The Urban Harbors Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston

Chantal Lefebvre holds a master's degree in oceanography and marine policy. From 1996 to 2007 she was a research associate at the Urban Harbors Institute where she served primarily as a principal investigator on a wide variety of research projects.

When Chantal joined the Institute, she brought with her an interdisciplinary educational and research background that combined both natural sciences and environmental policy. While her principle interest is in improving the connections between scientific research and public policy decision-making to provide for more effective resource management, she also has expanded her interests and expertise at the Institute to include urban waterfront planning, geographical information system (GIS) technology, land protection, public outreach, and graphic design. With her combined education and experiences, Chantal demonstrates proficiency in water quality issues, coastal resource management, natural resource assessment, land use and harbor planning, and environmental program evaluation. Examples of projects Chantal was involved with include:

Boston Harbor Watershed Action Plan (2004)
In partnership with a number of watershed associations on the South Shore, UHI prepared a watershed action plan for the Neponset River, Fore River, Back River, and Weir River watersheds. The action plan includes a current assessment on the state of knowledge of environmental conditions and natural resources within the watershed. Public presentations of these findings within each watershed were used to initiate a dialogue with concerned citizens on an appropriate plan of action to improve the environmental quality within the watersheds. A comprehensive GIS was developed as part of the product for this project. The results of this research will be used by EOEA to prioritize future research and funding in the region.

Town of Hull - Weir River Estuary Land Protection Plan (2004)
Building on the open space inventory developed in 2003, UHI prepared a land protection plan for the undeveloped properties around the estuary. This plan outlines the community's vision and goals for the estuary, and applies practical land protection tools, such as zoning, conservation easements, and strategies for land acquisition to achieve these goals. UHI also prepared a brochure for recreational boaters, featuring a map with points of interest and educational information about the estuary.

The Coastal State Organization - Translating Science Into Management (2004)
Through a nationwide survey and review of current literature, UHI prepared a series of documents to capture the most pressing issues in coastal management across the country. The products for this project include an analysis of the survey results as they pertain to coastal resource management and ocean observing systems, as well as two white papers:Translating Science into Management – Best Practices for Using the Natural and Social Sciences to Develop Meaningful Solutions to Coastal Management Problems and Creating Meaningful Dialogue: Improving the Effectiveness of how Federal Agencies Disseminate Research Information for State Coastal and Estuarine Management.

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management - South Shore Vessel Sewage Pump Out Evaluation and Management Plan (2004)
UHI conducted a study of the effectiveness of recreational boat pump out service in Massachusetts' South Shore communities. A survey was sent to 5,100 boat owners in the region and the results will were analyzed to determine the frequency of pump out use and the level of boater awareness with respect to pump out locations, operation, and the environmental impacts of vessel sewage. A vessel pump out education and outreach plan addressing pump out siting, ease of use and environmental impacts was also developed as part of this grant.

The City of Boston Environment Department - Feasibility Study for New Commercial Pump Out Facility in Boston Harbor (2003)
In December 2003, UHI completed an assessment to determine the most suitable location and design for a municipally operated commercial vessel pump out. The design takes into account where possible the future pressures in the harbor.

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation - Building a Vision for Our Weir River Estuary (2003)
An inventory of open space and public access around the Weir River Area of Critical Environmental Concern and a summary of a day-long community visioning workshop. This report catalogs what is known about undeveloped lands and accessways around the estuary and summarizes the different policies and bylaws governing open space protection and acquisition of the neighboring communities. It provides all the necessary background research needed to develop a land acquisition plan.

The Gulf Association - Gulf River Estuary Natural Resources Inventory (2003)
A summary of all existing information regarding the Gulf River estuary in Cohasset and Scituate, Massachusetts. The document presents both anecdotal and scientific data relating to watershed characteristics, history of the region, habitats of the Gulf River estuary, geology and soils, biological resources, water quality, land use, open space and recreation, and environmental quality concerns and pollution sources.

Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts - GIS Analysis (2003)
Prepared a GIS of the Duxbury shoreline to conduct a pier build-out analysis and assess the appropriateness of existing development constraints and standards governing private piers.

New Jersey Coastal Zone Management - Evaluation of New Jersey's Coastal Management Program (2003)
Prepared a series of white papers on the most significant aspects of the New Jersey coastal program, including an analysis of the state's coastal boundary from a public policy standpoint.

