State of the Harbor

Nantucket Land & Water Council’s 9th Annual State of the Harbor Forum

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Great Harbor Yacht Club

Our Harbor, Our Responsibility: Preserving Eelgrass on Nantucket

The Nantucket Land & Water Council is pleased to present its 9th Annual State of the Harbor Forum, providing the latest information on issues impacting the health of Nantucket Harbor.

The event will begin with opening remarks by NLWC Executive Director, Emily Molden, and with a presentation by Dr. Alyssa Novak, Research Assistant Professor of Boston University, providing an update on our eelgrass restoration efforts in Nantucket Harbor. This will be followed by our featured presentation on Nantucket's first Eelgrass Management Plan by Tara Riley, Shellfish and Aquatic Resources Specialist for the Town of Nantucket, and Kimberly Starbuck of the Urban Harbors Institute, the Town’s consultant who has drafted the Plan.

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. The presentations will be followed by a period for questions and answers, and a reception with a raw bar and drinks. Please join us to learn about the importance of managing the eelgrass habitat that we still have, and how we can collectively prioritize protection, research, monitoring, and restoration efforts to ensure the sustainability of this critical resource for generations to come.

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

Thank you to our 2025 Business and Event Sponsors:

SPINDRIFT

Yoho Raw Bar

Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation

September Productions

Anderson's Stillwater Moorings

Ernst Land Designs

Nantucket Engineering & Survey, P.C.

Nantucket Marine

Surfing Hydrangea Nursery

Nantucket Shellfish Association


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.