CZ-Mail - September 2026

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 [e-mail]. Also, feel free to share CZ-Mail with colleagues and friends—and if you have suggestions for future editions or would like to make a change to your subscription, email your request to [e-mail]. For periodic updates from CZM between CZ-Mail editions, follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Twitter/X.

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

Highlights

CZM Awards Nearly $6 Million in Coastal Resilience and Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants - On August 13, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) announced more than $45 million in grant awards to support 97 projects that will help communities across Massachusetts better withstand flooding, extreme heat, coastal erosion, and other climate impacts through the first round of Environmental and Climate One Stop (ECO One Stop) grant awards. CZM awarded $5,889,984 in Coastal Resilience and Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants, which are now part of the ECO One Stop application process.

Through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program, CZM awarded $5.3 million to support Massachusetts coastal communities and nonprofit partners in protecting vulnerable critical infrastructure and environmental resources from coastal flooding, erosion, and storm damage. This funding, along with technical assistance, will be provided to these 12 projects designed to support local and regional efforts for proactive planning, community engagement, infrastructure retrofits, and shoreline restoration: 

• Boston Housing Authority - $121,549 to develop designs to increase flood resilience for residents at Ausonia Apartments, a public housing development in Boston’s North End neighborhood that faces coastal flood risk. Design work includes relocating first floor units and elevating mechanical equipment, designing flood barriers, and exploring back-up power solutions. The project will also conduct resident engagement and capacity-building through educational workshops and creation of a resident flood resilience task force.
• Chatham - $933,780 to construct a pilot project to stabilize an eroding section of shoreline and restore salt marsh at the entrance to Muddy Creek along Jackknife Beach. Using a nature-based approach, this pilot project will rebuild the marsh edge to create a self-sustaining, resilient shoreline that will improve adaptation to tides, storms, and sea level rise. Guardrails and signage will guide visitors, protect restored habitat, and support continued public access.
• Duxbury Beach Reservation - $1,000,000 to complete an approximately 3,000-linear-foot beach and dune nourishment project south of High Pines. This stretch of shoreline is currently only 30-35 feet wide, exceedingly low in elevation, and at risk of a breach during a severe coastal storm event. The project will help protect the mainland communities of Duxbury, Marshfield, Kingston, and Plymouth from the direct effects of waves, storm surge, and erosion.
• Falmouth - $300,000 to prepare design plans and permit applications to adapt water mains in the Surf Drive area, including two new 12-inch-diameter water mains along Oyster Pond Road and Elm Road, as well as a 10-inch-diameter gate valve at the intersection of Mill Road and Surf Drive. These adaptations will allow residential areas along these roads to maintain adequate water pressure in the event that the existing water main must be shut off permanently due to storm damage on Surf Drive.
• Hull - $468,839 to continue to advance designs to combine the Department of Public Works and Municipal Light Plant facilities as a joint, resilient facility. The town will continue public outreach and consultations with agencies to advance permitting and stormwater, landscape, and site designs that support flood mitigation and ecosystem benefits.
• Kingston - $171,028 to continue to advance design plans for resilience improvements of the town’s only public landing, locally called Ah-De-Nah, which provides residents and visitors with access to Kingston, Plymouth, and Cape Cod Bays. The wharf, Harbormaster’s Office, and parking lot at the project site provide emergency services and have a history of flooding during king tides and coastal storms. This project will develop 60% design plans and permit applications to support future final design and construction.
• Revere - $98,360 to evaluate the feasibility of developing a Utility Elevation Assistance Program to help residents elevate critical utilities (e.g., HVAC equipment, electrical panels, and boilers) currently in flood-prone basements. The project will establish recommended Design Flood Elevations, identify retrofit strategies, and assess program design approaches, including eligibility criteria, administrative structures, benefit-cost evaluations, and funding mechanisms.
• Salem - $1,656,900 to implement a nature-based coastal bank stabilization project along 690 linear feet of critically eroding shoreline at Winter Island Park, including sections of Waikiki Beach, Fort Pickering, and the parking lot edge. The project will remove invasive vegetation and use fiber lift arrays and native vegetation to provide storm damage protection and erosion control, improve public safety and pedestrian access, restore native vegetation, and preserve archaeological and historic resources dating back 6,000 years.
• Swansea - $61,140 to improve the long-term resilience of Swansea Town Beach by developing an effective approach to placing dredged material within the beach and dune system. This project will identify a more resilient approach to dune construction, which will support future permitting and long-term beach management efforts.
• The Nature Conservancy - $375,494 to continue, with project partners, to support and strengthen regional collaboration and knowledge sharing on coastal relocation. The project will provide direct technical assistance to regional cohorts of communities and support existing research on the development of a state-wide buyout and elevation program.
• University of Massachusetts - Boston - $91,894 to assess the vulnerability of commercial fishing infrastructure, including docks, hoists, and boat ramps, to coastal storms and sea level rise in Plymouth, Scituate, and Provincetown. The project will develop resilience strategies, engage community members and decision-makers to elevate awareness of the potential impacts, and position the communities to secure resources that address their vulnerabilities.
• Wareham - $111,000 to evaluate current and future coastal hazards affecting both existing and proposed sewer infrastructure in vulnerable coastal areas. Where proposed infrastructure is identified as vulnerable, up to two alternative conceptual design or siting options will be developed and compared based on flood risk reduction, erosion resilience, and adaptability to sea level rise. The project will also include an analysis of replacing proposed sewer infrastructure in vulnerable areas with a nitrogen-reducing septic system program.

