BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $5.2 million in grants to support Massachusetts coastal communities in combating climate change impacts.
The Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is helping fund 16 innovative projects through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program. These projects are designed to enhance local planning and shoreline management, empowering communities to proactively combat the immediate impacts of climate change. This funding is crucial for building resilience and sustainability along the state’s coastlines as communities face more frequent storms, storm surge, flooding, erosion, and sea level rise.
“Climate change is not only an environmental threat to our coastline, it’s an economic threat to our state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The recent hurricanes have underscored the urgency of this issue, reminding us that we must be proactive in safeguarding our communities. These Coastal Resilience Grants are part of our defense, protecting our shores from sea level rise and erosion, while strengthening coastal communities and preventing future damage.”
“Our coastal communities are on the front lines of climate change with rising seas and more severe storms,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Through a whole-of-government approach, the Coastal Resilience Grant awards provide essential funding that would otherwise be a significant financial burden. These grants empower communities to develop and implement innovative strategies that strengthen their defense against climate impacts.”
CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program provides funding and technical assistance to evaluate local vulnerabilities to coastal flooding and erosion. It also aims to raise community awareness and action on these issues, plan for changing conditions, redesign vulnerable community facilities and infrastructure, and restore shoreline systems to enhance natural resources and provide storm damage protection. Grants advance feasibility assessments, public outreach and engagement, design, permitting, and implementation of projects.
“Every action we take now to protect our coastlines shapes our future. Rising sea levels and stronger storms are challenges we can tackle head-on through programs like the Coastal Resilience Grants,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These awards allow communities and nonprofits to implement important strategies that build safer, more equitable coastal environments. This is our moment to invest in resilience and adapt, and we are taking advantage of it.”
“For more than 10 years, CZM has been working with local and regional partners through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program, providing funding to 60 coastal communities,” said CZM Director Alison Brizius. “This is a true team effort that ensures local solutions can be taken from concept to on-the-ground action.”
Including the grants announced today, over $51 million has been invested in 235 resilience improvement projects in 60 communities through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program since 2014. This funding has supported comprehensive planning, infrastructure improvement, and shoreline restoration projects to reduce wave energy, erosion, and flooding impacts.
“I’m thrilled that the Town of Westport has been awarded a Coastal Resilience Grant for $174,138 from the Healey-Driscoll Administrations’ Office of Coastal Zone Management. We need to be proactive to protect and preserve our coastal communities from the increasing effects of climate change. Westport will now be able to develop a plan to preserve its three barrier beaches from the impacts of storm surge, erosion, and the rise in sea level. The public will also weigh in and assist the Town in the development of best beach management practices going forward,” said State Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
“Sea level rise is one of the greatest threats our coastal communities face, and this investment is critical to protecting our towns,” said State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “Proactive planning and smart shoreline management is important to maintain public safety, healthy economies, and the environment in the face of storms, flooding, and sea level rise. This grant will allow our communities to more nimbly adapt to climate change.”
The 16 projects receiving a total of $5.2 million in Coastal Resilience Grants are:
Barnstable
Sandy Neck Beach Long-Term Coastal Resiliency Project, $90,542
The Town of Barnstable will finalize permits and complete the bidding process for a project to relocate the beach parking lot and gatehouse to a more landward location and restore dunes to reduce storm damage risk and preserve recreational access.
Brewster
Intermunicipal Shoreline Management for Southeastern Cape Cod Bay: Phase 2, $381,680
The Town of Brewster will continue its partnership with Dennis and Orleans to advance a regional shoreline management strategy for their shared 14.5-mile stretch of Cape Cod Bay coastline. The towns will also create an online public data portal and educational resource for shoreline management projects and techniques.
Falmouth
Feasibility of Beach and Dune Nourishment to Build Resiliency for Surf Drive, $153,466
The Town of Falmouth will evaluate the performance and longevity of beach and dune nourishment designs under storm conditions for the Surf Drive area. The town will also continue a public outreach program that informs residents of flood risks and a phased management approach to provide resiliency over the long term.
Hanover
Beal Water Treatment Plant and Wellfield Flood Resilience – Planning and Conceptual Design, $116,423
The Town of Hanover will conduct a planning study and develop conceptual designs to address flooding vulnerabilities to the Beal Water Treatment Plant, wellfield, and proposed PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) treatment facility.
