Resilient Vineyard Haven Harbor
This page serves as a central resource hub for the studies, reports, and resilience work underway to understand risks and identify potential solutions. Together, these efforts help guide the future of a safer, more resilient Vineyard Haven Harbor, which is essential for a more resilient Martha’s Vineyard.
What is Resilient Vineyard Haven Harbor?
Vineyard Haven is Martha’s Vineyard’s only year-round port of entry, making it an essential gateway for residents, emergency services, and the Island’s economy. As sea level rise, poor drainage infrastructure, and chronic flooding increasingly threaten the harbor, the Five Corners intersection, and access to the island’s only hospital, long-term planning and coordinated action are critical.
understanding the reports and studies is the first step in coordinating solutions and supporting resiliency
2020 EPA Integrated Stormwater Management Report
The goal of the project was to improve the quantification and communication of the benefits of relatively small, distributed green infrastructure (GI) and other stormwater control measures (SCMs). Specifically, the project focused on investigating the range of expected benefits, including flood mitigation and nutrient and pathogen load reductions, that may result from implementing cost effective stormwater management strategies in the space-constrained urbanized setting of Tisbury, MA. Visit the EPA project page for full deliverables.
- Report prepared for U.S. EPA Region 1
- In cooperation with Town of Tisbury, Tisbury Waterways, Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
- Prepared by Paradigm Environmental, University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center, Great Lakes Environmental Center
2021 CZM Resilient Planning and Mitigation Strategies
The Town of Tisbury received funding assistance through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (MCZM) FY21 Coastal Resilience Grant Program to develop conceptual flood protection designs for downtown Vineyard Haven. The overall goal was to perform a more detailed assessment of the recommended options and develop conceptual designs for these flood mitigation strategies. Included in the goal of each design was the development of pragmatic shoreline management strategies that would provide resiliency for the Vineyard Haven Harbor shoreline over the next 30 to 50 years.
- Report prepared for Town of Tisbury, MA
- Prepared by Applied Coastal Research and Engineering, Inc.
2023 Veterans Memorial Park Drainage/Stormwater Control Measures
The objective of this project is to develop a Master Plan for Veterans Memorial Park. The goal of this task in particular is to prepare and assess alternative concept plans that balance future park uses with addressing the known stormwater issues at the Park and nutrient loading to Mud Creek and Lagoon Pond.
- Report prepared for Town of Tisbury Open Space and Recreation Committee
- Prepared by Horsley Witten Group Sustainable Environmental Solutions
2024 Tisbury Master Plan
The Tisbury Master Plan document is the culmination of a 20-month process that included stakeholder participation, assessment of existing needs and resources, visioning and goal setting, and identifying strategies to help achieve the Town’s common aspirations. The Plan has been prepared with care and attention to building on Tisbury’s existing assets and being mindful of the Town’s implementation capacity.
- Report prepared for Tisbury Planning Board and Master Plan Steering Committee
- Prepared by Barrett Planning Group LLC, Dodson & Flinker, Horsley Witten Group, BETA, FXM Associates
2024 Veterans Memorial Park
Master Plan
This Master Plan was developed by the Horsley Witten Group (HW) in collaboration with the Town of Tisbury Open Space and Recreation Committee (OSRC) to improve stormwater management while maintaining recreational opportunities in the Park. Veterans Memorial Park sits on a 10.62 acre parcel owned by the Town of Tisbury between Beach Street, State Road, Causeway Road, and Lagoon Pond Road. The Beach Street entrance to the Park is approximately a five-minute walk from the Steamship Authority Vineyard Haven Ferry Terminal.
- Report prepared for Town of Tisbury Open Space and Recreation Committee
- Prepared by Horsley Witten Group Sustainable Environmental Solutions
2025 MassDOT Beach Road Study
This planning study was initiated to address resiliency, road safety, and operations at the Five Corners intersection with Beach Road, and to support drainage work proposed in the study area. During the public involvement process and engagement with stakeholders, addressing flood vulnerability emerged as a key priority. This study reviewed future year climate models for the horizon years 2030, 2050, and 2070 alongside developing alternatives for roadway improvements.
- Report prepared for Vineyard Haven, Tisbury
- In cooperation with Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, under the State Planning and Research Program
- Prepared by MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning