River Restoration and Revitalization Priority Projects

The Riverways Program is dedicated to restoring the ecological integrity of rivers and streams throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through partnerships with municipalities, watershed associations, non-profits, and many other organizations. In 2005, the Riverways Program formalized a new process for prioritizing river restoration projects throughout the state.

The priority project process enables Riverways to solicit project nominations through an annual RFR (request for responses) and select projects each fiscal year as funding and staff resources permit. Selected projects will be placed on the priority list and will become eligible to receive: (1) technical assistance from Riverways staff; (2) technical services by consultants selected through Riverways’ competitive processes funded by the Commonwealth; and/or (3) direct funding for implementation. The intent of this process is to assist Riverways in identifying and selecting river and stream restoration projects and to establish partnerships with project proponents through the implementation of the projects.

How are priority projects determined?

Restoration is defined as activities that assist in the recovery of the natural processes of a riverine ecosystem that have been degraded, altered, or destroyed. Preference is given to instream and riparian activities that: utilize innovative approaches, are part of a larger restoration/revitalization plan, address causes over symptoms, and result in on-the-ground implementation. Examples include (but are not limited to):

--Ecosystem-based river and stream restoration projects:

• Dam removal
• Improved stream crossings for fish and wildlife passage (for example, culvert retrofit/replacement)
• Natural channel design
• Bypass channels
• Stream daylighting
• Flow enhancement and naturalization
• Other innovative methods to restore the ecological integrity of rivers

--Urban revitalization of streams and stream corridors:

• Reduction of impervious surface and creation of buffers in urban riparian corridors
• Streambank restoration
• Stream daylighting
• Other innovative methods to restore the ecological integrity of rivers

--Projects beneficial at a sub-watershed-scale rather than an individual reach of a stream
--Projects that restore instream and riparian corridor habitat for multiple native species and multiple life stages of those species. Additionally, projects will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Ecosystem-based approach
• Ecological benefit
• Community benefit
• Clarity of project and likelihood of success

What kind of support is available?

Technical assistance from Riverways staff may include: planning, conceptual design consultation, fundraising support, project planning, site reconnaissance, community organizing, GIS assessment, support for community outreach, partnership building, restoration, project scoping, and design review.

Technical services from Riverways contractors (chosen through a competitive process) may include: assessment, feasibility studies, design, engineering, permitting, construction oversight, pre- and post-monitoring, restoration conceptualization, regulatory planning and review.

Funding may be provided for projects that are most ready for implementation; in addition funds may be awarded for project oversight by the applicant.

Funding Needs

All projects are partially funded and are actively seeking/leveraging funds from other federal and foundation sources.

Current Priority Projects

For a list of projects click here or use the link in the left-hand navigation.