Coastal Management & Planning

Coastal Management and Planning Office Interim Director: Joe Jewell

The mission of Comprehensive Resource Management Plan (CRMP) is to develop a plan to sustain Mississippi's coastal resources and to provide for a healthy economy in the coastal area.

The overall objective of the Office of Coastal Management and Planning is to build the capacity of state and local governments to manage and protect coastal wetlands and marine resources in Mississippi. The objective will be accomplished through coordinating agency efforts, developing the necessary partnerships among public and private entities and integrating wetland protection and mangement into the lifstyle of the coastal community.

There are four programs within the Office of Coastal Management and Planning. The first is a planning assistance program to assist the 11 coastal cities and six coastal counties with planning needs for their regions. The second is a smart growth prgram. This program is designed to assist the six-county region with education on smart growth. The program began with the Storm Water Toolbox. The third program is the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area (NHA). The mission of the Mississippi Gulf Coast NHA is to continue growth of the economy by using natural resources, heritage and recreational and historical assets in the six-county region. The fourth program is the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP). Grants from CIAP total $120 million for the six coastal counties of Mississippi.

Coastal Management & Planning Contacts:

Mark Boyles, Staff Officer
Melanie Lane, Projects Officer
Rhonda Price, Staff Officer
Jennifer Wagner, Projects Officer