The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Coastal Services Center (CSC), determined there was a need to have a repository of detail digital information for the coastal zones of Mississippi and Louisiana in an effort to support and manage the rapid economic growth and environmental protection of these areas. As a result, the Louisiana/Mississippi digital coast initiative was proposed.
As the coastal population grows in Mississippi and Louisiana, decision makers are under increasing pressure to balance the needs for economic growth and environmental protection. All levels of government are becoming increasingly dependent on digital spatial data, and the information needed to manage economic and natural resources, as well as, to identify conflicting interests of constituents. An improved, widely available spatial information infrastructure is needed to provide the framework for addressing these issues. The digital coast repository is an important part of the information technology investment that is needed to support sound economic growth. A digital repository of coastal zone information will enhance effective decision-making on a variety of national coastal issues.