless such
growth is removed or prevented from growing by man or infrequent natural events (like
mudslides or volcanic eruptions).
Tidal wetlands are wetlands that are inundated by tidal waters. Definitions of wetlands and
tidal waters can be found at 33 CFR 328.3(b) and 33 CFR 328.3(f), respectively. Tidal
wetlands can include salt and brackish marshes (tidally flooded grasslands), and mangrove
swamps (salty shrub thickets and forests). Tidal wetlands in saline and brackish areas, or
estuarine wetlands, which are part of the estuary where salt water mixes with fresh water
running off the land via rivers, are also included.
Great Lakes coastal wetlands occur along the Great Lakes shoreline proper and portions of
tributary rivers and streams that are directly affected by Great Lakes water regimes. These
9

Tidal (Great Lake) Wetlands; Beach and Dune; Near-shore Habitat; and Other Habitat Types

wetlands form a transition between the Great Lakes and adjacent terrestrial uplands, and
are influenced by both. Additional guidance for defining Great Lakes Wetlands:
● Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands: Abiotic and Floristic Characterization: A Summary of
Reports Prepared for Michigan Natural Features Inventory:
https://archive.epa.gov/ecopage/web/html/index-15.html
● Site Types for Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands:
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/ecopage/wetlands/glc/table1.pdf
Beach and Dune Habitat
Beach is the zone of unconsolidated material between the mean low-water line and the line
of permanent vegetation, which is also the effective limit of storm waves; sometimes
includes the material moving in offshore, onshore, and longshore transport. Each state
coastal management program is required to have a definition of beach (CZMA Sect.
306(d)(G)(2)). Dune is a wind-formed hill or ridge of sand.
Nearshore Habitat
Nearshore (intertidal, subtidal, or submerged) habitats should include intertidal rocky
areas and pools, mudflats, coral reefs, shellfish beds, submerged aquatic vegetation such as
seagrass beds, rocky hard-bottom habitat, and other nearshore benthic habitat.

Performance Measure Descriptions
8. The a) number of acres of coastal habitat protected by acquisition or easement and b)
number of acres of coastal habitat under restoration with assistance from CZM funding or
staff, by category.10
Coastal management programs play an important role in shaping coastal habitat management
policies, as well as improving, coordinating, and funding state and local activities. Some
programs use CZM funds to acquire property or conservation easements from willing sellers to
protect coastal habitat and also work with partners to restore coastal habitats. Other programs
focus on activities that support state and local actions to protect and restore coastal habitat
through comprehensive planning, habitat identification, technical assistance, and education and
outreach. This measure focuses on those coastal management programs that use CZM funding
or staff to protect habitat by acquisition or easement and to restore habitat. If a program, as a
matter of policy or custom, does not conduct such activities, enter “the coastal management
program does not use CZM funding or staff to acquire or restore habitat.”
Protected refers to properties acquired for their habitat values through fee-simple ownership or
through a conservation easement. Restoration refers to the rehabilitation of degraded or
altered habitat and often involves reestablishing native vegetation and natural hydrology. It is
acceptable to report acres protected or restored due to CZM-funded staff that provide critical
management, planning, or coordination for a specific project completed during the reporting
10

Tidal (Great Lake) Wetlands; Beach and Dune habitat; Near-shore Habitat; and Other Habitat Types

period. However, do not include instances where CZM staff involvement is limited primarily to
permit review or consultation. Habitat acres protected or restored through a mitigation
program should be reported only under measure 2. Coastal management programs may also
wish to add habitat categories to report other coastal habitat types. An “other” category is
included to facilitate individualized reporting.
Habitat protected or under restoration should be reported for the period in which the
protection or planned restoration activities were completed. Although reported restoration
activities must be completed within the reporting period, it is recognized that this does not
mean that overall restoration has been completed for a property in all cases. Because
restoration is a long-term effort, there may be a series of planned activities required to achieve
restoration goals for a site. Additionally, CZM funding may have only provided a portion of the
funding necessary to protect or restore an area; therefore, the Office for Coastal Management
will use text with this measure that indicates that habitat may have been protected or restored
in cooperation with CZM partners.
Report the Following:
a) Number of acres protected by acquisition or easement with assistance from CZM
funding or staff, by category.11
b) Number of acres under restoration with assistance from CZM funding or staff, by
category.12
Documentation Required:
● For each category, provide a list of each project using a unique identifier, the number of
acres reported for each project, and the associated CZM award number, and indicate the
primary CZM role (funding or staff support).

