Baker-Polito Announces Grants for River Restoration Projects

The Baker-Polito Administration has announced $72,000 in state grant funds for river restoration efforts in Andover, Freetown and Pelham, matched by more than $1.1 million in federal grants.

The funds have been awarded to implement ongoing projects coordinated by the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration (DER).

“It is important to remove aging and unsafe dams that pose a risk to public health, public safety and key economic centers,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These state and federal funds will enable rivers to be restored to their natural state, reducing flooding risks and improving ecological conditions.”

Each of the grants was awarded to projects previously designated as part of the DER’s Priority Projects Program.

The Department of Fish and Game designates Priority Projects through an open and competitive process.

The following grants were awarded in the latest round of Priority Projects funding:

• Town of Andover and Atria Senior Living, Inc. – for two dam removal projects on the Shawsheen River in Andover;
• City of Fall River – for the restoration of Rattlesnake Brook, a tributary of the Taunton River;
• HRD Press of Pelham – for the second phase of the Amethyst Brook Restoration Project.

Investments in ecological restoration projects produce an average employment demand of 12.5 jobs and $1.75 million in total economic output for each $1 million spent.

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