Kate Boicourt
Director, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds
Work
Areas of expertise:
Coastal resilience, watershed ecology and protection, resilient design, consensus-building, policy and advocacy.
Description
Kate is a director for the Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds team. She works within EDF’s Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds team to foster partnerships to collectively advocate for comprehensive, evidence-based and equitable policies and investments that build resilience for all in New York, New Jersey and beyond.
Kate has been a fantastic partner to EDF over the last several years as the Director of Resilience for Waterfront Alliance. In this role, she spearheaded Rise to Resilience, a multi-year campaign and coalition for resilience in the NY-NJ region, as well as the development of WEDG (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) into a national rating system and education program for excellence in waterfront design. Prior to that, she served as the restoration program manager for the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP), where she focused on coastal issues related to restoration, public access, and climate change.
Kate also led a team of experts to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the State of Maryland and has held multiple roles conducting and synthesizing research to influence policy and environmental management.
Background
Previously, Kate was Director of Resilience for Waterfront Alliance. In this role, she spearheaded Rise to Resilience, a multi-year campaign and coalition for resilience in the NY-NJ region, as well as the development of WEDG (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines), a national rating system and education program for excellence in waterfront design.
Kate also served as restoration program manager for the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP), where she focused on coastal issues related to restoration, public access and climate change. Kate also led a team of experts to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the State of Maryland and has held multiple roles conducting and synthesizing research to influence policy and environmental management.
Publications
· Boicourt, K. 2020. Investing in NYC’s infrastructure will also strengthen our resiliency. amNewYork.
· Boicourt, K. 2020. Covid stimulus money should be used to build storm resilience. Crain’s New York Business.
· Boicourt, K and E Bautista. 2020. Downstate NY Needs Its Fair Share of the Restore Mother Nature Bond Act. New York Daily News.
· Boicourt, K. 2020. Re: After Trump’s Criticism of Sea Wall Project, U.S. Halts It. The New York Times.
· Lewis, R. and K Boicourt. 2019. We can’t effectively plan for climate change without real community dialogue and long-term planning. Gotham Gazette.
· Boicourt, K, R Pirani, E Svendsen, and L Campbell. 2016. Connecting with Our Waterways: Public Access and Its Stewardship in the New York – New Jersey Harbor Estuary. New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program, Hudson River Foundation and US Forest Service. New York, NY
· Boicourt, K, L. Baron, R Pirani, H Aboulezz, C Alderson, P Weppler, G Jacob, R Ehinger, M Larson, J Lodge, D Mans, M Matsil, J McLaughlin, A Peck, R Siegel, S Zahn. 2014 Restoring the New York – New Jersey Harbor Estuary: Ensuring Ecosystem Resilience and Sustainability in a Changing Environment.
· Boicourt, K and ZP Johnson (Eds) 2010. Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Maryland’s Vulnerability to Climate Change, Phase II: Building societal, economic, and ecological resilience. Report of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change.
· Bricker, S, B Longstaff, W Dennison, A Jones, K Boicourt, C Wicks, and J Woerner. 2007. Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in the Nation’s Estuaries: A Decade of Change. NOAA Coastal Ocean Program Decision Analysis Series No 26.
Latest pieces
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Measuring resilience
EDF, February 28, 2024 -
Prioritizing communities and nature in the nation’s largest Army Corps project in New York-New Jersey Harbor
Growing Returns Blog, May 8, 2023 -
EDF Celebrates the Passing of the NY Bond Act.
Growing Returns Blog, November 9, 2022 -
Environmental bond gives New York a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fund a more climate resilient future.
Growing Returns Blog, May 3, 2022 -
3 ways New York and New Jersey can address flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida
Growing Returns Blog, September 22, 2021
Press materials
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Environmental Defense Fund, Regional Plan Association Release Report that Identifies Ways to Measure Climate Resilience
February 29, 2024 -
New York Announces Commitment to a Comprehensive Plan to Build Statewide Climate Resilience
January 9, 2024 -
Advocates celebrate breakthrough in campaign to overhaul flawed Army Corps flooding plan for NY-NJ Harbor
November 13, 2023 -
Organizations Voice Concern Over Federal Flooding Plan for NY-NJ Harbor
August 16, 2023 -
New Jersey Takes a Big Step Toward Ensuring Greater Inland Flood Protection
June 9, 2023 -
New York’s Sustainability Plan Will Act on Climate Resilience
April 21, 2023 -
New York Voters Pass Historic 2022 Environmental Bond Act
November 9, 2022 -
Urgent Action Needed to Prepare New York and New Jersey Communities for Sea Level Rise
February 15, 2022