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CZ-Mail - December 2025

The monthly email newsletter from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM).

Welcome to CZ-Mail, the monthly electronic newsletter from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). Each issue provides information on major CZM initiatives, available tools and publications, upcoming workshops and events, grants, contracting opportunities, job openings, and other news of interest to people working on coastal issues. Additional information about CZM’s programs, publications, and other coastal topics can be found on the CZM website. To subscribe to CZ-Mail, send a blank email (please be sure that the email is completely blank, with no signature line) to join-env-czmail@listserv.state.ma.us. Also, feel free to share CZ-Mail with colleagues and friends—and if you have any suggestions for future editions or would like to make a change to your subscription, email your request to CZ-Mail@mass.gov. For periodic updates from CZM between CZ-Mail editions, follow us on Bluesky and Twitter/X.

All links on this web page were current and working on the date of publication.

Highlights

Final ResilientCoasts Plan Released - On November 6, at an event with Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper at Island End Park in Chelsea, CZM released the final ResilientCoasts Plan. Developed over the last 18 months with direct input from local officials, residents, and regional partners, the plan outlines guidance and strategies to address near- and long-term vulnerability to coastal hazards like sea level rise, storm surge, and erosion along the Massachusetts coastline over the next 50 years. Specific plan components include:

  • Regional Collaboration - The plan identifies 15 Coastal Resilience Districts, grouping nearby cities and towns that share common characteristics like landform type, natural environment, built infrastructure, population and development character, and coastal risks. The purpose of these districts is to promote regional collaboration, inform prioritization of district-scale coastal resilience projects, and help prevent redundant efforts. In addition, data sharing, collaborative risk assessment, and tracking of progress on coastal resilience will be improved across communities.
  • Near-Term Adaptation Areas - Within the Coastal Resilience Districts, the plan identifies Near-Term Adaptation Areas with high concentrations of people and housing, development and infrastructure, and/or economic resources expected to be exposed to coastal flooding by the 2030s. Identification of these areas helps direct limited resources where they will make the biggest difference for residents and local economies—for example, in areas with high concentrations of critical local and regional infrastructure at risk.
  • Targeted Solutions - The plan provides guidance on a suite of resilience measures that can be applied across different coastal landscapes with a focus on areas along the immediate shoreline or within the coastal floodplain where the highest risks coincide with vulnerable development. Examples include: elevating roads and homes above expected flood levels; relocating people and housing to safer locations; floodproofing critical infrastructure; implementing nature-based solutions like salt marsh restoration, beach nourishment, and cobble berms to absorb flooding; and retrofitting and redesigning seawalls.

For additional details, see the press release and the links below for news coverage. (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

CZM Completes Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grant Projects - The following eight projects funded through CZM’s Coastal Habitat and Water Quality (CHWQ) Grants have been completed this year:

  • Ipswich River Watershed Association - Developed a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for the Ipswich River, which is key habitat for river herring and shad.
  • Needham - Completed assessment work and early designs for a system to treat stormwater runoff from the DeFazio Park parking lot to Alder Brook, a tributary to the Charles River. The stormwater treatment system will use a bioretention basin, which is a landscaped depression that collects and treats stormwater.
  • North and South Rivers Watershed Association - Finalized a comprehensive habitat restoration plan that prioritizes restoration opportunities for salt marshes and other habitat from Cohasset to Kingston.
  • Rehoboth - Completed assessments of stormwater impacts, prioritized sites for potential green stormwater infrastructure (methods that replicate natural processes to trap and filter stormwater prior to reaching local waterbodies), and developed conceptual designs. Also created Best Management Practice (BMP) maintenance checklists and trainings for town staff and reviewed existing bylaws and identified opportunities to promote green stormwater infrastructure practices, reductions in impervious surfaces, and other climate resilience design policies.
  • Saugus River Watershed Council - Completed an assessment, identification, and characterization of stormwater pollution sources within the Saugus River Watershed, including a priority list of 10 sites for potential stormwater management in Saugus, Revere, and Lynn.
  • Swansea - In partnership with the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District and Save the Bay, assessed stormwater impacts, prioritized sites for potential green stormwater infrastructure, and completed conceptual designs to manage stormwater entering the Cole’s River. Also facilitated stormwater project planning trainings for municipal staff.
  • Wildlands Trust - Developed a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for the Plymouth, Duxbury, and Kingston (PDK) Bay area and led coordination of the PDK Bay Coalition, which included facilitated discussions with local natural resource managers, leaders, and other stakeholders on future coordination and priorities for restoration planning.
  • Yarmouth - Advanced designs, permitting, and construction of stormwater BMPs at five sites in town and completed construction of new green stormwater infrastructure at sites along Standish Way and Great Western Road.