9. [This measure was removed in 2014/2015.]

10. Number of training events related to coastal habitat offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.
This measure captures training events offered by the CZM Program. Training events related to
coastal habitat include the following types of processes to increase local, state, and federal
agency capacity and technical understanding: habitat diversity and functions; status and trends;
mapping and monitoring; threat assessment; restoration; regulatory programs; and other
habitat management issues.
See the description under government coordination measure #4 for a definition of eligible
training events and participants.
11
12

Tidal (or Great Lakes) wetlands; Beach and dune habitat; Nearshore habitat; and Other types of habitat.
Tidal (or Great Lakes) wetlands; Beach and dune habitat; Nearshore habitat; and Other types of habitat.

Report the Following:
a) Number of training events related to coastal habitat offered by the coastal management
program and the number of participants.
Documentation Required:
● List each training event using a unique identifier, the corresponding number of
participants, and associated CZM award number. It is not necessary to list individual
participants; by submitting these data through the CZMA Performance Measurement
System, the program is certifying its accuracy. Indicate if the activity was conducted
jointly with a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Coastal Hazards
Goal
Increase the percentage of coastal communities implementing management practices to
improve resilience and increase public awareness of hazards.
CZM Role
● Through its partnerships, the National CZM Program engages states and communities to
become more resilient by comprehensive planning, managing development to minimize
damage to communities and coastal habitats, increasing preparedness, and responding
to coastal hazards.
Capacity Building:
• The National CZM Program conducts training events to provide coastal decision makers
with knowledge and tools to improve state and local management of coastal hazards
and comprehensive planning to improve resiliency.

Annual Performance Measures
11. Number of a) state-level policies and plans completed; b) local-level policies and plans
completed; c) projects completed at the state level; and d) projects completed at the
local level to reduce future damage from coastal hazards with assistance from CZM
funding or staff.
12. Number of training events related to coastal hazards offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.

Performance Measure Descriptions
11. Number of a) state-level policies and plans completed; b) local-level policies and plans
completed; c) projects completed at the state level; and d) projects completed at the local
level to reduce future damage from coastal hazards with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
An important goal of the CZMA is to minimize the loss of life and property caused by improper
development in areas likely to be affected by or vulnerable to coastal hazards, and by the
removal or degradation of natural protective features such as beaches, dunes, wetlands, and
barrier islands. Coastal management programs achieve this goal through two primary
mechanisms:
● Coastal management programs work to develop and implement policies and plans at the
state and local level to reduce the future damage from coastal hazards. They do this
through direct work at the state level or through assistance to coastal communities.
● Coastal management programs also conduct projects to better understand and minimize
hazard risk and to raise public awareness of coastal hazards, or they provide technical
assistance and funding to others to carry out these types of projects.