Including these grants, more than $60 million has been invested in 259 resilience improvement projects in 61 communities through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program since 2014.

Through the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants, CZM awarded $500,000 to these four projects that address stormwater pollution to coastal waters and advance coastal habitat restoration efforts:

• Dennis - $140,854 to complete data collection and modeling for replacement of the Loring Avenue Bridge. This project is in partnership with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod and builds on a broader restoration effort within the Weir Creek Estuary. The project will inform future designs for the replacement of the bridge, which will improve tidal flow to restore upstream coastal habitats.
• Ipswich - $201,490 to complete data collection, modeling, and design for upgrades for two undersized culverts on Town Farm Road that restrict tidal flow in Paines Creek, which connects to Plum Island Sound. This project is in partnership with the Ipswich River Watershed Association and will address priority crossings for restoration of tidal flow, fish and wildlife passage, and future marsh migration in publicly owned upland areas.
• Martha’s Vineyard Commission - $103,174 to complete a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for salt marshes across Martha’s Vineyard to strengthen climate resilience and coastal ecosystem management. This project is in partnership with the Towns of Chilmark, Edgartown, Aquinnah, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury, in addition to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, Trustees of Reservations, Sheriffs Meadow Foundation, Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group, Mass Audubon, Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission, and Dukes County. The planning process will include an assessment of salt marsh conditions and vulnerabilities and development of regional profiles and restoration opportunities with priority actions to guide future implementation and funding.
• Yarmouth - $54,482 to advance permitting of green stormwater infrastructure improvements at Wings Grove Beach and Old Main Street. The project builds on previous work funded by the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants to identify priority sites and complete designs for stormwater best management practices that reduce or eliminate contaminants in stormwater runoff to improve coastal water quality in Yarmouth.

Including these projects, more than $6.4 million has been invested across the Massachusetts coastal watershed through Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants since Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.

See the press release for more information and the links below for news coverage. (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

• Gov. Healey awards $45M to fight flooding, extreme heat—See who got funding - MassLive, 8/14/26
• New Massachusetts grant program funds projects for climate and extreme weather resilience - WWLP, 8/14/26
• Wareham gets grants to plan removal of Parker Mill dam, evaluate sewer system weaknesses - Wareham Week, 8/14/26
• Massachusetts town secures over $140K in state funds for marsh migration, beach resilience - The Cool Down, 8/26/26

FY 2028 ECO One Stop Expression of Interest Period - EEA is running the Expression of Interest (EOI) period for the FY 2028 ECO One Stop grant round from September 8-October 16. CZM’s Coastal Resilience and Coastal Habitat and Water Quality grants are included in the ECO One Stop.