To learn more about these projects and others funded through the CHWQ Grants, see the CZM Grants Viewer.

REMINDER: Requests for Proposals for CZM Grant Programs Expected in Early 2026 - EEA has launched the new Environment & Climate One Stop (ECO One Stop) to simplify the grant application process for climate resilience and environmental projects in Massachusetts. By consolidating multiple applications into one streamlined process, ECO One Stop allows applicants to apply to multiple grants through a single application. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2027, both CZM grant programs—Coastal Resilience and Coastal Habitat and Water Quality—will be part of ECO One Stop. Information from webinars and other outreach is available on the ECO One Stop website and on the FAQ page. ECO One Stop informational webinars will be scheduled in January 2026, before ECO One Stop releases a Request for Responses (RFR) on COMMBUYS and opens for formal applications. This RFR will include both the Coastal Resilience and Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants. In addition, applications for this upcoming grant round must be submitted through EEA’s Grants Management System (GMS).

If you have any questions about the Coastal Resilience or Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants or want to discuss specific potential projects, the ECO One Stop application or process, or the GMS, please email:

Thank You COASTSWEEP Volunteers! - COASTSWEEP—the statewide beach cleanup organized by CZM as part of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup—has wrapped up for 2025. Thank you to all our volunteers throughout the years for your enthusiasm and commitment to keeping Bay State beaches beautiful! And stay tuned to CZ-Mail for the 2025 tallies on number of volunteers, miles cleaned, and tons of trash collected. Thinking ahead to next year, CZM plans to start signups for COASTSWEEP cleanups again in June 2026. To receive information about coordinating a cleanup or volunteering next season, please send your contact information to coastsweep@mass.gov.

Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities

Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Planning 2.0 Grants - EEA is seeking proposals for the FY 2026/27 Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 Planning Grants—a new grant program that builds on work completed by municipalities by funding new processes, tools, and resources for building local and regional resilience. Through MVP 2.0, communities will revisit resilience priorities with a focus on equity and translate those priorities into action through project development and implementation support. Eligible entities include municipalities, MVP-eligible Tribes, and Massachusetts political subdivisions applying on behalf of one or more municipalities. Communities with MVP plans dated June-December 2018 will receive priority for MVP 2.0 grants. For more information, including links to the pre-RFR webinar and the RFR, see the MVP website or the EEA Grant Management System. Applications are due through an online form by December 15.

Priority Projects Program Advancement Grants - The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is seeking applications for Priority Projects Program Advancement Grants to fund active, established wetland and river restoration projects within DER’s Priority Projects Program. Applications will be assessed on demonstrated need/urgency for support, capacity to advance restoration work, feasibility, likelihood of success, and environmental justice progress. For details, see the DER website. Applications are due by December 4.

Massachusetts Community Biodiversity Grants - The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game is seeking applications for Community Biodiversity Grants to support local efforts to meet the Biodiversity Goals for Massachusetts. Grants from $20,000 to $200,000 will be awarded and public and non-public organizations are eligible to apply. The question and answer period is open until 5:00 p.m. on December 5. For details on these grants and how to apply, see Massachusetts Community Biodiversity Grants. Applications are due by December 26.