Completed plans and policies are those that have been completed by a local unit of
government or by a state legislature, agency, board, or commission. For the purpose of
reporting, local plans and policies should be those developed with assistance from CZM funding
or staff, and can include the development or update of local coastal hazard mitigation plans,
policies, ordinances, and codes.
● “Completed plans and policies” are new or updated plans and policies that are either
(i) formally adopted by all entities required for the plans and policies to go into
effect or
(ii) ready to be proposed for adoption by an oversight body, or proposed for
signature or clearance by the head of an organization or another person with
sign-off authority.
o An update to an existing policy or plan should be counted only if there are changes
to the hazards aspect(s) of an adopted plan or policy.
● State plans and policies should be those developed with CZM funding and leadership
from CZM staff (i.e., efforts that are led or initiated by the coastal management program
or staff).
● Please do not count state-level policy and plan efforts that are initiated outside of the
coastal management program, where CZM staff simply play a participating or support
role that is of a similar level of investment to other groups or agencies that may be
involved in the effort.
● Plans developed by a nongovernmental organization, in cooperation with a local or state
governmental entity, can be included if they meet the respective CZM involvement
thresholds described above.
Completed projects can include technical assistance, mapping, education and outreach, and
on-the-ground projects to reduce future damage from hazards at the state or local level.
Projects completed by a nongovernmental organization for a coastal community can be
reported. Coastal management programs should not include general administrative funding of
local coastal programs or local government agencies. Projects to reduce future damage from
hazards or raise public awareness of coastal hazards must be discrete and specific. Completed
projects can include public awareness campaigns that were developed with assistance from
CZM funding or staff and increase public awareness of hazards, such as hands-on educational
events, educational signage or kiosks, and informational materials such as brochures and
websites. They may be ongoing efforts, but the community or coastal management program
must have completed an activity or component of the campaign during the reporting period.
Websites should only be included in the reporting period in which they are first made available
online, unless substantial updates are made during a subsequent reporting period. Do not
include projects where CZM staff involvement is limited primarily to permit review of the
completed project.
Report the Following:
a) Number of state-level policies and plans completed to reduce the future damage from
coastal hazards with the assistance from CZM funding or staff.

b) Number of local-level policies and plans completed to reduce the future damage from
coastal hazards with the assistance from CZM funding or staff.
c) Number of projects completed at the state level to reduce future damage from coastal
hazards with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
d) Number of projects completed at the local level to reduce future damage from coastal
hazards with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
Documentation Required:
● List each policy, plan, and project reported
● Category: Choose the category of activity completed: “state policies and plans,” “local
policies and plans,” “state project,” or “local project.”
● Unique identifier: Include a unique identifier that will enable the project to be tracked
across reporting years.
● Associated CZM award number: Include the associated CZM award number.
● CZM role: Choose the primary CZM role: “funding” or “staff support only.”
● County: Include the counties impacted (if state-level, note “all”). If the state or territory
does not use counties, please indicate the closest equivalent.
● Status: For completed plans and policies note if “adopted” or “not yet adopted.”
● Description/Comments: At a minimum, include a short description of the policy, plan, or
project reported. Include enough information to inform the reader what type of activity
was completed. For local plans, policies, or projects, include the primary region,
community(ies), or nonprofit(s) covered or involved.
The Office for Coastal Management hopes to update the CZMA Performance Measurement
System database to allow CZM programs to indicate when completed (but not yet adopted)
plans and policies that were counted in previous years become officially adopted.
12. Number of training events related to coastal hazards offered by the coastal management
program and number of participants.
This measure captures training events offered by the coastal management program to support
the coastal hazards goals. Training events related to coastal hazards include the following types
of events to increase local, state, and federal agency capacity and technical understanding for
the following: regulatory programs; vulnerability mapping; evacuation planning; and other
coastal hazard management issues.
See the description under Performance Measure 4 on government coordination for a definition
of eligible training events and participants.
Report the Following:
a) Number of training events related to coastal hazards offered by the coastal management
program and the number of participants.

Documentation Required:
● List each training event using a unique identifier, the corresponding number of
participants, and associated CZM award number. It is not necessary to list individual
participants; by submitting these data through the CZMA Performance Measurement
System, the program is certifying its accuracy. Indicate if the activity was conducted
jointly with a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Coastal Dependent Uses and Community Development
Goal
Increase the percentage of communities in the coastal zone implementing sustainable coastal
management practices and revitalizing port and waterfront areas.
CZM Role
The National CZM Program gives funding and expertise to help coastal communities sustain
their economies, human health, environment, and coastal character.
Capacity Building:
• The National CZM Program conducts training events to provide coastal decision makers
with knowledge and tools to comprehensively manage for sustainable and coastal
dependent uses and improved water quality.

