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CZ-Mail Year in Review - 2025

Published January 2026

Welcome to the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) year-in-review edition of CZ-Mail, which highlights CZM accomplishments for 2025 and some of the notable achievements of our partners. CZM would like to thank all the people and organizations that contribute their time, expertise, and passion to working on issues important to the Massachusetts coast. It has been a pleasure to work with you over the past year, and we look forward to a positive and productive 2026.

The next regular edition of CZ-Mail will be in February. Additional information about CZM's programs, publications, and other coastal topics can be found on the CZM website, and additional CZM updates are posted on Bluesky and Twitter/X. 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, would like your name added to the mailing list, or would like your name removed, email your request to CZ-Mail@mass.gov.

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Overview of 2025 at CZM

CZM was proud to release the final ResilientCoasts Plan this November at an event at Island End Park in Chelsea with Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper—joined by the mayors of Chelsea and Salem, state legislators, and partners. Developed over 18 months with direct input from local officials, residents, regional partners, experts, and other interested participants, the ResilientCoasts Plan outlines guidance and strategies to address sea level rise, storm surge, erosion, and other coastal hazards in Massachusetts over a 50-year planning horizon. CZM has now turned to plan implementation and will focus on supporting high-priority coastal resilience projects, capacity building for coastal communities, and implementation of state-led strategies and actions. As part of this focus, the CZM Coastal Resilience Grant Program will continue to support local and regional efforts to address coastal flooding, erosion, and sea level rise through funding and technical assistance. In 2025, CZM awarded $3.8 million in Coastal Resilience Grants, including the first to a Massachusetts Tribal Government, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Through these Coastal Resilience Grants, coastal communities, nonprofits, and Tribes can take necessary actions to identify vulnerable areas and prepare for future impacts to the coast—and one of these efforts is receiving national attention. The House of the Seven Gables has secured several Coastal Resilience Grants over the years to adapt their historic campus to increased flooding risks, and in 2025, this approach was recognized with a Sustainability Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism and through a featured article in the journal Atmosphere. CZM also awarded $1.1 million in Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants to reduce stormwater pollution to the coast and support habitat restoration. The nine funded projects—matched by $1.2 million from municipal and nonprofit sources—will help keep beaches and shellfish harvesting areas open and advance coastal habitat restoration. This year, CZM began updating the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan—convening seven working groups of experts, partners, and affected parties to evaluate the existing plan and make recommendations for updates. CZM also continued to play a leading role with offshore wind development, including co-chairing the first meeting of the Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission, which will support the state’s nation-leading seafood industry by promoting responsible development of offshore energy projects that ensure long-term fisheries sustainability. Other CZM highlights from 2025 include successfully promoting the use of the MyCoast online portal for sharing and viewing photos of coastal flooding and more, providing technical support for Building Code changes that help prevent coastal flooding and storm damage impacts, making substantial progress on several major federally funded coastal habitat restoration projects, releasing 2023 Rapid Assessment Survey: Non-Native, Native, and Cryptogenic Marine Species at Maine and Massachusetts Marinas, completing important salt marsh monitoring and marine invasive species field work, coordinating extensively with regional partners on offshore wind development, and once again, supporting the efforts of thousands of volunteers who cleaned hundreds of miles of coastline as part of the annual COASTSWEEP beach cleanup, collecting literally tons of trash. Additional 2025 highlights from the entire CZM team are summarized below by program area, along with major accomplishments from the two programs hosted by CZM: Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources and Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program.

CZM Program Accomplishments

CZM’s mission is to balance the impact of human activities with the protection of coastal and marine resources through planning, public involvement, education, research, and sound resource management. To achieve these goals, as well as to meet the needs of coastal communities, property owners, educators, and others, CZM maintains a range of programs. This section includes the 2025 highlights for each program area.

ResilientCoasts

The goal of the ResilientCoasts initiative—which was launched in November 2023 and is led by CZM—is to develop a comprehensive, statewide strategy for coastal resilience to sea level rise, coastal storms, flooding, and erosion. Following an 18-month public engagement and planning process with direct input from the state’s coastal communities and other stakeholders, CZM released a draft ResilientCoasts Plan in May 2025 for public review and comment. 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. The plan outlines guidance and strategies to address near- and long-term vulnerability to coastal hazards including 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 cities and towns that share common characteristics like coastal environment, 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 along the coastline. In addition, districts can help improve data sharing, collaborative risk assessments, and tracking progress on coastal resilience 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, infrastructure, and/or economic resources expected to be exposed to coastal flooding by the 2030s. Identification of these areas will help inform allocation of limited resources where they will make the biggest difference for residents and local economies.
  • Targeted Solutions - The plan provides guidance on a suite of resilience measures that can be applied across different coastal landscapes, including 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 and beach nourishment, and retrofitting and redesigning seawalls.
  • State Leadership - The plan proposes 10 state-led strategies and over 70 near-, medium-, and long-term actions for the state to undertake to embed coastal resilience across agencies and secretariats. This whole-of-government approach to coastal resilience will enable the state to lead by example, support local efforts, and accelerate the pace of coastal resilience statewide.

