John S. Ramsey, PE, D.CE

• Flooding and Sea Level Rise Analysis in Downtown Nantucket, MA 

Mr. Ramsey served as project manager for a comprehensive analysis of flooding and sea level rise was completed for Nantucket Island Resorts, in order to make property management decisions in the next 20 to 40 years based on future risk-based decision making based on coastal flooding and sea-level rise scenarios over the next 40 years. The assessment evaluated most of downtown Nantucket and the infrastructure surround Nantucket Harbor and lead to the development of adaptation strategies and designs while assigning priority levels to allow science and data driven implementation of the adaptations. 

• Evaluation of Coastal Processes and Storm Impacts to Support Resilient Planning and Mitigation Strategies for the Vineyard Haven Harbor Shoreline, Tisbury, MA

Mr. Ramsey served as project manager for a for a comprehensive study of Vineyard Haven Harbor shoreline to develop an understanding of coastal processes, storm flooding, and sea level rise over the next 30-to-50 years to support a detailed analysis of potential shoreline management strategies and adaptations to provide resiliency for the shoreline and community infrastructure over the next 50 years. The quantitative assessment of both the risks and potential mitigation strategies required an evaluation of tidal, wave, and sediment transport dynamics within the harbor system, including the Lagoon Pond shoreline in the vicinity of Beach Road, to determine potential storm damage related to infrastructure along the coastline and a quantitative assessment of severe storms as it relates to both tidal flooding (storm surge “pathways”) and wave overtopping/damage along the historic district referred to as the “Harbor/Lagoon Pond/SSA Triangle” to provide the Town a “roadmap” that the Town can utilize to proactively plan for projects that will improve the resiliency of the harbor area.  

• Assessment of Coastal Erosion, Sediment Transport and Prioritization Management Strategy for Scituate Shoreline Protection, Town of Scituate, Massachusetts

Mr. Ramsey served as project manager for a quantitative analysis of town-wide coastal processes to acquire an understanding of alongshore sediment transport along the Scituate coast and a set of prioritization criteria were developed to determine the coastal resiliency of each shoreline section. A range of appropriate shore protection and coastal management strategies were evaluated for each section based on the efficacy of providing shore protection, the anticipated environmental impacts, and the overall cost of construction and maintenance over a 50-year period. As a part of the project, public working sessions were conducted to inform the public regarding both the process and the findings of the planning effort. Mr. Ramsey completed this project as an employee of Applied Coastal.

• Assessment of Shore Protection Options to Improve Coastal Resiliency along the Oak Bluffs Harbor Shoreline, Oak Bluffs, MA

Mr. Ramsey lead the detailed analysis of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities in Oak Bluffs, where much of the major infrastructure concerns are directly related to the shoreline. As environmental conditions related to coastal storms (both northeast storm events and hurricanes) and sea-level rise make the low-lying portions of the Town in the harbor area increasingly vulnerable, it is critical that the Town take proactive steps towards planning infrastructure solutions to mitigate for these impacts. The coastal resiliency plan that is being develop will provide a “roadmap” that the Town can utilize to proactively plan for projects that will improve the coastal resiliency of the area associated with Oak Bluffs Harbor. To support these conceptual resiliency designs, site-specific analyses of wave and tidal dynamics, coastal storms and sea level rise, combined with an evaluation of sediment transport pathways was developed. This aloud alternatives, both structural and non-structural enhancements to existing infrastructure, to be assessed in a quantitative manner and by basing future shore protection decisions on a quantitative analysis of coastal processes and risk matrixes, the Town of Oak Bluffs can plan and implement more cost-effective and sustainable solutions in the long-term. Mr. Ramsey completed this project as an employee of Applied Coastal.

• Assessment of Beach Nourishment and Groin Optimization for Oak Bluffs Shoreline South of the Harbor Entrance, Oak Bluffs, MA.

Mr. Ramsey served as project manager for a comprehensive study of the entire eastern Nantucket Sound facing coast of the Town of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard was performed in order to help quantify erosion rates and develop possible management solutions to help maintain public beach recreational resources. Sediment transport potential was computed for entire Town shoreline, and the southern half of the shoreline was modeled using a one-line shoreline change model developed in-house. Inputs to the model included average wave conditions computed using the 2-D wave model SWAN. Beach fill scenarios in the range between 12,000 and 56,000 cubic yards were simulated for different sections of the coast. These scenarios included options to reconfigure existing groins along the shoreline in order to improve their utility. Subsequent services included assessment of jetty improvements at the harbor entrance to enhance navigation safety. Mr. Ramsey completed this project as an employee of Applied Coastal.

• Design Services Related to Various Department of Conservation and Recreation Revetments and Seawalls in Massachusetts.

Mr. Ramsey served as project manager and lead coastal engineer for the evaluation of appropriate design wave climate studies (including wave forces, storm wave overtopping rates, and wave run-up), as well as further design guidance needed to assure appropriate construction methodology and mitigation. Projects included shore protection design for Squantum Point, seawall repairs at Rocky Beach and Short Beach (Revere/Winthrop), emergency revetment design for Winthrop Beach, revetment re-design along the Lynn Harbor side of the Nahant Causeway, re-design of the Point Allerton revetment (Hull), and re-design of Georges Island shore protection. Typical projects included numerical wave modeling of extremal conditions to develop appropriate engineering design parameters. Utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, wave overtopping, run-up, and forces can be determined to formulate an appropriate shore protection design. Mr. Ramsey’s involvement often included techniques designed to minimize wave reflection and/or downdrift impacts. As an example, a cobble berm was designed at Point Allerton to reduce wave reflection and maintain the revetment foundation. The work was performed for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation under contracts with Bourne Consulting Engineering, Vollmer Associates, and Parsons Brinckerhoff as an employee of Applied Coastal.

• Coastal Structures Inventory for Massachusetts.

Mr. Ramsey was part of a team selected by Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to develop a coastal infrastructure inventory for Massachusetts. Mr. Ramsey served as project manager for his engineering staff. This inventory provided the Commonwealth with a valuable tool for understanding the condition of their coastal inventory and for prioritizing any required repair and maintenance. A survey team performed a condition assessment for each structure, recorded the location of the structures using a Global Positioning System (GPS) and recorded digital photographs of each structure. Once collected, this field data was cataloged and entered into a database for submission to the prime contractor. Staff performed an inventory and evaluation of every non-private coastal structure in most of Cape Cod, as well as the towns of Scituate, Marshfield, and Plymouth. The work was performed for the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management under a contract with Bourne Consulting Engineering while employed at Applied Coastal.

• Alternatives Evaluation, Engineering Design, and Environmental Permitting for Tidal Inlet Relocation at Ellisville Harbor, Plymouth, MA.  

The purpose of this project was to address the on-going severe coastal bank erosion along the west side of the Ellisville Harbor entrance channel. This episodic coastal erosion has been occurring at an average rate of between 19 and 29 feet per year. Following an extensive alternatives analysis, inlet relocation was determined to be the most appropriate solution and environmental permits were secured for the activity. In November 2003, the inlet was relocated to its pre-1991 position. Breaching of the inlet at the pre-1991 location provided the most appropriate erosion protection solution, without adversely affecting the environmental resources. This was a critical consideration of this project because of the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) regulations governing Ellisville Harbor. In addition, post construction monitoring by UMass researchers indicated that by 2005, more than 23 acres of Spartina alterniflora had been re-established within the previously degraded marsh system as a result of the inlet relocation. Mr. Ramsey completed this project as an employee of Applied Coastal.