White caps on Chapin Beach in Dennis
BOSTON – Five local communities received state grant funding from the Baker-Polito Administration to help prepare for climate change.
Chatham, Dennis, Nantucket, Provincetown and Wareham received more than $660,000 through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Office of Coastal Zone Management.
The funding will support local efforts to plan for and adapt to coastal storm and climate change impacts, including storm surge, flooding, erosion and sea level rise.
“Massachusetts coastal communities face ongoing and growing challenges from climate change as they work to safeguard residents and businesses, maintain infrastructure and protect developed and natural areas from increasing storm severity and sea level rise impacts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our administration remains committed to providing financial support and technical assistance to help communities invest in a more resilient future.”
A total of $3.2 million was awarded to 16 communities.
The local awards and projects are listed below.
Chatham
Prioritized Assessment for Coastal Resiliency and Adaptive Management along Chatham’s East-facing Shoreline, $182,122
The Town of Chatham will use tidal, wave and sediment transport models to quantitatively evaluate the inlet and tidal channel dynamics at Chatham Harbor/Pleasant Bay. The study will support a detailed analysis of potential shoreline management options that could sustain the east-facing Chatham shoreline over the next 20 to 30 years.
Dennis
Improving the Coastal Resiliency of Dr. Bottero Road and Chapin Beach: Coastal Structure and Beach Nourishment Final Design, $101,603
The Town of Dennis will finalize engineering plans and permit documents for a project that will stabilize an eroding section of Chapin Beach using added sand and a coastal structure to hold the sand in place. The project will mitigate impacts to Dr. Bottero Road while preserving shorebird habitat and salt marsh and maintaining access to Chapin Beach and the Aquacultural Research Corporation.
Nantucket
Resilient Nantucket: 3D Digital Documentation and Sea Level Rise Visualization, $75,000
The Town of Nantucket will create three-dimensional visualizations of projected flooding and sea level rise at vulnerable sites to expand public awareness and communication of climate change impacts and help advance local resiliency planning efforts.
Provincetown
Ryder Street Beach and Dune Enhancement, $149,153
The Town of Provincetown will design and prepare permit applications for a beach and dune enhancement project along Ryder Street Beach to help provide storm damage protection to critical infrastructure assets and commercial and residential properties.
Wareham
Installation of Bypass Connection at Cohasset Narrows and Hynes Field Pump Stations, $153,375
The Town of Wareham will install mechanical sewer bypass connections at the Hynes and Cohasset Narrows pump stations to allow the pump stations to immediately continue servicing critical infrastructure facilities in the event of a catastrophic flood event. The town will also prepare design plans for a third bypass connection at the Narrows pump station.
Resiliency Assessment of Overflow Lagoons at the Wareham Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF), $63,750
The Town of Wareham will determine the additional storage capacity needed at the WPCF overflow lagoons for heavy precipitation and peak flow conditions with elevated groundwater due to sea level rise. Wareham will evaluate potential modifications to the lagoons to prevent excessive wastewater discharging into the Agawam River during flood events.
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