The City of Boston Environment Department - Vessel Pollution in Boston Harbor (2002)
Conducted a survey of marina operators in the City of Boston and conducted a series of workshops with recreational boaters, commercial boaters, and enforcement personnel to determine whether there are sufficient vessel sewage pump outs in Boston Harbor and whether they are used sufficiently. Also prepared a summary of recommendations for follow-up.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management - Weir River ACEC Natural Resources Inventory (2002)
Similar to the Gulf River inventory described above, this report catalogs all the available data on natural resources in the vicinity of the Weir River ACEC and makes recommendations for future research.

Harbor Management Plans - Towns of Provincetown, Hull and Rockport and City's of Salem and Fall River (1996-2001)
Assessed the existing regulatory framework of the harbors in these communities and the natural resources within the harbor. Developed the implementation plans for the recommendations in each of the harbor plans.

Marine Industries Association of South Florida - Master Plan for the Marine Industries Association (2002)
This strategic plans details the opportunities for marine industry expansion, including an existing land-use build-out analysis, as well as an analysis of current trends, local and regional policies and regulations, by-laws, and government incentives.

US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water - America's Green Ports (2000)
Through research and interviews, the Instituted amassed a large collection of best management practices and technology at ports across the country. Evaluation criteria were used to narrow the list to develop a compendium that reflected the most interesting, diverse and transferable projects.

GRADUATE ASSISTANT, URBAN HARBORS INSTITUTE, BOSTON, MA 1995 -1996
Provided technical support for a coastal zone management training program for Bulgaria, including white papers on coastal permitting, public participation, and coastal land-use planning.

GRADUATE ASSISTANT, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON, MA 1993-1995
Assisted in a physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic study of Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts and served as a teaching assistant in physical oceanography.

EDUCATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE, 1995, University of Massachusetts Boston
Physical Oceanography and Marine Policy, Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Science, Book Award for Master's Thesis

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, 1992, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Specialization in Physics, Rutherford Scholarship for Academic Achievement

PUBLICATIONS
Green Ports - Environmental Management and Technology at US Ports, with Jack Wiggin, Tracey Morin, Vandana Rao

The People, the Coast, the Ocean-Vision 20/20. A Coastal Zone Retrospective. Integrated Coastal Zone Management, ICG Publishers, 1999