• EOI Process - Interested applicants will be able to submit an optional, but recommended, EOI form to receive feedback on potential projects from relevant grant program staff before the formal application period begins in early 2027. The online EOI form will be available on September 8. This year, potential applicants can submit up to two EOIs (the equivalent of two project ideas), with the exception of Regional Planning Agencies, which can submit up to four. EOIs must be submitted by the end of the day on October 16. See the FY28 ECO Expression of Interest page for more information. Please note that due to EEA’s capacity and out of fairness to other potential applicants, grant staff may not be able to provide feedback on project ideas submitted after the EOI deadline.
• Informational Webinar - Potential applicants are encouraged to attend EEA’s virtual informational webinar on the ECO One Stop EOI process (the webinar will be recorded and posted to the ECO One Stop web page): 
  • Tuesday, September 15, 11:00. a.m.-noon - Register 
• Webinars for Specific Project Types
  EEA will also host a set of webinars that provide specific guidance on these popular ECO One Stop project types (webinar recordings will be posted when available):
  • Land Use Planning - Tuesday, October 27, noon-1:00 p.m. - Register
  • Stormwater Management - Tuesday, November 3, noon-1:00 p.m. - Register
  • Culvert/Small Bridge Upgrade or Removal - Tuesday, November 10, noon-1:00 p.m. - Register
  • Dam/Levee Repair, Upgrade, or Removal - Tuesday, November 17, noon-1:00 p.m. - Register
• Questions 
  • For general questions, or if you applied to the FY 2027 ECO One Stop round and would like feedback on your past application, please contact [e-mail].
  • For specific questions on CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program, contact [e-mail].
  • For specific questions on CZM’s Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants, contact [e-mail].

CZM Completes Coastal Resilience Grant Projects - The following 14 projects funded through CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grants were completed this year. See the CZM Grant Viewer for more information about these projects and links to project web pages.

• Barnstable - Relocated the Sandy Neck Beach parking lot approximately 60-70 feet landward and restored the dune to help provide storm damage protection and maintain public beach access and relocated the gatehouse to a more elevated location to comprehensively address long-term flooding and erosion.
• Brewster, Dennis, Orleans - Continued advancing a regional shoreline management strategy for the 14.5-mile stretch of Cape Cod Bay coastline in the three towns and created an online public data portal and educational resource for shoreline management projects and techniques.
• Chatham - Completed the bidding process for the future construction of a pilot project to reduce erosion and restore fringing salt marsh at Jackknife Beach. 
• Hull - Advanced design plans for redeveloping the Department of Public Works and Municipal Light Plant facilities into a combined, more resilient facility that is protected from sea level rise, storm surge, and high tide flooding.
• Kingston - Assessed the vulnerability of the town landing at the Ah-De-Nah along the Jones River, which includes the Harbormaster’s office, pier, and parking lot, and evaluated conceptual alternatives for reducing existing and future flooding and sea level rise impacts.
• New Bedford - Evaluated natural shoreline restoration alternatives to help reduce erosion along a 500-foot beach and dune area at the main entrance to the historic Fort Taber Park and the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant from coastal storms and sea level rise.
• Revere - Installed flood sensors, established an advanced flood warning system, and began exploring a potential utility elevation assistance program for eligible households in the Beachmont neighborhood to help address near-term flood risks.
• Salem - Assessed flood risk reduction strategies and developed preliminary design plans for a selected alternative to address both coastal and stormwater flooding affecting the Collins Cove Park neighborhood.
• Salem - Evaluated, designed, and permitted nature-based strategies to stabilize four sections of eroding shoreline around Winter Island Park and preserve the archaeological and historical significance of the site, while continuing efforts to manage impacts of pedestrian access and improve community understanding of coastal storms and sea level rise.
• Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport - Collaborated on a regional planning effort to evaluate coastal erosion and sediment transport and the feasibility of shore protection strategies.
• The House of the Seven Gables - Completed permitting and 90% design plans for future relocation of the Counting House and floodproofing of the Hooper Hathaway House, two historic and publicly accessible buildings on the campus.
• The Nature Conservancy - Launched a coastwide peer learning network, developed a resource database, and hosted public engagement events to identify best practices and barriers to proactive, community-led, voluntary coastal relocation.
• Westport - Prepared a draft Barrier Beach Management Plan, filed the Notice of Intent, conducted public engagement, and developed outreach materials on best management practices to balance competing interests on three barrier beaches with roads maintained by the town.
• Yarmouth - Completed engineering design and permitting for improvements to Packet Landing Marina to reduce coastal flooding and sea level rise impacts and preserve public access.

