Abstract:
Much of the aesthetic, economic, and biological significance of the coastal zone is dependent on the maintenance of high water quality. However, many of the ways in which people enjoy and exploit coastal resources create disruptions in the natural system, jeopardizing the health of the coastal environment. Although storm water plays an important and indisputable role in declining water quality, it is an ambiguous culprit. Programs undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have implemented storm water regulations to manage coastal water quality.