Coastal Management Fellowship

2018-2020 Fellowship Project Summaries

California: Amber Roberts, from Stanford University and nominated by California Sea Grant, collaborated with the California Coastal Commission on several pivotal sea level rise projects involving data analysis, vulnerability assessment, and stakeholder engagement to enhance the commission's planning and regulatory efforts. Amber focused on updating and standardizing the California Coastal Armoring Database (CCAD) using ArcGIS and spearheaded an agency-wide needs assessment to ensure the database's accessibility and utility. Her assessment produced detailed recommendations to reshape the data management system, addressing staff's analytical needs. Beyond CCAD, Amber assumed leadership roles with the commission's environmental justice and racial equity teams, organizing trainings, facilitating discussions, creating the agency's inaugural ArcGIS story map on environmental justice, and authoring environmental justice analyses for coastal development proposals. Her efforts underscored a commitment to equity and accessibility in the commission's initiatives.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Kelsey McClellan, from the College of Charleston and nominated by South Carolina Sea Grant, was matched with the CNMI Division of Coastal Resources Management to develop a framework for calculating the carrying capacity of tourist sites in the CNMI and provide recommendations for sustainable tourism development. Kelsey addressed tourism impacts on natural resources using behavioral observations, environmental data, and spatial analysis. She created site-specific carrying capacity plans and data-driven recommendations to enhance the tourism industry while protecting CNMI's natural resources. Her final deliverables included a comprehensive report outlining the assessment framework, a literature review, and best management practice recommendations. Kelsey also co-led the development of the Saipan Lagoon Users Education Plan (SLUEP) and collaborated with the Marianas Visitors Authority and Northern Marianas College on the Marine Sports Operator Certification. She mentored interns in identifying high-priority management areas and hopes to publish the study. For more details, visit dcrm.gov.mp/current-projects/sustainable-sites.

Delaware: Sierra Davis, from the University of Rhode Island and nominated by Rhode Island Sea Grant, was matched with the Delaware Coastal Program to develop a stakeholder-informed methodology for prioritizing dredging projects in Delaware. Sierra's work was split between Delaware Coastal Programs and the Shoreline and Waterway Management Section. She created a comprehensive inventory of existing data and coordinated additional data collection to support evidence-based dredging decisions. Sierra designed an online survey that garnered over 1,000 responses and was featured in local media. She also organized public workshops to promote the survey, educate the public on waterway management, and gather feedback. Her final report outlines a new data-driven and stakeholder-informed methodology for prioritizing dredging projects, designed to be adaptable to changing conditions or storm events. Sierra also co-authored a blog on waterway management in Delaware. For more information about dredging priorities and Sierra's project, click here.

Illinois: Cody Eskew completed his fellowship with the Illinois Coastal Management Program, where he worked with the Illinois Sand Management Working Group (SMWG), a community of practice collaborating on shoreline management. Cody identified stakeholder needs and developed resources to address these, including creating a comprehensive shoreline permitting guide to clarify the process for applicants. He assisted with permitting for an innovative offshore submerged shoreline protection pilot project. Additionally, Cody collaborated on beneficial use initiatives with state geological researchers and the Army Corps of Engineers, leading the development of a regional sediment management proposal to explore beneficial use opportunities in Southwest Lake Michigan.

Maine: Ellen Bartow-Gillies, from Texas A&M University and nominated by Texas Sea Grant, was matched with the Maine Coastal Program to protect critical ecosystem services by designing a method to prioritize habitats at risk and inform robust policies and strategies for increasing resilience. Ellen's work resulted in the creation of the Tidal Restriction Atlas for Maine, an online resource to help coastal communities identify hazardous culverts, bridges, and dams, and assist conservation groups in prioritizing tidal restoration projects statewide. She also collaborated with the CoastWise partnership to publish the first regional guidebook for designing climate-resilient tidal road crossings. Through training and outreach, Ellen aimed to reverse the impacts on marshes and tidal habitats by promoting the implementation of safe, low-maintenance crossings that accommodate sea level rise and restore natural tidal flow.

Washington: Sydney Fishman, from Duke University and nominated by North Carolina Sea Grant, was matched with the Washington Coastal Zone Management Program to support coastal managers in improving the implementation of shoreline armoring regulations on Washington's Puget Sound. Sydney conducted interviews with local governments to assess the effectiveness of these regulations, resulting in a comprehensive white paper. She provided written comments and support to local and state coastal managers reviewing project proposals for regulatory compliance. Additionally, Sydney developed an online web mapping application and photo album showcasing examples of beaches where hard armoring was removed or more natural shoreline treatments were used. She also created a webinar series to educate local planners on implementing shoreline regulations effectively.