Volunteer for COASTSWEEP 2026! - COASTSWEEP, the annual statewide beach cleanup organized by CZM, officially kicks off on Saturday, September 19. Thousands of volunteers throughout Massachusetts turn out each year for this event, which is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by Ocean Conservancy. Participants all over the world collect trash and other marine debris and record what they find. This information is then used to help reduce future marine debris problems. Since cleanups can be scheduled through early November, there is still plenty of time to sign up to be a local cleanup coordinator for your favorite beach, marsh, dive site, and riverbank. Volunteers can also join a scheduled public cleanup. To get involved, see the COASTSWEEP website, which includes a cleanup list that is updated regularly. To receive weekly reminders of updates to the cleanup list, please send a blank email (completely blank, with no signature line) to [e-mail].

More from CZM on the Manila Clam - CZM has developed Manila Clam - Newly Discovered in Massachusetts, an online guide on how to identify and report this non-native species. Ruditapes philippinarum, commonly called the Manila clam, is a filter-feeding bivalve that lives in the intertidal zone where they burrow shallowly into muddy, sandy, mixed-coarse, or rocky shorelines. The clam’s crosshatched, raised ridges are very distinct and not seen on any native clams in the state. This page provides more information on the Manila clam and its origins, sightings in Massachusetts, how to identify it and report a finding, and the working group focusing on this species.

CZM Instagram Update - Follow the CZM Instagram account for video reels, photos, graphics, and more about the Massachusetts coast. Highlights from the last month include:

• Protect Turtles from Plastic Bags - Learn about impacts to sea turtles from marine debris, especially plastic bags, and how proper trash disposal helps protect all the wildlife of the Massachusetts coast.
• Collect Data through COASTSWEEP - Discover how data collection elevates COASTSWEEP cleanups—which are part of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup—into an opportunity to help find global solutions to the marine debris problem.
• Check Out the ECO One Stop Grant Announcement - Scroll through photos of the August 13 event featuring Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper, and Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo at Winter Island Park in Salem, site of several grant awards from CZM.
• Make a Beach Day a COASTSWEEP Cleanup - Find out how much fun it can be to turn your next beach outing into a chance to collect trash and data and be part of COASTSWEEP.
• See Marine Invasive Species Monitoring in Action! - Watch CZM’s Marine Invader Monitoring and Information Collaborative (MIMIC) volunteers out in the field this summer.
• Help Keep Butts Off the Beach - Learn how the #1 item collected at beach cleanups—cigarette butts—gets to our shores and what you can do to help prevent this problem.

Grants/Funding/Proposal Opportunities

UPCOMING: Expression of Interest Period for the FY 2028 ECO One Stop - The EOI period for the FY 2028 ECO One Stop grant round will be from September 8-October 16. CZM’s Coastal Resilience and Coastal Habitat and Water Quality grants are included in the ECO One Stop, along with EEA’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action, Cooling Corridors, Planning Assistance, and Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal grants, and the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance and Training Grants. For links to all the grant programs, see the ECO One Stop Grants Catalogue. For details on the EOI process and upcoming information webinars, see FY 2028 ECO One Stop Expression of Interest Period in the top section of this CZ-Mail.

Water Quality Management Planning Grants - The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is seeking proposals for the §604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grants to fund assessment and planning projects to address nonpoint source pollution. Applications are due by October 7 at 5:00 p.m. For more information and resources, including a link to the Request for Proposals, see the MassDEP website.

Dam Removal Design Services - DER is seeking proposals from municipalities for dam removal preliminary design studies to help landowners and partners assess opportunities and constraints during early planning phases of potential aquatic habitat restoration and climate resilience projects. Chosen projects will be eligible to receive DER technical assistance and technical services from qualified vendors. Applications are due by September 28 at 5:00 p.m. For details, see the DER website.