Annual Performance Measures
13. Number of coastal communities that a) developed or updated sustainable development
ordinances, policies, and plans; b) completed a project to implement a sustainable
development plan; c) developed or updated port or waterfront redevelopment
ordinances, policies, and plans; and d) completed a project to implement a port or
waterfront redevelopment plan, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
14. Number of coastal communities a) that developed or updated polluted runoff
management ordinances, policies, and plans and b) completed projects to implement
polluted runoff management plans, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
15. Number of training events related to coastal dependent uses and community
development offered by the coastal management program and number of participants.

Performance Measure Descriptions
13. Number of coastal communities that a) developed or updated sustainable development
ordinances, policies, and plans; b) completed a project to implement a sustainable
development plan; c) developed or updated port or waterfront redevelopment
ordinances, policies, and plans; and d) completed a project to implement a port or
waterfront redevelopment plan, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
The National CZM Program has a critical role in the development and implementation of state
and local approaches to growth and redevelopment in the coastal zone. Coastal management
programs work with communities to ensure that coastal development is designed, sited, and
constructed in ways that preserve and protect critical coastal resources and balance coastal land
uses. The purpose of this measure is to describe the role of the National CZM Program in
working with coastal communities to develop and implement local policies and plans to manage
growth and development and in redeveloping underutilized and deteriorating urban waterfront
areas and ports. This measure focuses on efforts to enhance local management, planning, and

the implementation of plans for sustainable development and port or waterfront
redevelopment.
A coastal community is a unit of local government or a special unit of government, such as a
planning district. In coastal zones without local governments (e.g., U.S. territories), a coastal
community may be an administrative body or organization that formally represents a local
geographic area. The list of coastal communities within each coastal management program’s
coastal zone should be developed to consistently apply to measures 11, 13, and 14 and should
remain consistent for reporting over time.
Plans should be developed or adopted by a local unit of government, with assistance from CZM
funding or staff, and can include state-mandated plans. Plans developed by a nongovernmental
organization in cooperation with a governmental entity can be included. Plans or ordinances do
not need to be formally adopted by the local unit of government to be reported for this
measure. However, plans or ordinances developed at the state level without direct involvement
by the community reported are not eligible for this measure.
Completed projects should implement actions, with assistance from CZM funding or staff, that
are called for in a sustainable development or port or waterfront redevelopment plan. That plan
may or may not have been developed using CZM funding or staff. However, do not include
instances where CZM staff involvement is limited primarily to permit review.
Some examples of principles for sustainable development include mixed land uses, compact
building design, preservation of open space, directing development toward existing
communities, and involvement of the community and stakeholders. More information on
sustainable development principles can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/livability/about_sg.htm.
Port or waterfront redevelopment can include economic development; land acquisition or
protection through easement; rehabilitation or acquisition of piers for public use; rehabilitation
of bulkheads for improved public safety or access, removal or replacement of pilings to provide
increased recreational use; zoning or other development ordinances to support redevelopment;
and visioning and other public involvement processes. The development of public access
facilities should be reported under the public access performance measures. Port or waterfront
redevelopment support activities can include planning, technical assistance, and on-the-ground
projects eligible under CZMA Section 306A.
Report the Following:
a) Number of coastal communities that developed or updated sustainable development
ordinances, policies, and plans, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
b) Number of coastal communities that completed a project to implement a sustainable
development plan, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.

c) Number of coastal communities that developed or updated port or waterfront
redevelopment ordinances, policies, and plans, with assistance from CZM funding or
staff.
d) Number of coastal communities that completed a project to implement a
redevelopment plan, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
Documentation Required:
● List each community reported, its county, and a unique identifier, and indicate the
primary CZM role (funding or staff support), and the associated CZM award number. If
the state or territory does not use counties, please indicate the closest equivalent that
will allow the community to be located.

