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Background
Mission and Vision
Membership
Staff
Contact Information
Background
A Voice for the States
The Coastal States Organization (CSO) was established in 1970 to represent the Governors of the nation’s thirty-five coastal states, commonwealths and territories on legislative and policy issues relating to the sound management of coastal, Great Lakes and ocean resources. Economically, socially and geographically, the states are as diverse as their individual coastlines, yet their commitment to common objectives in coastal and ocean management is what shapes CSO’s unique character. By speaking with “one voice” through CSO, states are more influential than by acting individually.
Serving the States
Helping states to maintain their leadership role in the development and implementation of national coastal and ocean policy is among CSO’s most important functions. CSO works with Congress to shape legislation, comment on proposed regulations, and arrange for state testimony. CSO advocates for increased federal funding and support for state-based coastal and ocean programs, as well as responsiveness of federal agency program administration and policies to state concerns.
CSO provides information, updates and alerts that keep states attuned to developments in Washington, DC which enables states to respond to legislative, regulatory and policy developments as they occur.
CSO serves as an important professional network for state coastal and ocean managers. CSO Policy Committees focus on coastal water quality, coastal hazards, coastal zone management, ocean policy and island affairs. CSO also supports a state Legal Council.
Mission and Goals
Mission
To support the shared vision of the coastal states, commonwealths and territories for the protection, conservation, responsible use and sustainable economic development of the nation’s coastal, ocean and Great Lakes resources.
Strategic Goals
Governace and Management
Re-evaluate the ocean and coastal management needs for this nation and seek to address them through the re-authorization of an improved and strengthened Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), and launch an effort to support new and existing ocean, Great Lakes, and local community management initiatives, including regional governance efforts.
Funding and Economics
Secure long-term fiscal support of the state and federal programs that restore, manage and protect the nation’s coastal, ocean and Great Lakes resources.
Support the Decisions of Coastal and Ocean Resource Managers
with the Best Science
Available and Assure the Public Understands the Basis of the Decisions
The federal agencies recognize that complex coastal and ocean issues can
be managed most effectively and efficiently when supported by the best
science and information, shared experiences and technical assistance.
Science to Management
Incorporate the needs and opportunities of state ocean and coastal management programs into the development and implementation of federal scientific research and monitoring programs to support coastal and ocean management.
Membership
The Organization’s membership consists of the thirty-five coastal states, commonwealths and territories, which are represented by Delegates appointed by the Governors. The Delegates include senior state officials from the state environmental, natural resource, or planning agencies. The Delegates constitute CSO’s Governing Board.
Staff
Executive Director
Katherine 'Kacky' Andrews
Katherine “Kacky” Andrews has
served as CSO’s new Executive Director since November of 2005. Kacky plans to join CSO on November 7, 2005.
Kacky has extensive experience with coastal issues, having previously served most recently as the Director of Coastal
and Aquatic Managed Areas at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In this position, Kacky
effectively managed millions of acres of coastal habitats, instituted an effort to engage local communities in the
management of Florida’s coastal protected areas, and helped launch an alliance of the Gulf States to improve
the environmental condition of the Gulf of Mexico.
Kacky also worked closely with the Florida State Legislature to pass the Florida Oceans and Coastal Resources
Management Act, which created the Florida Ocean and Coastal Research Council. Prior to joining the state, she
was the Director of Government Relations with the Florida Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.
Kacky is a native Floridian, with a degree in economics from Duke University, a law degree from the University
of Florida and a masters in natural resources law from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark
College in Portland.
Deputy Director
Jena Carter
Jena Carter serves as Deputy Director at CSO,
regulatory and policy issues. Prior to joining CSO in April 2003, Jena
worked as a policy analyst at the following: National Governors Association,
U.S. Senate, Rhode Island State Senate, and the City of Warwick, Rhode
Island. Jena received a Masters in Marine Affairs from the University
of Rhode Island and a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from
Truman State University (formerly known as Northeast Missouri State University). Jena serves as lead staff for CSO's Habit and Climat Change workgroups. Jena is also leading CSO's Visioning initiative in partnership with NOAA, a project to engage coastal managers and stakeholders to envision the future of coastal zone management.
Policy Analyst
Renee Thompson
Ms. Thompson joined the staff in 2005. Prior to joining CSO, Renee
was an Environmental Management Fellow at the Chesapeake Research Consortium. Previously, Renee
worked for the Washington State House of Representatives, State of Hawaii House of Representatives,
and the Environmental Center at the University of Hawaii. She has a Bachelors degree in Global Environmental
Science from the University of Hawaii and will begin pursuing her Master's degree in Community Planning in the fall of 2007 at the University of Maryland. Renee serves as lead staff to the Island Affairs workgroup and serves as support staff to the LNG and Ocean Policy workgroups.
Administrative Coordinator
Kate Zultner
Kate is a recent graduate of Boston University (BU) where she earned a degree in Environmental Policy & Analysis and Biology. Kate also competed for 4 years on BU's varsity rowing team.
Contact Information
Coastal States Organization
Hall of the States
444 North Capitol Street, N.W.
Suite 322
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: (202) 508-3860
Fax: (202) 508-3843
Email: kzultner@coastalstates.org