Issues and Strategies for Dealing with Long and Short-term Changes in Water Levels

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Over the last seven years, the Great Lakes have risen over five feet from record lows up to a series of record highs.  Record spring rainfalls have swollen rivers and caused extensive flooding throughout the Midwest, and warmer winter temperatures have reduced ice coverage that mitigated the worst of shoreline erosion.  Sea Level Rise is an ever-growing threat that is changing the way we design waterfront infrastructure due to peak tides and storm surges all across our oceanic coastlines. 
 
These changes in climatic patterns require more thoughtful approaches to the design and engineering of marina infrastructure, breakwaters, utility systems, and shoreline protection, and this session will explore issues and strategies for addressing them over the long term.  In addition, we will explore case studies that explore strategies for incorporating flood resilient strategies into new or existing facilities that will help address sudden changes in water level from storms and floods.


Jack Cox, Edgewater Resources

Mr. Cox is the Principal and Director of Engineering for Edgewater Resources, where he directs the planning and design, and oversees construction of large and complex waterfront and harborworks projects worldwide. He possesses internationally recognized credentials in nearshore hydrodynamics, coastal processes, arctic and ice engineering, harbor works, breakwaters, fixed and floating marine structures, shore protection, port planning, marina design, and navigation. He is a board certified Diplomate and Trustee of the Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineers, in the fields of coastal engineering, port engineering, and navigation engineering, being only one of ten experts worldwide to hold that distinction. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin, and award winning lecturer in the fields of coastal and maritime engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in fourteen coastal states in the US and in the country of Cyprus.

Greg Weykamp has more than twenty five years’ experience in the planning and design of the public realm, with an emphasis on implementation of sustainable built landscapes and urban waterfront environments. His project experience spans marinas, waterfront parks, master planned communities, urban revitalization, streetscapes, parks and recreation facilities, medical and university campuses,
and military installations. As a LEED Accredited Professional, Mr. Weykamp approaches every project from the perspective of efficiency in design, maintenance, and operations to create the most environmentally sustainable project possible within a pragmatic framework of cost and value to the client and community. As a registered landscape architect, certified nationally by the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards, Mr. Weykamp has the technical expertise and proven construction experience to ensure safe and efficient completion of the built environment.