The decision making component of the Adaptive Management process is where influencing factors to the objective are examined and quantified in order to make a decision about the best action. The "Select Areas" component of COAST is the first step in examining influential factors. The second step is to choose and implement actions.

The “select areas” component of COAST provides CBP partners with tools that aid in selecting areas to enhance management actions. Managers can use this information in conjunction with additional information on local water-quality problems to select areas to enhance actions that will restore and protect water quality in the Bay and local streams.

Select areas by major goal: Water-Quality Restoration Watershed Preservation

The SPARROW model results allows users to delineate areas with higher yields of nitrogen and phosphorus, thereby focusing on areas that would most improve water quality (see the restoration area page for more information).