Water Management Act Grants - MassDEP is seeking proposals from public water suppliers for projects that help manage, conserve, and protect water resources. The grants are designed to assist eligible public water suppliers and municipalities with Water Management Act permits by providing funds for planning assistance, demand management, and withdrawal impact mitigation projects in local communities. For details, see the MassDEP website. Proposals are due by September 21.

SNEP Restoration Capital Mini-Grants - The Southeast New England Program (SNEP), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 and Restore America’s Estuaries, is seeking requests of $1,000 to $10,000 for Restoration Capital Mini-Grants. These grants will fund direct purchases of equipment and supplies to support the goals of the SNEP Strategic Plan, including clean water, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable communities in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Eligible organizations include municipalities, nonprofit organizations, tribes, state agencies, regional planning organizations, and academic institutions. Applications are due by September 15.

Online Tools and Resources

Climate Communication Podcast - The Woodwell Climate Research Center has released 11 episodes of the new Not a Climate Scientist podcast, with everyday Americans sharing how climate change impacts their lives and livelihoods and what we can all do about it.

Newsletters and Other Periodicals

EEA Climate Team Newsletter - The Summer 2026 EEA Climate Team Newsletter (PDF) includes information on the EEA ECO One Stop program awards of more than $45 million to advance climate resilience projects, appointment of the first statewide heat resilience officer, launch of a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Regional Resilience Program, and other climate-related news, events, opportunities, tools, and resources.

Coastal & Estuarine Science News - The fourth 2026 issue of Coastal & Estuarine Science News, the newsletter of the Coastal & Estuarine Research Foundation, includes articles on protecting juvenile fish habitat in Florida, using recreational divers to monitor artificial reefs, and other coastal and estuarine research topics.

Northeast Ocean Data Portal Newsletter - The August 2026 issue of Northeast Ocean Data, a newsletter of the Northeast Ocean Data Portal, provides information on public comment opportunities, data updates (including marine hydrokinetic project timelines, updated fishing footprints, 2025 vessel traffic, updated regional seafloor geomorphology, and new plankton datasets), and other portal news.

Jobs/Internships

Conservation Law Foundation Positions - The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking applicants for several positions, including Vice President for Ocean Conservation, Slingshot Community Organizer, Charlotte E. Ray Legal Fellowship, and Fall/Spring Interns. For more information, see the CLF Career Opportunities page.

Field Coordinator - The Duxbury Beach Reservation is seeking a Field Coordinator in the Coastal Ecology Program to manage the execution of the Reservation’s Endangered Species Program. See the position posting.

Metropolitan Area Planning Council Positions - The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is seeking applicants for two positions: Grants and Development Specialist II and Arts and Culture Data & Planning Intern. For details and application instructions, see the MAPC Careers page.

Right Whale Internship - The Center for Coastal Studies is seeking a seasonal Right Whale Ecology Program vessel observer and photo-ID intern to document the abundance, distribution, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales and their food resources in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent Massachusetts waters. The internship runs from January 4-May 28, 2027. For more information, see the internship posting. Applications are due by September 4.

Calendar - Individual Events and Announcements

Nantucket Climate Change Summit - September 9, annual summit to be held in Nantucket and presented by the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, and partners on the impacts of climate change on the island and how Nantucket is adapting.

MEMA: Building Hazard Preparedness into Climate Resiliency - September 9, part five of an Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) webinar series on Climate Resilience in Massachusetts.

Greater Cape Ann MARCH Summit - September 10, inaugural summit as part of TownGreen’s Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resilience Climate Hub (MARCH) initiative to be held in Rockport. CZM will present on Coastal Resilience Grant support and other resources for regional resilience planning.

2026 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit - September 12, annual conference for students and youth leaders in partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory to be held in Sarasota, Florida.

Cape Cod Clean Water Week - September 13-19, celebration sponsored by the Barnstable County Clean Water Center with activities to raise awareness of water quality issues and protection strategies on Cape Cod.

Briefing from MWRA Leadership - September 16, EBC Leadership Briefing with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) on future MWRA project and program priorities to be held in Boston.

Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Hazards Training - September 17, free training for coastal planners, managers, and others from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR) Training & Engagement Program on planning and implementing nature-based solutions to reduce coastal natural hazards in communities to be held in Falmouth. CZM will present on nature-based solutions funded through the Coastal Resilience Grant program.

RARGOM Annual Science Meeting - November 4, Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM) meeting with the theme “Navigating Change in the Gulf of Maine: Science, People, and the Next Generation” to be held in Durham, New Hampshire. Abstracts are due by September 18.

2027 Coastal GeoTools Conference—Call for Abstracts - January 25-27, 2027, biennial conference with the theme “Navigating a Changing Coast: Strengthening State, Local, and Tribal Resilience with Emerging Geospatial Technologies” sponsored by the Association of State Floodplain Managers to be held in Charleston, South Carolina. Abstracts are due by September 28.

Wastewater in the Watershed Educator Workshop - September 30 and October 1, free workshop from WBNERR for educators for grades 4-12 on wastewater treatment on Cape Cod to be held in Falmouth. The workshop meets Massachusetts science and math frameworks and Next Generation Science Standards.

MWRA: Creating and Maintaining a Resilient Water and Wastewater System - October 7, part seven of an EBC webinar series on Climate Resilience in Massachusetts.

MAPC Fall Council Meeting - October 14, Fall Council Meeting of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to be held in Somerville.

2026 massFM Annual Conference - October 19, conference of the Massachusetts Association for Floodplain Management (massFM) to be held in Worcester.

National Zero Waste Conference - October 21-22, virtual conference from Zero Waste USA and partners.

Annual GMGI Science Forum - November 5, annual conference from the Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) bringing together researchers in marine science, fisheries, genomics, and biotechnology.

2027 National Watershed and Stormwater Conference—Call for Abstracts - April 13-15, 2027, annual conference sponsored by the Center for Watershed Protection to be held in San Antonio, Texas. Abstracts (PDF) are due by November 6.

2026 Annual Water Resources Conference - November 9-11, conference sponsored by the American Water Resources Association with the theme “Moving Beyond 250 - Crossing Boundaries to Build a More Water-Secure Future” to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium Annual Meeting - November 16-17, meeting of the consortium to be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a virtual option.

Calendar - Multiple/Ongoing Events

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

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

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

Better Beaches Events - Programs at beaches around Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay featuring music, arts, games, children’s activities, boating, and more from Save the Harbor Save the Bay.

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

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 Field Schools - Multi-day field courses offered by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

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 Educational Programming Page and Events Calendar.

Dam Busters 2026 Webinars Series - Lunchtime webinars on dam safety, dam removal financing, and community engagement in Massachusetts sponsored by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, and Charles River Watershed Association, with links to past webinars and related material.

Duxbury Beach Events & Programs - 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.

Emerald Necklace Conservancy Events - Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities throughout the Emerald Necklace parklands in Boston and Brookline.

Evening with Experts Series - Free public lecture series on ecology and native plant landscaping, including recordings of past events, hosted by Grow Native Massachusetts.

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, Talks, and 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.

International Erosion Control Association Webinars - Webinars on erosion and sediment control, stormwater management, climate adaptation, and more, with links to previous webinars through the on-demand catalog.

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 Programs & Events - Opportunities for children and adults hosted at the following Mass Audubon coastal locations:

• Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary
• Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
• Joppa Flats Education Center
• Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
• North River Wildlife Sanctuary
• Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Mudflat Mania - Hikes to Cape Cod Bay to explore the Brewster sand flats led by the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History through September 3.

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

National Tools for Coastal Challenges 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 Lowell Lecture Series page.

NOAA Digital Coast Training Calendar - A range of NOAA training opportunities, with links to on-demand resources available on the Training page.

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 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.

Ocean Encounters - Periodic educational webinars from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on various ocean-related topics, with links to previous webinars.

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 Workshop Series - 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.

Sound in the Sea Webinars - Webinars on underwater sound hosted by the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. See the Webinar Archives for links to past presentations.

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.

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

National Estuaries Week - September 19-27 is National Estuaries Week, an annual celebration of the importance of coastal and estuarine regions to the national economy and local communities. To learn about special events taking place around the country, or to plan and register your own event, see the National Estuaries Week web page.