Identifying the “public”; for participation in coastal zone management

Abstract One of the more difficult aspects of public participation is the explicit identification of those groups and individuals which constitute the public, and with whom the coastal zone management agency will interact and collaborate in program development. Six factors which raise difficulties in identifying and maintaining contact with the public are briefly discussed. Five methods are reviewed that can be used to identify the organized groups within the public. The article concludes with the description of a survey that was designed to identify and maintain contact with groups that desired to participate in the development of California's coastal plan.