14. Number of coastal communities that a) developed or updated polluted runoff
management ordinances, policies, and plans and b) completed projects to implement
polluted runoff management plans, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
The Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program, which falls under Section 6217 of the Coastal
Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA), is jointly administered by NOAA and the
Environmental Protection Agency. The program encourages pollution prevention efforts at a
local level, particularly improvements to land-use planning and zoning practices to protect
coastal water quality. The purpose of this measure is to describe the role of the CZM Program in
supporting communities in the development and implementation of local ordinances, policies,
and plans to control or prevent polluted runoff.
A coastal community is a unit of local government or a special unit of government, such as a
planning district. In coastal zones without local governments (e.g., U.S. territories), a coastal
community may be an administrative body or organization that formally represents a local
geographic area. The list of coastal communities within each coastal management program’s
coastal zone should be developed to consistently apply to measures 11, 13, and 14 and should
remain consistent for reporting over time.
Plans should be developed or adopted by a local unit of government, with assistance from CZM
funding or staff, and can include state-mandated plans. Plans developed by a nongovernmental
organization in cooperation with a governmental entity can be included. Plans or ordinances do
not need to be formally adopted by the local unit of government to be reported for this
measure. However, plans or ordinances developed at the state level without direct involvement
by the community reported are not eligible for this measure.
Completed Projects should implement actions, with assistance from CZM funding or staff, that
are called for in a polluted runoff management plan. That plan may or may not have been
developed using CZM funding or staff. However, do not include instances where CZM staff
involvement is limited primarily to permit review.

Report the Following:
a) Number of coastal communities that developed or updated polluted runoff
management ordinances, polices, and plans, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
b) Number of coastal communities that completed projects to implement polluted runoff
management plans, with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
Documentation Required:
● List each community, its county, and project reported using a unique identifier, the
associated CZM award number, and an indication of the primary CZM role (funding or
staff support). If the state or territory does not use counties, please indicate the closest
equivalent.

15. Number of training events related to coastal dependent uses and community
development offered by the coastal management program and number of participants.
This measure captures training events offered by the coastal management program to support
the goals for Coastal Dependent Uses and Community Development. Training events related to
Coastal Dependent Uses and Community Development include the following types of processes
to increase local, state, and federal agency capacity and technical understanding: regulatory
programs and policies; assessment of competing uses; status and trends of land uses; land-use
policies and programs; best management practices for sustainability; and water quality.
See the description under Performance Measure 4 on government coordination for a definition
of eligible training events and participants.
Report the Following:
a) Number of training events related to coastal dependent uses and community
development offered by the coastal management program and the number of
participants.
Documentation Required:
● List each training event using a unique identifier, the corresponding number of
participants, and associated CZM award number. It is not necessary to list individual
participants; by submitting these data through the CZMA Performance Measurement
System, the program is certifying its accuracy. Indicate if the activity was conducted
jointly with a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Appendix A – Comprehensive List of Original Performance
Measures
In 2014, the Office for Coastal Management began an effort to streamline and improve the
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Performance Measurement System. The first step in this
effort was to work with state coastal management programs to identify a subset of measures
that states would no longer be required to report on beginning with the 2015 reporting cycle.
The goal for streamlining measures was to reduce the reporting burden on state coastal
management programs while maintaining a performance measurement system that
demonstrates the national impact of state coastal management programs and informs program
management decisions at the national level. For the second phase of this process, a national
target will be established for hazard resilience (Performance Measure 11). As a result,
Performance Measure 11 was modified, based on feedback from state coastal management
programs, to better reflect the work the National CZM Program does related to hazard
resilience. The list below is retained to show how the CZMA Performance Measurement System
has evolved through this update process.
Government Coordination and Decision-Making (reported annually)
1. Percent of federal consistency projects reviewed where the project was modified due to
consultation with the applicant to meet state CZM policies, by category13.
2. Number of acres of a) permit-estimated loss and b) required gain or mitigation due to
activities subject to CZM regulatory programs, by category14.
3. Number of coordination events offered by the CZM Program and number of stakeholder
groups participating, by category15.
4. Number of a) education activities related to government coordination offered by the
CZM Program and number of participants and b) training events related to government
coordination offered by the CZM Program and number of participants.
Public Access (reported annually)
5. Number of public access sites a) created through acquisition or easement and b)
enhanced with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
6. Number of public access sites a) created and b) enhanced through CZM regulatory
requirements.
7. Number of a) education activities related to public access offered by the CZM Program
and number of participants and b) training events related to public access offered by the
CZM Program and number of participants.

