Water quality issues in coastal areas can harm both the environment and the people who rely on it. To address this, a new framework was created to help communities plan for long-term challenges caused by water pollution. By connecting the health of the ecosystem to the well-being of the community, researchers in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, were able to study how to improve water quality and the benefits it brings to the area. This approach can be used in other places facing similar problems to better manage coastal areas and protect the environment.