MassTrails Grants - Through MassTrails, communities, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Native nations can apply for reimbursable, matching grants up to $500,000 to design, create, maintain, and support recreational trail and shared-use pathway projects in Massachusetts. See the MassTrails Grants web page for application details and grant documents. Proposals must be submitted online by February 2, 2026.

Community Culvert Program - Massachusetts Department of Transportation is seeking applications for a new program to fund municipal projects to modernize, repair, replace, remove, and improve culvert resilience. Municipal and Tribal governments are eligible to apply. To be considered for funding, culverts must be on a public way with an existing span of 10 feet or less. Both new and ongoing design and construction projects are eligible for funding. For more information, see the Community Culvert Program website. Proposals are due by January 9, 2026.

Newsletters and Other Periodicals

Coastal & Estuarine Science News - The fifth 2025 issue of Coastal & Estuarine Science News, the newsletter of the Coastal & Estuarine Research Foundation, includes articles on using terrestrial laser scanning to analyze mangrove forests, predicting harmful algal blooms with machine-learning models, impacts of beachface morphology on beach-nesting birds, and other coastal and estuarine research topics.

Ebb & Flow - The Summer/Fall 2025 issue of Ebb & Flow, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration eNewsletter, covers funding awards to support restoration projects, new biodiversity conservation goals for the Commonwealth, new staff, and other restoration project highlights and updates.

Massachusetts Lobstermen’s News - The November-December 2025 Newspaper (PDF, 12 MB) from the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) includes items on the 2025 American lobster stock assessments, an alkalinity experiment in the Gulf of Maine, a fellowship focusing on transitioning to a “low carbon fishing fleet,” MLA updates, and other lobster news.

Jobs/Internships

Buzzards Bay Coalition Positions - The Buzzards Bay Coalition is seeking applicants for two full-time, permanent positions: 1) Reserve Manager and 2) Water Restoration Project Manager. For details, see the Job Opportunities page.

Environmental Educator - The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is seeking a full-time Environmental Educator to facilitate education programs and events and advance goals to expand community engagement year-round on their properties. For details, see the position posting.

Assistant Field Coordinator - The Duxbury Beach Reservation is seeking a seasonal Assistant Field Coordinator for the Endangered Species Program and nesting species protection program. The Field Coordinator will also assist with supervision of Field Technicians and Shorebird Monitor Supervisors and the training of field staff. For details, see the job posting.

Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements

Season’s End Summit for the Ecological Landscaping Alliance - December 4, summit with the theme “Fire and Water” to be held in Boylston with a virtual option.

American Ecological Engineering Society Annual Meeting—Call for Abstracts - June-2-4, 2026, annual meeting of the American Ecological Engineering Society with the theme “Elemental Cycles: Innovations in Ecological Engineering & Circular Design” to be held in Burlington, Vermont. Abstracts are due by December 5.

Pollution Prevention Conference - December 10-11 and 17-18, virtual meeting from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable.

Decision-Making Tools for Heat and Stormwater Mitigation - December 11, webinar from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council with the Smart Surfaces Coalition as part of the Accelerating Climate Resilience Speaker Series.

Massachusetts Environmental and Energy Agenda for 2026 and Beyond - January 21, 2026, Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) Leadership Program with EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper to be held in Boston.

New England Water Environment Association Annual Conference - January 25-28, 2026, annual conference and exhibit for water quality professionals to be held in Boston.

New England Brownfields State Leadership Update - February 4, 2026, site remediation and redevelopment webinar from EBC.

Ecological Landscaping Conference - February 4-5, 2026, annual conference and eco-marketplace from the Ecological Landscape Alliance with the theme “Navigating Uncertainty” to be held in Providence, Rhode Island, with a virtual option.