Chantal Lefebvre holds a master's degree in oceanography and marine policy. From 1996 to 2007 she was a research associate at the Urban Harbors Institute where she served primarily as a principal investigator on a wide variety of research projects. When Chantal joined the Institute, she brought with her an interdisciplinary educational and research background that combined both natural sciences and environmental policy. While her principle interest is in improving the connections between scientific research and public policy decision-making to provide for more effective resource management, she also has expanded her interests and expertise at the Institute to include urban waterfront planning, geographical information system (GIS) technology, land protection, public outreach, and graphic design. With her combined education and experiences, Chantal demonstrates proficiency in water quality issues, coastal resource management, natural resource assessment, land use and harbor planning, and environmental program evaluation. Examples of projects Chantal was involved with include: Boston Harbor Watershed Action Plan (2004) In partnership with a number of watershed associations on the South Shore, UHI prepared a watershed action plan for the Neponset River, Fore River, Back River, and Weir River watersheds. The action plan includes a current assessment on the state of knowledge of environmental conditions and natural resources within the watershed. Public presentations of these findings within each watershed were used to initiate a dialogue with concerned citizens on an appropriate plan of action to improve the environmental quality within the watersheds. A comprehensive GIS was developed as part of the product for this project. The results of this research will be used by EOEA to prioritize future research and funding in the region. Town of Hull - Weir River Estuary Land Protection Plan (2004) Building on the open space inventory developed in 2003, UHI prepared a land protection plan for the undeveloped properties around the estuary. This plan outlines the community's vision and goals for the estuary, and applies practical land protection tools, such as zoning, conservation easements, and strategies for land acquisition to achieve these goals. UHI also prepared a brochure for recreational boaters, featuring a map with points of interest and educational information about the estuary. The Coastal State Organization - Translating Science Into Management (2004) Through a nationwide survey and review of current literature, UHI prepared a series of documents to capture the most pressing issues in coastal management across the country. The products for this project include an analysis of the survey results as they pertain to coastal resource management and ocean observing systems, as well as two white papers:Translating Science into Management – Best Practices for Using the Natural and Social Sciences to Develop Meaningful Solutions to Coastal Management Problems and Creating Meaningful Dialogue: Improving the Effectiveness of how Federal Agencies Disseminate Research Information for State Coastal and Estuarine Management. Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management - South Shore Vessel Sewage Pump Out Evaluation and Management Plan (2004) UHI conducted a study of the effectiveness of recreational boat pump out service in Massachusetts' South Shore communities. A survey was sent to 5,100 boat owners in the region and the results will were analyzed to determine the frequency of pump out use and the level of boater awareness with respect to pump out locations, operation, and the environmental impacts of vessel sewage. A vessel pump out education and outreach plan addressing pump out siting, ease of use and environmental impacts was also developed as part of this grant. The City of Boston Environment Department - Feasibility Study for New Commercial Pump Out Facility in Boston Harbor (2003) In December 2003, UHI completed an assessment to determine the most suitable location and design for a municipally operated commercial vessel pump out. The design takes into account where possible the future pressures in the harbor. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation - Building a Vision for Our Weir River Estuary (2003) An inventory of open space and public access around the Weir River Area of Critical Environmental Concern and a summary of a day-long community visioning workshop. This report catalogs what is known about undeveloped lands and accessways around the estuary and summarizes the different policies and bylaws governing open space protection and acquisition of the neighboring communities. It provides all the necessary background research needed to develop a land acquisition plan. The Gulf Association - Gulf River Estuary Natural Resources Inventory (2003) A summary of all existing information regarding the Gulf River estuary in Cohasset and Scituate, Massachusetts. The document presents both anecdotal and scientific data relating to watershed characteristics, history of the region, habitats of the Gulf River estuary, geology and soils, biological resources, water quality, land use, open space and recreation, and environmental quality concerns and pollution sources. Town of Duxbury, Massachusetts - GIS Analysis (2003) Prepared a GIS of the Duxbury shoreline to conduct a pier build-out analysis and assess the appropriateness of existing development constraints and standards governing private piers. New Jersey Coastal Zone Management - Evaluation of New Jersey's Coastal Management Program (2003) Prepared a series of white papers on the most significant aspects of the New Jersey coastal program, including an analysis of the state's coastal boundary from a public policy standpoint. The City of Boston Environment Department - Vessel Pollution in Boston Harbor (2002) Conducted a survey of marina operators in the City of Boston and conducted a series of workshops with recreational boaters, commercial boaters, and enforcement personnel to determine whether there are sufficient vessel sewage pump outs in Boston Harbor and whether they are used sufficiently. Also prepared a summary of recommendations for follow-up. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management - Weir River ACEC Natural Resources Inventory (2002) Similar to the Gulf River inventory described above, this report catalogs all the available data on natural resources in the vicinity of the Weir River ACEC and makes recommendations for future research. Harbor Management Plans - Towns of Provincetown, Hull and Rockport and City's of Salem and Fall River (1996-2001) Assessed the existing regulatory framework of the harbors in these communities and the natural resources within the harbor. Developed the implementation plans for the recommendations in each of the harbor plans. Marine Industries Association of South Florida - Master Plan for the Marine Industries Association (2002) This strategic plans details the opportunities for marine industry expansion, including an existing land-use build-out analysis, as well as an analysis of current trends, local and regional policies and regulations, by-laws, and government incentives. US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water - America's Green Ports (2000) Through research and interviews, the Instituted amassed a large collection of best management practices and technology at ports across the country. Evaluation criteria were used to narrow the list to develop a compendium that reflected the most interesting, diverse and transferable projects. GRADUATE ASSISTANT, URBAN HARBORS INSTITUTE, BOSTON, MA 1995 -1996 Provided technical support for a coastal zone management training program for Bulgaria, including white papers on coastal permitting, public participation, and coastal land-use planning. GRADUATE ASSISTANT, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, BOSTON, MA 1993-1995 Assisted in a physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic study of Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts and served as a teaching assistant in physical oceanography. EDUCATION MASTER OF SCIENCE, 1995, University of Massachusetts Boston Physical Oceanography and Marine Policy, Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Science, Book Award for Master's Thesis BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, 1992, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Specialization in Physics, Rutherford Scholarship for Academic Achievement PUBLICATIONS Green Ports - Environmental Management and Technology at US Ports, with Jack Wiggin, Tracey Morin, Vandana Rao The People, the Coast, the Ocean-Vision 20/20. A Coastal Zone Retrospective. Integrated Coastal Zone Management, ICG Publishers, 1999

	Last modified: April 3, 2007