CHELSEA, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration released the ResilientCoasts Plan, a sweeping, long-term strategy to safeguard Massachusetts’ 1,500 miles of coastline from the accelerating impacts of climate change — including sea level rise, flooding, and erosion — while bolstering local economies and infrastructure.
Developed in partnership with local governments, scientists, and residents, the plan outlines a comprehensive approach to protecting people, property, and natural environments over the next 50 years. It provides a blueprint for smarter investments in coastal resilience that the administration says could save billions in avoided damages and recovery costs.
“This plan is about helping people and local businesses stay safe and save money,” said Governor Maura Healey. “When we invest in stronger roads, flood protections, and coastal restoration, we’re not just preventing damage — we’re protecting livelihoods.”
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, a former mayor of Salem, added: “This plan takes that local perspective and turns it into real, actionable steps for every coastal community. It gives municipalities the support and guidance they need to strengthen their future.”
A Framework for Local Action
The ResilientCoasts Plan is designed to empower local decision-making and improve access to funding, data, and technical support. It lays out strategies for communities to strengthen infrastructure, retrofit seawalls, restore natural buffers such as dunes and salt marshes, and implement floodproofing and elevation projects in high-risk zones.
The plan identifies 15 Coastal Resilience Districts, which group neighboring towns with shared environmental and economic characteristics to promote regional collaboration and avoid redundant efforts. Within these districts, Near-Term Adaptation Areas have been pinpointed — neighborhoods and economic centers expected to face significant flooding risks as early as the 2030s.
According to research cited by the administration, every $1 invested in resilience yields roughly $13 in benefits and avoided losses. Conversely, delaying action could cost communities $33 in lost economic activity for every dollar not invested.
“Our coastal communities can’t wait for the next big storm to act,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This plan gives us the tools to be ready — to protect lives, homes, and local economies and to build the kind of resilience that will carry us through the next 50 years.”
Tying Local Projects to Statewide Policy
The release of the ResilientCoasts Plan aligns with Governor Healey’s Mass Ready Act, which authorizes $200 million in near-term coastal resilience projects and introduces new policies to accelerate climate preparedness. Among its provisions are flood disclosure requirements for homebuyers, resilience experts on the state building code board, and a Resilience Revolving Fund to provide low-interest loans for municipal projects.
Over the past two decades, Massachusetts has invested nearly $200 million in local resilience projects across 98 coastal communities — an effort the administration says the new plan will greatly expand and streamline.
Broad Support from Local Leaders and Partners
Municipal officials and environmental organizations across the Commonwealth praised the plan as a landmark step toward regional cooperation and long-term planning.
“Chelsea stands with Secretary Tepper and the Healey-Driscoll Administration on a forward-thinking plan to protect our communities against flooding,” said Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez, noting that local projects like those along the Island End River are vital to protecting thousands of residents and billions in economic activity.
Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo emphasized the importance of working together: “No one community can face this tide alone. The ResilientCoasts framework provides precisely the broad, regional coordination coastal cities and towns need.”
Environmental groups, including The Trustees of Reservations, The Nature Conservancy, and Boston Harbor Now, also applauded the plan’s strong focus on nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and marshes to absorb floodwaters and reduce erosion.
“As forever stewards of over 120 miles of coastline, we’ve seen first-hand the significant climate impacts to these ecosystems,” said Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees of Reservations. “We support the urgency of the Healey-Driscoll Administration to build resilience and help protect people and communities.”
Building a Resilient Future
The ResilientCoasts Plan represents one of the most ambitious statewide coastal resilience efforts in the nation. By prioritizing regional collaboration, science-based planning, and nature-based solutions, Massachusetts aims to protect both its people and its natural heritage from the worsening effects of climate change.
“People see what’s happening — the flooding, the erosion, the stronger storms — and they want action,” said Alison Brizius, Director of the Office of Coastal Zone Management. “ResilientCoasts reflects that urgency and provides a framework for protecting our coastlines and fighting climate impacts head-on.”