Hingham
Hingham Harbor Waterfront Resiliency Project Salt Marsh Analysis, Compliance/Permitting, and Project Management, $287,928
The Town of Hingham will work to permit a comprehensive coastal flood protection strategy for Hingham Harbor to address storm damage and sea level rise. The project will also assess the reestablishment of the tide gate in the Home Meadows culvert for flood control.
Hull
Adaptation Pathways for Critical Facilities Phase 2 – Detailed Site Assessment and Public Outreach for DPW and Municipal Light Plants, $152,805
The Town of Hull will advance the design of facility improvements to address flooding for its Department of Public Works and Municipal Light Plant. The project will also continue stakeholder engagement on potential building relocation to adjacent parcels.
Marblehead
State Street Landing and Harbormaster’s – Tucker’s Wharf Resilience Project, $210,502
The Town of Marblehead will perform a site-specific analysis of coastal flood risk of town-owned properties and infrastructure in the State Street Landing area, including the Harbormaster’s Office, commercial and recreational boating and fishing facilities, and a waterfront park. The project will engage the community on conceptual design plans to mitigate flooding and improve public access.
Marion
Silvershell Pump Station Resiliency Improvement Project, $85,000
The Town of Marion will complete improvements at the Silvershell Pump Station to address coastal storm risks. The project includes the construction of a bypass connection and the assessment of additional flood resilience measures for the pump station, force main pipe, and standby generator.
Marshfield
Town of Marshfield Bay Avenue Beach Nourishment Project, Continued Implementation, $1,998,885
The Town of Marshfield will continue construction of a beach nourishment project along Bay Avenue with the placement of 36,190 cubic yards of sand, gravel, and cobble, enhancing flood and erosion protection for nearby infrastructure.
Revere
Beachmont Residents Fringing Belle Isle Marsh: Near-Term Actionable Flood Adaptations, $72,192
The City of Revere will evaluate a range of near-term emergency actions and long-term solutions to address flooding in the Beachmont neighborhood. This project will build on previous regional vulnerability assessments and directly engage with Environmental Justice populations in the Belle Isle Marsh area.
Salem
Winter Island Park Pathway and Bank Restoration Project Phase 2, $419,346
The City of Salem will evaluate potential options to stabilize three sections of eroding shoreline around Winter Island Park while considering the archaeological and historical significance of the site. The project will continue efforts to manage the impacts of pedestrian access and improve community understanding of coastal storms and sea level rise.
Resilient Together: Collins Cove Park Neighborhood, $500,069
The City of Salem will develop a flood risk reduction strategy and preliminary designs for the Collins Cove Park neighborhood, building on previous studies that identified flooding risks to critical infrastructure and Environmental Justice populations.
The Nature Conservancy
Proactive Planning for Collaborative, Equitable Retreat & Relocation in Massachusetts, $265,928
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will collaborate with coastal municipalities and other partners to launch a coastwide peer learning network, develop a resource database, and host public engagement events to identify best practices and barriers to proactive, community-led managed retreat.
Wareham Land Trust
North Water Street Beach Shoreline Resiliency Project, $85,000
The Wareham Land Trust will document the existing condition of North Water Street Beach and associated infrastructure, evaluate present and future vulnerabilities, and develop a suite of feasible alternatives to improve the long-term resilience of the site.
Westport
Westport Beach Management Plan, $174,138
The Town of Westport will develop a Beach Management Plan for the town’s three barrier beaches. The project will assess existing conditions and shoreline change, develop best practice recommendations, and conduct public outreach to build support for long-term adaptation recommendations.
Yarmouth
Packet Landing Resiliency Design and Permitting, $255,383
The Town of Yarmouth will advance design and permitting for improvements to Packet Landing Marina to reduce coastal flooding and sea level rise impacts, preserving public access.
The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Through planning, technical and grant assistance, and public information programs, CZM seeks to balance the impacts of human activity with the protection of coastal and marine resources. The agency’s work includes helping coastal communities address the challenges of storms, sea level rise, and other effects of climate change; working with state, regional, and federal partners to balance current and new uses of ocean waters while protecting ocean habitats and promoting sustainable economic development; and partnering with communities and other organizations to protect and restore coastal water quality and habitats.
