Mark P. Smith Email & Phone Number

Consulting Services on the development and analysis of national, state and local environmental policies and programs related to the protection, use and management of water and coastal resources, including the related climate risks.

Greater Boston Area

The Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE), is the school-wide Center leading the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's strategy on health, climate science and sustainability. Co-led the overall strategic planning for the Center in coordination with the Director and the SPH faculty and advise on all strategic programmatic decisions for the Center.

Boston

Co-lead of the North America Risk Reduction and Resilience priority to help public and private agencies and companies adapt to climate change. Our program integrated nature-based approaches to flood and storm risk management to meet the multiple needs of society, including reduced river and coastal flood risk, improved environmental conditions and support local economic activity. Designed programs to systematically consider environmental needs and the benefits while continuing to ensure safe and reliable water for people. The program worked in collaboration with staff and partners across the United States to advance projects that demonstrate how to manage these processes at a system scale and leverage these outcomes to inform other conservation projects and programs. Our efforts included work at the global scale and supporting projects in Europe and China.As deputy director for the North America Water Program, developed and implemented the nature-based water policies and priorities for the North America Region of The Nature Conservancy. The program focused on identifying and pursuing high leverage policy and program engagements that advance the protection, use and management of water to benefit people and nature. The success of the program was supporting work across the organization to bring applied science and new policy innovations into public and private decision-making. Advanced regional and system-scale management of freshwater and coastal systems through large scale, on-the-ground demonstration projects and by seeking improvements in key federal and state water management programs.

Developed and implemented the Eastern U.S. Freshwater Program to enhance the efforts of the 14 states in The Nature Conservancy’s Eastern United States Conservation Region to conserve freshwater ecosystems and natural communities and the plants and animals they support. The program emphasized landscape-scale conservation and seeks to develop new and effective freshwater conservation strategies. The program focused on five priorities: conserving stream flows and water levels, maintaining and improving the connectivity of freshwater ecological systems, targeting land conservation to protect freshwater resources, protecting and restoring migratory fishes; and addressing the impacts of climate change. The program developed multi-level strategies, including public policy initiatives, science, conservation planning, fundraising support; and building effective partnerships with public and private organizations. Participated high visibility public policy initiatives, including the development of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and the development and adoption of new water management regulations for the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Boston, Massachusetts

Working for the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs, developed and implemented water resource protection strategies and coordinated water and wastewater policy development for the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) and the five state environmental agencies in Massachusetts. Served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Commission, a 13-member commission responsible for establishing state water policies. Oversaw development, implementation and management of the Massachusetts Watershed Initiative, including managing a staff of 27 and an annual budget of $3.8 million. Oversaw and managed policy issues and programs on a wide range of issues related to water quality, drinking water protection, streamflow protection, and water and wastewater programs. Oversaw and developed numerous state water policies and programs, including the development of the state’s Drought Management Plan and serving as co-chair of the state’s Drought Management Task Force.

Boston, Massachusetts

Responsible for leading and managing this high-visibility project to develop a comprehensive watershed protection plan for Casco Bay, Maine. Responsibilities included: managing a $5 million budget that funded over 60 projects, a project office and six staff; researching and developing resource protection policies; securing the participation of stakeholders and managing the public decision-making process; developing and overseeing scientific, technical, and planning studies and public outreach activities; organizing and facilitating public workshops, focus groups and interviews; developing a five-year strategic plan and annual work plans; writing preliminary and draft final watershed plans, and representing EPA to senior federal, state, and local officials and to the public.

Master'S Degree, Urban And Environmental Policy

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science & English