Northeast Aquatic Biologists Conference - February 4-6, 2026, annual conference sponsored by NEIWPCC to be held in Westbrook, Connecticut.

International Erosion Control Conference - March 1-4, 2026, conference and exposition sponsored by the International Erosion Control Association on erosion, sediment control, and stormwater to be held in Fort Worth, Texas.

Calendar - Multiple/Ongoing Events

Association to Preserve Cape Cod Events - Free events and webinars on natural resources, gardening, and more. Links to free films, recordings of previous webinars, and information from past events are available.

Barnstable Clean Water Coalition Events - Activities and events for all ages throughout Barnstable.

Barnstable Land Trust Events - Programs for children and adults across Barnstable.

Boat Safety Course - Free, in-person course from the Massachusetts Environmental Police held in Commonwealth communities. This course will meet the mandatory boater education requirements for all motorized vessel operators that will begin April 1, 2026.

Boston Harbor Islands Calendar - Upcoming events and activities in the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park.

Boston Harbor Now Events - Events throughout the Boston Harbor area.

Buzzards Bay Coalition - Bay Adventures - Free, guided activities across the Buzzards Bay watershed.

Cape Cod Bird Club Walks and Activities - Free birdwatching field trips across Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Maritime Museum Events & Lectures - Upcoming events and lectures for all ages at the museum in Hyannis. Links to recordings of past lectures are also posted.

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History Events - Events at the museum in Brewster.

Center for Coastal Studies Events - Events and educational programs across the Cape Cod region.

Charles River Watershed Association Events - Upcoming events throughout the Charles River watershed.

Chatham Conservation Foundation Events - Activities and events across Chatham.

Climate Conversations: Pathways to Action - Monthly webinars from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on national policy action on climate change. Recordings of past webinars are also available.

Coastal & Estuarine Research Federation Webinar Series - Monthly science webinars, with recordings of previous webinars available to Federation members.

Conservation Commission Education - Workshops, webinars, and trainings scheduled across Massachusetts and posted by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC). See the MACC Complete Education Catalog and Events Calendar.

Duxbury Beach Events - Public events and education programs from Duxbury Beach Reservation.

Ecological Landscaping Alliance Events - Webinars, workshops, tours, and conferences on natural landscaping options, with recordings of past webinars available to Alliance members.

Falmouth Forum Lecture Series - Free public lectures at the Marine Biological Lab in Woods Hole. Recordings of previous lectures are available.

Floodplain Management Training - Various training opportunities compiled by the Department of Conservation and Recreation Flood Hazard Management Program.

Friends of Herring River Events - Upcoming Herring River watershed events in Truro and Wellfleet.

Harwich Conservation Trust Walks & Events - Birding and nature activities.

Healthy and Resilient Communities Research Webinar Series - Periodic community resilience webinars from EPA for local decision makers, with links to Past Webinar Recordings.

Ipswich River Watershed Association Events - Events throughout the watershed focusing on natural resources.

Keep Massachusetts Beautiful Events - Talks and volunteer opportunities across the Commonwealth on litter prevention and cleanup, waste reduction and recycling, beautification and community greening, and environmental education. See the Great Massachusetts Cleanup page for community-wide litter cleanups and park maintenance opportunities.

Lloyd Center for the Environment Calendar - Birding and nature walks and other activities for all ages at the center in Dartmouth.

MACC Lunch & Learn Webinars - Free monthly webinars on a variety of natural resource protection topics. Recordings of previous webinars are available.

Marion Natural History Museum Programs - Community and summer programs at the museum in Marion.

Mass Audubon Program Catalog - Programs for children and adults hosted at the following Mass Audubon coastal locations:

Mystic River Watershed Association Calendar - Volunteer events, festivals, learning opportunities, public meetings, and more throughout the watershed.

Nantucket Conservation Foundation Events - Walks, workshops, and community events across Nantucket.