In 2026, CZM will work with coastal communities and stakeholders to implement the plan, focusing on supporting communities in regional- and district-scale collaboration and project prioritization. Please follow CZ-Mail and the ResilientCoasts web page for updates on these efforts. For additional details on the ResilientCoasts Plan, see the press release and the links below for selected news coverage. (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

StormSmart Coasts

CZM’s StormSmart Coasts Program provides information, strategies, and tools to help communities and people working and living on the coast to address the challenges of erosion, flooding, storms, sea level rise, and other climate change impacts. This program promotes effective management of coastal landforms, such as beaches and dunes.

Coastal Resilience Grant Awards - In October, CZM awarded $3.8 million in funding through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program to advance these 12 local and regional projects to reduce risks associated with coastal storms, flooding, erosion, and sea level rise, with partners committing over $516,000 in match:

  • Barnstable - $1,770,000 to relocate the vulnerable parking lot at Sandy Neck Beach approximately 60-70 feet landward to help maintain public beach access and allow the dune to be restored. This project also includes relocation of the gatehouse to comprehensively address long-term flooding and erosion impacts at the site.
  • Chatham - $30,845 to complete the bidding process for the future construction of a shoreline stabilization and fringing salt marsh restoration project at Jackknife Beach. Once constructed, the project will restore salt marsh using biodegradable materials and shellfish, allow for landward migration of the marsh, and help protect public access to the shoreline.
  • The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association - $176,190 to begin permitting and developing construction-ready design plans for relocating the Counting House and floodproofing the Hooper Hathaway House, two historic and publicly accessible buildings on the campus. The project will address critical coastal and stormwater vulnerabilities while laying the foundation for future phased-relocation actions.
  • Hull - $252,000 to continue to advance design plans for redeveloping the Department of Public Works (DPW) and Municipal Light Plant facilities into a combined building that is protected from sea level rise, storm surge, and high tide flooding.
  • Kingston - $166,632 to assess the vulnerability of its town landing at the Ah-De-Nah along the Jones River, which includes the Harbormaster’s office, pier, and parking lot, and evaluate conceptual alternatives for reducing existing and future flooding and sea level rise impacts.
  • Nantucket - $299,572 to assess alternatives and develop a conceptual design plan for protecting the Surfside Wastewater Treatment Plant from coastal erosion threats. The design will focus on the beach area fronting the vulnerable facility to help protect critical wastewater operations, public health, and safety.
  • New Bedford - $69,850 to evaluate natural shoreline restoration alternatives along a 500-foot beach area at the main entrance to the historic Fort Taber Park and the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The project will conduct public outreach and develop a design for a preferred alternative that protects the infrastructure from coastal storms and sea level rise.
  • Plymouth - $294,435 to design and implement an artificial intelligence-driven modeling tool that evaluates flood risk, potential economic impacts, and insurance coverage gaps for residential and business properties. The goal of this pilot project is to support municipal planning and public education on flood risks and potential solutions to enhance physical and financial resilience to flood hazards.
  • Revere - $68,953 to implement adaptation actions in the Beachmont neighborhood adjacent to the Belle Isle Marsh to help address near-term flood risks. The project will install flood sensors and establish an advanced flood warning system, evaluate a utility elevation assistance program for income-eligible households, and adapt the parking policy to prevent vehicle loss and damage.
  • Salisbury - $232,830 to partner with Newbury and Newburyport on a long-term regional planning effort to evaluate coastal erosion and sediment transport and the feasibility of shore protection strategies. The project will assess site-specific protection options, including beach and dune nourishment and identification of potential nourishment sources.
  • Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) - $382,109 to partner with Tufts University on their first Coastal Resilience Grant to develop a model to evaluate the effects of storms and sea level rise on the culturally significant Gay Head Cliffs. The project will identify near-term solutions to address erosion impacts and long-term goals to proactively guide future adaptation actions. The Tribe brings valuable expertise and lived experiences to managing coastal erosion and developing long-term adaptation strategies.
  • Westport - $74,403 to continue to engage stakeholders on best management practices (BMPs), conduct local and state review, and file permits for their Barrier Beach Management Plan. The plan will focus on management actions to help maintain coastal dunes and barrier beaches so they can continue to provide storm protection, habitat for rare shorebirds, and recreational opportunities, while preserving access to roads including Atlantic Avenue, Beach Avenue (The Knubble), and East Beach Road.

