The Urban Harbors Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston

CURRENT

Outer Continental Shelf Renewable Energy Space Use Conflicts and Potential Mitigation Measures

On behalf of the US Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service and in collaboration with; Industrial Economics, Incorporated; MIT Sea Grant; Oregon State Sea Grant; California Sea Grant; Oregon State University; and Research Planning, Inc., UHI is working to identify Outer Continental Shelf Renewable Energy Space Use Conflicts and Potential Mitigation Measures.

Identifying Indicators to Assess the Effectiveness of the Massachusetts Ocean Plan

On behalf of the Massachusetts Ocean Partnership, UHI is assisting the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs develop a suite of indicators to assess the effectiveness of the Massachusetts Ocean Plan.

Florida Boating Access Facilities Inventory and Economic Study

In collaboration with the Recreation Marine Research Center at Michigan State University, the Catanese Center for Urban & Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University, the Planning & Zoning Center, Inc., Bordner Research, Inc., and Resource Economics Research LLC, UHI was contracted to assist the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with a comprehensive statewide inventory of recreational boating access facilities, develop economic models to forecast future boater demand and document the economic impact of recreational boating for the State of Florida, as well as prepare a model for site suitability analyses of future boating facilities.

Nantucket and Madaket Harbors Plan Update

In July 2005, the Town of Nantucket contracted with UHI to update the Harbor Management Plans for Nantucket and Madaket Harbors. UHI staff collaborated with John Duff (Assistant Professor with EEOS), Sarah Oktay (Managing Director of UMB's Nantucket Field Station), and Chris Sweeney (Director of the Division of Marine Operations), Steve Bliven (UHI Senior Associate) and Rich Delaney (Executive Vice President, Horsley & Witten Group).

Gloucester Harbor Plan Update and Development of a Master Plan for the Designated Port Area

In collaboration with David Terkla of the UMass Boston Economics Department, UHI was contracted to work with officials and stakeholders from the City of Gloucester MA, to update and revise the 1999 Gloucester Harbor Plan and to develop an expanded Master Plan for the City's Designated Port Area.

COASTSWEEP - Massachusetts Coastal Cleanup

UHI coordinates the annual coastal cleanup effort in Massachusetts. COASTSWEEP is part of an annual international campaign to encourage citizens to volunteer to remove debris from their local coastline and nearshore marine areas. Funded by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.

RECENT

Development of Planning Framework Options for Integrated Multi-use Management in Massachusetts

UHI, together with experts from several institutions and organizations including the University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston University, the University of Rhode Island, the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, WHOI's Marine Policy Center, Good Harbor Consulting, and MRAG Americas is researching and developing a set of planning framework options that the Commonwealth can consider as it moves forward with implementing a Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan.

Green Harbor Mooring Plan

UHI is working with harbormaster of Marshfield, MA to develop a mooring plan for Green Harbor.

Green Pond Management Plan

In collaboration with Senior Associate Steve Bliven, UHI is working with the Town of Falmouth's Coastal Ponds Management Committee to develop a harbor management plan for Green Pond.

New Bedford / Fairhaven Harbor Plan Update

In collaboration with Fort Point Associates, Apex Companies and FXM Associates, UHI is assisted the City of New Bedford and the Town of Fairhaven update thrir harbor management plan.

Plymouth-Carver Sole Source Aquifer Regional Open Space

UHI assisted with the development of a comprehensive plan of action for land protection in the seven communities of the Plymouth-Carver Sole Source Aquifer. Working with an advisory committee of representatives of the municipalities, the state and land trusts, the institute is conducting an outreach campaign, correlating municipal goals and policies, compiling natural resource data, and preparing a regional map and plan for protecting aquifer through open space protection.

Boston Harbor No Discharge Area Application

At the request of the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program, and the US Environmental Protection Agency, UHI coordinated the process for and prepared the application to designate Boston Harbor as a No Discharge Zone under the Clean Water Act. Convened representatives of the 10 communities surrounding Boston Harbor, stakeholders such as the Mass. Marine Trades Association, Massport, tug and ferry operators, and federal and state officials to secure support for the proposal, conducted necessary research and compiled data on the natural resources, vessel usage and pump-out facilities and prepared the application for approval by the USEPA..

South Florida Workforce Development

UHI in partnership with the Center for Survey Research assisted Florida Atlantic University's Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions to design and conduct a workforce needs assessment for the marine industries in the tri-county area of Southeast Florida. UHI/CSR were responsible for the developing the sampling methodology and design, the questionnaire, and the statistical analysis.

Linking Socio-economic and Coastal Environmental Indicators

Prepared a research report for the Korean Maritime Institute on the use of socio-economic indicators to detect human-induced changes in the coastal environment for purposes of informing and improving management responses. Developed a framework for identifying and ranking indicators associated with coastal management program goals. Funded by the Korean Maritime Institute, South Korea.

An Assessment of the Coastal and Marine Economies of Massachusetts

UHI was part of a research team led by the University of Massachusetts' Donahue Institute that produced an analysis of the economic value of the state's coastal and marine economies. The research report presented an overview of employment, wages, business activities and trends in key sectors of the Massachusetts marine economy: commercial seafood, marine transportation, coastal tourism and recreation, marine science and technology, and marine-related construction and infrastructure. Funded by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management.

City of Bridgeport Harbor Management Plan

In collaboration with Apex Environmental, Inc., UHI worked with the City of Bridgeport's Harbor Commission to develop a Harbor Management Plan.

Town of Salisbury Harbor Plan - Phase I

UHI worked with the Town of Salisbury's Harbor Commission to develop the initial phase of a Harbor Management Plan.

Massachusetts Marine Trades Workforce Needs Assessment

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA), UHI was contracted to conduct a survey of the marine industries and businesses in the South Coastal Region of Massachusetts to better understand the current status of the industry and to determine the future needs of those involved in marine trades within Massachusetts.

Coastal WEB Initiative: Resource Management Planning for Parker River/Essex Bay ACEC

In partnership with Mass Audubon North Shore and Eight Towns and the Bay Committee, the state's ACEC Program, and Office of Coastal Zone Management, UHI was contracted to initiate a regional resource management planning process to assist local officials with local and regional planning and protection efforts within the Parker River/Essex Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Public outreach and analysis aimed to identify common issues, a needs assessment, and strategies for resource management development.

Incorporating Benthic-Pelagic Linkages into Marine Protected Area Design

In collaboration with their Senior Associate Jeff Benoit and John Ebersole of the UMass Boston Biology Department, UHI was contracted to assist NOAA's National Marine Protected Areas Center Science Institute in evaluating scientific issues relating to the design of MPAs. Specifically addressing to what degree benthic habitats and communities in various US marine ecosystems are linked ecologically with pelagic and other fish species swimming above them and how these linkages inform the design of restrictions on extractive uses in MPAs.

Emerging Technologies and Operational Arrangements in the International Container Trade

On behalf of Senior Associate Jim Coleman, UHI provided technical advice to the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils. The research focused on the emerging technologies and operational arrangements of the international container trade, with particular reference to East-Coast Australia and how these might influence a proposed expansion of the Port Botany Container Terminal in Australia. Funded by the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils, Australia.