State of the Harbor
Nantucket Land & Water Council’s 9th Annual State of the Harbor Forum
July 15, 2025
Great Harbor Yacht Club
Our Harbor, Our Responsibility: Preserving Eelgrass on Nantucket
Thank you to everyone who attended for your support of Nantucket Land and Water Council’s
9th Annual State of the Harbor Event providing the
latest information on issues impacting the health of Nantucket Harbor.
Our event kicked off with opening remarks by our
NLWC Executive Director, Emily Molden and then continued with a presentation by
Dr. Alyssa Novak, Research Assistant Professor of Boston University,
providing an update on our eelgrass restoration efforts in Nantucket Harbor. Following that, we heard about
Nantucket's first Eelgrass Management Plan with
Tara Riley, Nantucket’s Shellfish and Aquatic Resources expert and
Kimberly Starbuck of the Urban Harbors Institute. Our presentations concluded with
an update on the progress of the Nantucket Harbor Plan by
Jeff Carlson, the Natural Resources Director for the Town of Nantucket. After the presentations, our speakers offered their expertise during an engaging Q and A where we had informative discussions on green crabs, more sustainable mooring alternatives, and eelgrass health.
Our sunny evening concluded on the beautiful Great Harbor Yacht Club Lawn where our guests and presenters enjoyed the
scenic views, delicious YOHO raw bar, and libations.
Thank you to our 2025 Business and Event Sponsors:
Yoho Raw Bar
Nantucket Shellfish Association
Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation
Spindrift
September Productions
Anderson's Stillwater Moorings
Ernst Land Design
Nantucket Engineering & Survey
Nantucket Marine
Nantucket Catering Company
Surfing Hydrangea Nursery
This event provided
crucial information on efforts to preserve Nantucket's eelgrass and Harbors. Our researching, monitoring, and restoration efforts ensure the sustainability of this critical resource for generations to come and we are so grateful for everyone who attended, engaged and supported this year’s
State of the Harbor.
To read a copy of Nantucket’s Eelgrass Management Plan, please visit the
Town’s website.
2025 State of the Harbor Program
Opening Remarks:
Emily Molden
Featured Presentation:
Part 1: Eelgrass Restoration Efforts in Nantucket Harbor - Update on the Status of our Eelgrass: Tara Riley
Restoration Successes & Challenges: Dr. Alyssa Novak
Part 2: A Presentation of Nantucket’s Eelgrass Management Plan: Kim Starbuck and Tara Riley
Q&A with the presenters
Nantucket Harbor Plan Update: Jeff Carlson
Drinks and Yoho Raw Bar to Follow
Presenters:
Emily Molden, Executive Director, Nantucket Land & Water Council
Dr. Alyssa Novak, Research Assistant Professor, Boston University
Tara Riley, Shellfish & Aquatic Resources Manager, Town of Nantucket
Kimberly Starbuck, Senior Research Associate, Urban Harbors Institute
Jeff Carlson, Natural Resources Director, Town of Nantucket
The NLWC’s 8th Annual State of the Harbor
Hosted on July 18, 2024. Watch the full presentation – The State of the Harbor: The Status of Nantucket’s Stormwater Infrastructure and Collaborations for Harbor Health, HERE.
