Key Projects
Evaluation of Wetland Remediation Techniques in an Arid Environment – Project Manager
Dr. Weishar was the project manager for this large remediation project and led the remediation efforts within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This field study extends along the 750 Km of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Arabian Gulf shore from the Kuwait border to the industrial city of Al-Jubail. This complex shoreline is composed of an interlaced series of tide flats, beaches, embayments, lagoons, and salt marshes. Much of these ecosystems remain severely impacted from the oil spill. The year-long remediation demonstration project tested remediation technologies at the field scale for these arid ecosystems. The project demonstrated that large-scale marsh restoration was feasible through construction of a marsh remediation project. The project also demonstrated restoration of the other affected biotypes was feasible using indigenous equipment.
Restoration of a Restricted Tidal Marsh: South Cape Beach, MA. – Project Manager
South Cape Beach is a high marsh that has been isolated from the tidal source waters by culverts and artificial ditches. The installation of the ditches has muted the tidal range on the marsh plain and as a result Phragmites has begun to invade the marsh from the upland fringes. Dr. Weishar led the numerical modeling of the effort that formed the foundation for deriving marsh restoration designs that will help restore tidal circulation and prevent Phragmites encroachment onto the marsh plain.
Restoration of a Restricted Tidal Marsh: Nonquitt, MA. – Project Manager
Dr. Weishar was the project manager for this project and worked with the Woods Hole group team to develop restoration design alternatives. Nonquitt marsh has been isolated from tidal source waters of Buzzards Bay from approximately 40 years. The isolated pipe leading to the Bay mutes the tidal range from several feet to several inches. As a result the marsh sediments are highly saturated and a fresh water upland community has developed around the marsh perimeter. The preferred restoration alternative incorporated establishing a new tidal inlet in its historical footprint. Restoration design alternatives addressed large-scale marsh plain erosion, impacts to the adjacent wetlands, and increased flooding potential.
Monitoring Marsh Restoration in Delaware River Estuary, Public Service Electric and Gas Company.
Dr. Weishar is the adaptive management evaluation team leader responsible for an ongoing project evaluating restoration plans, developing and implementing corrective mitigation strategies, required to insure the successful restoration of 20,000 acres of salt marsh in the
Delaware River Estuary. This project requires evaluation and dissemination of complex data to the public regulatory community and scientists.
Marsh Restoration and Estuary Enhancement in Southern New Jersey, Hancock’s Bridge, NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas Company - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
As part of permit-required mitigation for nuclear facility with a once-through cooling system, Dr. Weishar reviewed feasibility of a program to restore 10,000 acres of degraded salt marshes through on-site visits and analytical analyses. Performed critical investigation using hydraulic modeling, resource area evaluations, design review of marsh channel and tidal inlet design, and investigation and quantification of restoration effects on ground water, septic systems, and private drinking wells. The success of this project required close interaction between Woods Hole Group, Inc., NJ State environmental agencies, NJ Attorney Generals Office, National Fish and Wildlife, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries, and concerned citizens.
Beach Nourishment Design for Spectacle Island Massachusetts, Boston Harbor, MA, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Completed a detailed beach nourishment design for the shorelines of Spectacle Island. Used refraction/diffraction model, REF/DIF1, to predict transformation of waves in areas where the bathymetry was irregular and diffraction was important. Used wave height results as input to longshore and cross-shore sediment transport models. These models were employed to simulate the performance of several different beach fill designs.
Design and Environmental Permitting for Pier and Dock Reconstruction at US Coast Guard Facility, Provincetown, MA, United States Coast Guard - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Performed coastal engineering analysis for the redesign and rehabilitation of a pier and dock facility and wave barrier for the US Coast Guard Station. Calculated design wave criteria for average and storm-induced conditions.