13

Federal Agency Activity; Federal License or Permit; Outer Continental Shelf; and Federal Financial Assistance
Tidal (Great Lake) Wetlands; Beach and Dune; Near-shore Habitat; and Other Habitat Types
15
Government Coordination; Public Access; Coastal Habitat; Coastal Hazards; and Coastal Dependent Uses &
Community Development.
14

Coastal Habitat (reported annually)
8. a) Number of acres of coastal habitat protected by acquisition or easement and b)
number of acres and/or meters of coastal habitat under restoration with assistance from
CZM funding or staff, by category16.
9. Number of a) marine debris removal activities completed with assistance from CZM
funding or staff and b) pounds of marine debris removed during those activities.
10. Number of a) education activities related to coastal habitat offered by the CZM Program
and number of participants and b) training events related to coastal habitat offered by
the CZM Program and number of participants.
Coastal Hazards (reported annually)
11. Number of a) state-level policies and plans completed; b) local-level policies and plans
completed; c) projects completed at the state level; and d) projects completed at the
local level to reduce future damage from coastal hazards with assistance from CZM
funding or staff. communities in the coastal zone that completed projects to a) reduce
future damage from hazards and b) increase public awareness of hazards with assistance
from CZM funding or staff.
12. Number of a) education activities related to coastal hazards offered by the CZM Program
and number of participants and b) training events related to coastal hazards offered by
the CZM Program and number of participants related to coastal hazards.
Coastal Dependent Uses and Community Development (reported annually)
13. Number of coastal communities that a) developed or updated sustainable development
ordinances, policies, and plans; b) completed a project to implement a sustainable
development plan; c) developed or updated port or waterfront redevelopment
ordinances, policies, and plans; and d) completed a project to implement a port or
waterfront redevelopment plan with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
14. Number of coastal communities a) that developed or updated polluted runoff
management ordinances, policies, and plans and b) completed projects to implement
polluted runoff management plans with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
15. Number of a) education activities related to coastal dependent uses and community
development offered by the CZM Program and number of participants and b) training
events related to coastal dependent uses and community development offered by the
CZM Program and number of participants.
Financial Measures (reported annually)
16. Number of a) CZM federal and matching dollars spent and b) dollars leveraged by CZM
funds, by category17.
16

Tidal (Great Lake) Wetlands; Beach and Dune; Near-shore Habitat; and Other Habitat Types
Reporting categories for financial measures: a) Government Coordination; b) Public Access; c) Coastal Habitat; d)
Coastal Hazards; and e) Coastal Dependent Uses and Community Development
17

17. Number of CZM federal and matching dollars a) spent on technical assistance and b)
provided as financial assistance to local governments.
State-reported Contextual Measures (reported every 5 years)
Public Access
18. Number of acres in the coastal zone that are available for public access.
19. Miles of shoreline available for public access.
Coastal Habitat
20. Number of coastal and Great Lake waterbodies where water quality or habitat was
monitored with assistance from CZM funding or staff.
Coastal Hazards
21. Number of communities in the coastal zone that use setbacks, buffers, or land use
policies to direct development away from areas vulnerable to coastal hazards.
Coastal Dependent Uses & Community Development
22. Number of marinas in the coastal zone a) pledged to and b) designated by a Clean
Marina Program.