EBC Climate Change Program
Shoreline Development and Resiliency: The Role of Coastal Structures
The Massachusetts shoreline contains a variety of coastal structures designed for shore
protection and stabilization including seawalls, bulkheads, revetments, groins, jetties,
and sand bags. In total, more than 25% of the open ocean shoreline is armored by
some form of coastal protection. Whether designed to prevent shoreline migration,
restrict the alongshore movement of sand, or stabilize channels, these structures can
have secondary and frequently detrimental consequences for surrounding areas.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has spearheaded several initiatives to promote
more effective management of the state’s shoreline and is considered a nationwide
leader in addressing coastal management issues. Programs such as the Massachusetts
Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) StormSmart Coasts provide a wealth of
resources to help communities manage issues stemming from erosion, flooding, coastal
storms and sea level rise. These resources include initiatives such as the Coastal
Community Resilience Grant Program, which recently awarded nearly $1 million in
funding to ten coastal communities in support of local climate preparedness efforts, and
the Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience Pilot Grant Program, which will provide
up to $1.3 million in research and implementation funding for natural or nonstructural
approaches to mitigating coastal erosion. In 2013 the Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation (DCR) updated the state’s coastal infrastructure inventory
and assessment in support of the 20-year capital plan for coastal protection structures
in MA. This year, the 2014 Budget Bill established a Coastal Erosion Commission to
document erosion and recommend actions and policies that mitigate the impacts to
coastal property without damaging the surrounding environment.
In this EBC program Julia Knisel of CZM will provide an overview of the issues that
coastal structures have caused along the Massachusetts shoreline and the programs
being used to mitigate those impacts including the coastal resilience and green
infrastructure grant programs and the Coastal Erosion Commission. Chris Miller from
the Town of Brewster will discuss the town’s initiative to study erosion and sea level rise
impacts and relocate vulnerable beach parking areas, funded under the Coastal
Community Resilience Grant Program. Kevin Mooney of DCR will provide an overview
of the recent structure inventory and an update on the 20-year capital plan for coastal
protection structures in MA. Finally, John. F. Shea of Mackie Shea O’Brien, P.C. will
provide examples of successful “soft” coastal structures that have been permitted to
save homes on eroding coastal banks and beaches.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts
Draft Agenda
7:30 a.m.
Registration and Networking, Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m.
Welcome – Daniel K. Moon, President, EBC
Introduction: Kelly Knee – Program Chair and Moderator
Director – Coastal Hazards, RPS ASA
8:15 a.m.
Impacts of Coastal Protection Structures in Massachusetts and
Initiatives to Improve Shoreline Resiliency
 Julia Knisel, Coastal Shoreline & Floodplain Manager
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
9:00 a.m.
Building Coastal Resilience in Brewster – An Application of the CZM
Coastal Community Resilience Grant Program
 Chris Miller, Director of Natural Resources, Town of Brewster
9:30 a.m.
Update of the 20-Year Capital Plan for Massachusetts Coastal
Protection Structures
 Kevin Mooney, Department of Conservation and Recreation
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
10:00 a.m.
Slowing Erosion with Soft Coastal Structures
 John F. Shea, Esq., Shareholder, Mackie Shea O’Brien, P.C.
10:30 a.m.
Adjourn
PROGRAM CHAIR
Kelly Knee, Director – Coastal Hazards
RPS ASA
55 Village Square Drive, South Kingstown, RI 02879
(401) 789-6224 // kknee@asascience.com // www.asascience.com
Ms. Knee is a water resources engineer and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
specialist with Applied Science Associates (ASA). Since joining ASA in 2004, she has
conducted sea level rise and storm surge impact assessments for many locations
around the world to support both education initiatives and engineering analyses. Her
interactive, 3-D simulations of sea level rise are currently on display at the Wood’s Hole
Oceanographic Institute, SciWorks North Carolina, and the Boston Museum of Science.
Her 3D visualization of inundation at critical facilities in Hull, MA helped gain support for
an increase in freeboard requirements. Ms. Knee has performed a series of coastal risk
assessments for coastal industrial facilities including analyses of sea level rise, storm
surge, wave overtopping, and tsunami inundation. Prior to joining ASA in 2004, she
conducted an economic assessment of the impacts of sea level rise and storm surge
flooding in metro Boston and used a Fulbright Fellowship to study the impacts of sea
level rise and storm surge flooding in the country of Mauritius.
SPEAKERS
Julia Knisel, Coastal Shoreline & Floodplain Manager
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
251 Causeway St., Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114-2136
(617) 626-1191 // julia.knisel@state.ma.us // www.mass.gov/czm/stormsmart
Chris Miller, Director
Brewster Department of Natural Resources
2198 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631
(508) 525-9135 // cmiller@brewster-ma.gov
Kevin P. Mooney, Senior Waterways Engineer
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation - Office of Waterways
30 Shipyard Drive, Suite 200, Hingham, MA 02043
(617) 719-2186 // kevin.p.mooney@state.ma.us
John F. Shea, Esq., Environmental Attorney
Mackie Shea O’Brien, P.C.
420 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 266-5700 // jfs@lawmso.com
John F. Shea has practiced environmental and land use law for more than 35 years. He
focuses on wetlands, water, wildlife, and hazardous waste laws, and is recognized as a
master strategist in securing approvals for complex and controversial projects,
developing environmental compliance plans for pro-active and troubled companies, and
successfully defending permits in administrative and court appeals.
Mr. Shea represents developers, businesses, and high net worth individuals in
permitting, siting, enforcement defense, and litigation. His development projects include
coastal homes, subdivisions, subsidized housing, and hotels, as well as assisted living
facilities, hospitals, colleges, and banks. He handles permitting and litigation for coastal
erosion protections, docks, marinas, aquaculture farms, radio antennas, industrial
plants, office parks, and retail complexes. He recently permitted successful shore
protection and stabilization measures, including five coir envelope projects, in Truro,
MA. He has also permitted new construction to account for seal level rise and coastal
flooding.