National Marine Sanctuaries Webinars - Webinars hosted by the sanctuary system. See Past Webinar Recordings for descriptions of and links to previous webinars.

National Tools Showcase - Quarterly webinars from the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association on tools to address coastal challenges.

Native Plant Trust Classes & Field Studies - Events on plants and landscaping throughout the region.

Neponset River Watershed Association Events - Opportunities throughout the watershed.

New England Aquarium Events and Programs - Events, lectures, and programs at the aquarium in Boston. Recordings of past lectures are available on the Aquarium Lecture Series page.

NOAA Digital Coast Training Calendar - A range of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) training opportunities, with links to on-demand resources available on the Training page.

NOAA Planet Stewards Programs - Webinars, workshops, and book club sessions from the NOAA Planet Stewards Education Project. See the Webinar Archives for links to selected presentations.

NOAA Science Seminars - Webinars and seminars on science and climate issues from several NOAA partners. Past seminars are catalogued and available.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Technical Exchange Webinars - Periodic webinars from EPA on a variety of nonpoint source pollution topics, with links to previous webinars.

North and South Rivers Watershed Association Events - Event listings on the South Shore.

Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Webinars - Webinars on climate change, adaptation, and resilience from this center at the UMass Amherst with links to Archived Webinars.

Northeast Monthly Climate Updates - Free webinars from the Northeast Regional Climate Center to address timely weather and climate concerns. Recordings of previous webinars are also available, along with PDF copies of presentation materials.

Northeast Waste Management Officials Association Events - Upcoming webinars and events, with links to past presentations.

Open Communications for the Ocean Webinars - Periodic webinars on ocean topics, with links to past webinars.

Orleans Conservation Trust Events - Guided walks, programs, and talks in Orleans.

Rainwater Readiness Stormwater Workshops - Free public workshops on municipal stormwater management strategies and financing in Massachusetts presented by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, with links to previous workshop resources.

Salem Sound Coastwatch Events - Activities and events posted in the Salem Sound region.

Soak Up the Rain New England Webinar Series - Periodic webinars from EPA that highlight innovative ways to address stormwater, with links to archived webcasts.

Stone Living Lab Events - Free climate-focused events around Boston Harbor from this lab at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Trustees Programs - Experiences and opportunities at The Trustees of Reservations properties across the Commonwealth.

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Events - Activities for all ages at the reserve.

Water Watch Lecture Series - On Wednesday evenings from January 14-March 4, 2026, free, public lectures from the North and South Rivers Watershed Association and Mass Audubon available in person or virtually.

Westport River Watershed Alliance Events - Events in the watershed.

Whale & Dolphin Conservation Events - Education and outreach opportunities in Massachusetts and beyond.

Other Items of Interest

Right Whale License Plate Auction - The Massachusetts Environmental Trust is offering 25 low number right whale license plates for auction to support endangered right whale research and protection efforts. One hundred percent of contributions go to right whale conservation. For details and to place a bid, see the auction web page. Bidding is open through December 15.

Coastal Wetlands Scholarship - The Garden Club of America is seeking applicants for the Coastal Wetlands Studies Scholarship, which will provide a $5,000 stipend to one graduate student to support field-based coastal wetland research in the United States. Applications are due by January 10, 2026.

Thoreau Foundation Scholarships - The Henry David Thoreau Foundation is now accepting applications for their Undergraduate Scholarship Program from top Massachusetts high school seniors who plan to study environmental issues in college. Selected students will receive a four-year scholarship up to $25,000, eligibility for an environmental internship stipend, and access to the scholar alumni network. Applications are due by February 1, 2026.

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council - The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is accepting applications for several open positions on its Advisory Council to serve 3-year terms, with Youth members serving two years. The council consists of 36 primary and alternate members from public interest groups along with nine seats from federal and state government agencies. For more information and to apply, see the Sanctuary Advisory Council Recruitment page. Completed applications are due by January 20, 2026.

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