State Funding to Help Eroded Areas

The Patrick Administration yesterday announced $1.5 million in funding to reduce risks associated with coastal storms, erosion and sea level rise through natural and non-structural approaches, continuing Governor Deval Patrick’s $50 million investment in climate change preparedness.

Grants were awarded to Chilmark, Gloucester, Plymouth, Salem, Save Popponesset Bay, Inc., Scituate and Westport.

“With these grants, the Patrick Administration is providing direct support to local projects that design and implement sustainable approaches to addressing climate change impacts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “These innovative, community-based projects protect vulnerable coastal development while maintaining natural shoreline systems such as floodplains, wetlands, beaches and dunes both now and in the future.”

The Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience Grants Program, administered by EEA’s Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), provides funding and technical resources for local efforts to increase natural storm damage protection and flood and erosion control.

Grants can be used for planning, feasibility assessment, design, permitting, construction and monitoring of green infrastructure projects that use natural approaches as a viable alternative to increased armoring with structures like seawalls and groins.

Projects funded this year include building and enhancing dunes and beaches, planting beach grass and other erosion-control vegetation, restoring coastal floodplain and creating salt marsh habitat.

Press Release