Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Program

Nonpoint source pollution - the pollution of our nation's waters caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving across the ground, picking up and carrying natural pollutants as well as pollutants caused by human activities. These pollutants make their way into our lakes, streams, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters where irreparable damage has been, and will continue to be, done that will alter forever the water resources of our planet.

In 1990 the United States Congress passed the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) which entrusted the States with the task of developing and implementing State Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs. Section 6217 of CZARA required that states with federally approved coastal zone management programs develop and implement Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs. These states must implement management measures approved by NOAA and EPA that will control or prevent nonpoint source pollution from five designated sources: agriculture, forestry, hydromodification, marinas and recreational boating, and urban runoff.