Tiffany Smythe

Exploring the Connections Between Ferries and Urban Form: Some Considerations Before Jumping on Board

Due in part to new technology and rapid population growth in coastal areas, there recently has been renewed interest in making ferry service an important part of urban transportation in the United States. This paper explores the relationship between ferry service and the built environment by examining three questions. First, what types of urban regional forms are most compatible with passenger ferry service? Second, what type of land-use activities can ferries support in and around a ferry terminal? Third, how should ferry terminals specifically and the waterfront generally be developed to maintain future flexibility for ferry services? A literature review on ferry services and terminals in coastal metropolitan areas and visits to several of the sites discussed in the literature are used as the basis for the general discussion about the interrelationship between ferries and urban form and the factors that create competitive advantages and disadvantages for ferries. The lessons learned from this review are applied to evaluate the feasibility for new or expanded ferry service on Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Findings indicate that while there are opportunities for new ferry routes and ferry transit-oriented development, investments in terminals should be kept to a minimum, especially at the beginning of a new service. Instead, resources should be focused on creating mixed-use neighborhoods near the ferry landing. Since water bodies represent an important type of open space in populated areas, the terminal, staging area and landing space for the ferry also be minimized.

Conceptualizing Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management: A Mental Models Approach

Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is widely touted as the preferred approach to coastal and environmental management, yet there are relatively few examples of this approach in practice. One possible reason is that this approach places extreme mental demands on practitioners. Mental models are individuals’ internal conceptualizations of external problems or phenomena, and are important because they inform communication and decision making. Thus, an analysis of mental models can provide insights into the cognitive demands that EBM places on participants and can suggest methods for improving EBM implementation. We applied mental models analysis to EBM by studying coastal management practitioners who were involved in cases of coastal EBM planning in the states of Rhode Island and New York. Here we present the results of this research to provide insight into the characteristics of practitioners’ mental models of coastal ecosystems and discuss the application of our novel mental models methodology in future research and practice.

Can Coastal Management Programs Protect and Promote Water-Dependent Uses?

Anecdotal evidence indicates that commercial and recreational water-dependent uses have been under development pressure in recent years, and in some cases have been converted to other uses. The conversion of water-dependent uses, which range from commercial shipyards to recreational marinas, may have many public costs, including the loss of access to public trust waters, the loss of jobs and associated economic activity, and the loss of traditional working waterfronts. This two-part study investigated the role of five coastal management programs in the northeastern United States in managing, monitoring, and protecting water-dependent uses. First, coastal managers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey were interviewed to assess the conversion problem. Second, in collaboration with New York City-based Regional Plan Association, follow-up interviews were conducted with coastal managers and local planners in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey to gain greater insight into the role of coastal management programs and local governments in managing and promoting water-dependent uses. This article presents select findings from this study and discusses recommendations for improving the capacity of coastal management programs and local governments to manage water-dependent uses for the benefit of the public.

Applying Ecosystem Services to the Practice of Coastal Management: An Overview

Abstract In the coastal science and management community of practice, the concept of ecosystem services (ES) is an approach to valuation that is growing and developing, through practice, to mean different things to different people. It is for these reasons that The Coastal Society, in partnership with the Coastal Management Journal editorial board, developed a special edition of the journal with the theme “Applying Ecosystem Services to the Practice of Coastal Management – Understanding Values.” This special edition sought papers on ES research and practice that examined the mix of ecological and social science research, stakeholder engagement, and communication that occurred throughout these efforts. In this introductory essay, the special edition co-editors and colleagues explore common themes across these papers, which span a range of location, practices, and experiences. Themes include the use of the ES approach, methodologies developed and deployed, connecting ES with people and society, reflections on challenges experienced, and reflections on applications for decision-making and management. This paper concludes with reflections on work that is yet to be done, in ES research, training, and application, to improve methods of measuring and communicating the values of our coasts and thus better prepare managers for the complexities of 21st-century management challenges.