Beach Nourishment Design and Monitoring for the Southern Shore of Cape Cod, Cape Cod, MA, Great Island, Long Beach, and Dead Neck Homeowners Associations - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Performed shoreline change studies to evaluate rate of erosion and sediment loss for three different sites. Designed and participated in collection of high-resolution bathymetry, vibra cores, beach profiles, and sediment grain size data at each site. Developed and implemented beach nourishment plans for each site. Performed on-site topographic and bathymetric surveying before and after nourishment projects.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Shore Protection Structures Between Aunt Lydia’s Cove and Morris Island, Chatham, MA, Town of Chatham - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Prepared EIR to address impacts of revetments and other shore protection structures built to protect the Chatham mainland following the formation of the new inlet through the Nauset barrier, January 1987. Analyzed geologic history of the area, and studied evolution of Nauset barrier and tidal inlet system using historical maps, charts, and aerial photographs. Used a
combination of existing studies and numerical analysis to quantify wave, tidal, storm surge and sediment transport processes. Prepared a plan of short-term action, long-term action, and short-term optional management alternatives for the Town of Chatham, property owners, and permitting agencies.
Numerical Model Analysis of Wave Climatology and Storm Surge for Seawall Design, Deer Island, MA, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority via Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. - Oceanography/Project Manager.
Conducted numerical and physical model analyses of wave climatology, storm water levels, and wave run-up so that an effective and cost efficient shore protection plan could be developed for the island. Results from models runs were used to predict nearshore wave heights and water levels for 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year storm events and to optimize seawall design specifications. Two-dimensional physical modeling of the seawall design was performed using a test facility to evaluate the proposed structural design.
Bathymetric and Side Scan Surveys of Fort Point Channel, Boston Harbor, MA, BSC Group, Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Performed bathymetric and side scan sonar survey for part of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. Bathymetry was plotted on the area basemap to ensure water depths were adequate for floating construction barges into the channel. Side scan data were reviewed for possible bottom debris or hazards. During the survey, field operations were restricted due to bridges crossing the channel, and barge and boat activity within the channel. Despite the navigational problems, full coverage of the channel was obtained.
Directional Wave and Current Meter Installation and Data Analysis, Townsend and Absecon Inlets, NJ, Offshore & Coastal Technologies, Inc. - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Collected wave and current data at the entrances to and nearshore region downdrift of the Townsend and Absecon inlets. Analyzed data for directional spectral parameters including significant wave height, wave direction, mean water depth, and the variance of water surface elevation.
Particle Tracking Analysis at the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Hancock’s Bridge, NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas Company - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Evaluated near- and far-field impacts to a nuclear generating station’s intake basin using a particle tracking numerical model. Identified portions of the estuary providing potential detritus sources to the intake basin and evaluated the migration of detritus cleaned from the intake screens and dumped back into the estuary. Results of the particle tracking were collected in an effort to design a program to reduce and eliminate the detritus problem.
Bathymetry, Geophysical Survey, and Wave Refraction Analysis for Sand Borrow Site Analysis, Siasconset, MA, Town of Nantucket - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Completed a reconnaissance survey and analysis of two offshore sand borrow sites for a proposed beach nourishment project. Collected regional bathymetry, coring, beach sediment sampling, side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profiling, and magnetometer surveys. Modeled the wave
climatology using collected data. Used model results to calculate sediment transport potentials and gradients in sediment transport to determine dredging from the proposed borrow sites.
Sub-bottom Investigations and Detrital Flux Analysis at the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant, Hancock’s Bridge, NJ, Public Service Electric and Gas Company - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Designed a phased field data collection program to evaluate potential causes of detrital loading at the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant after detrital loading had forced the operating plant to shut down. Collected bathymetric data, conducted a sub-bottom survey, and monitored physical conditions: temperature, conductivity and current profile at the power plant. Conducted additional surveys to the north and south of the power plant to identify potential sources of the detritus.
Data Collection and Analysis of Tidal Current Characteristics at St. Lucie Inlet and Adjacent Waterways, Martin County, FL, Coastal Technologies Corporation - Oceanographer/Project Manager.
Designed a survey to obtained high-resolution measurements of tidal current velocities and to map temporal variations in the spatial structure of flow through the Inlet and waterway cross sections. Calibrated a numerical model of Inlet dynamics using survey results. Quantified the effect of Inlet geometry on the spatial structure of tidal flow and explained sediment accretion/scour characteristics within the Inlet.
Publications and Presentations
Presentations 41
Publications 59