For more information, see the press release and this news coverage. (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

Coastal Resilience Projects Completed - In 2025, 15 projects were completed with previous Coastal Resilience Grant awards (see the CZM Grant Viewer for details on funded projects).

  • Barnstable - Completed local permitting and developed a bid package to move the Sandy Neck Beach parking lot and gatehouse landward and restore dunes to reduce storm damage risk and preserve access.
  • Braintree - Conducted monitoring, adaptive management, and public outreach for the recently restored shoreline at Watson Park.
  • Falmouth - Evaluated potential resilience alternatives to provide storm damage protection to the Surf Drive area.
  • Hanover - Conducted a planning study and developed conceptual designs to address flooding of the Beal Water Treatment Plant.
  • Hingham - Evaluated potential culvert modifications to assess flood risk reduction and prepared permit applications for a comprehensive coastal flood protection strategy for Hingham Harbor.
  • Hull - Prepared a preliminary design for combining the DPW and Municipal Light Plant facilities into a single facility that is more resilient to flooding.
  • Manchester-by-the-Sea - Elevated the generator pad at the Fire Department to protect critical infrastructure from flooding and held a three-day public workshop on improving the resilience of Masconomo Park to sea level rise and storm surge.
  • Marblehead - Assessed coastal flood risk of town-owned properties and infrastructure at State Street Landing and conducted public outreach on alternative resilience strategies.
  • Marion - Constructed a bypass connection and assessed additional flood resilience measures at the Silvershell Pump Station.
  • Marshfield - Continued construction of a beach nourishment project along Bay Avenue with 36,190 cubic yards of sand, gravel, and cobble to enhance flood and erosion protection for nearby infrastructure.
  • Nahant - Initiated permitting for cobble nourishment and vegetation planting at Forty Steps Beach to address erosion and damage to the existing seawall and revetment.
  • Nantucket - Assessed the feasibility of alternatives for providing storm protection to the downtown waterfront area.
  • Revere - Evaluated a range of near-term emergency actions and long-term solutions to address flooding in the Beachmont neighborhood.
  • Wareham Land Trust - Assessed the existing conditions and vulnerabilities of North Water Street Beach and associated infrastructure and assessed alternatives to improve the site’s long-term resilience.
  • Westport - Conducted outreach and planning for the development of a Beach Management Plan for the town’s three barrier beaches.

New ECO One Stop - EEA 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 FY 2027, both CZM grant programs—Coastal Resilience Grant Program and the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants—will be part of ECO One Stop. Details on upcoming Request for Response & Application Webinars to be held on January 27-29 are available on the Environment & Climate One Stop web page.

The House of the Seven Gables Recognition for Sustainability - In June, the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) presented The House of the Seven Gables project team with a CNU Charter Award in sustainability for their work to adapt this historic building campus to increased flooding risks. The Gables received Coastal Resilience Grant funding and technical assistance in 2022-2024 to develop the 50-year climate adaptation plan that includes short-term site improvements and decision points for long-term actions. The CNU award recognizes the project’s use of block-scale urbanism, which focuses on the urban block as the fundamental planning unit to emphasize interconnectedness of buildings, streets, and public spaces.

MVP Awards - Through the EEA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, coastal communities continue to build resilience to all climate impacts, such as extreme temperatures, flooding, drought, and wildfires. In September, the MVP Program awarded $28.7 million in funding for climate resilience across Massachusetts. Approximately $4.7 million of the grant awards are advancing coastal resilience through seven projects. For more information, see the press release.

Climate Science - The Massachusetts Office of Climate Science (OCS), in partnership with researchers across the University of Massachusetts (UMass) system, began development of a report to identify the latest advances and applications in climate science related to hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, and sea level rise. The report development is informed by input from the Climate Science Advisory Panel and a stakeholder survey on science, data, and guidance needs around climate stressors and hazards information. CZM supports these OCS efforts to connect the latest climate science to management. The MA Climate Science Report is expected to be released in fall 2026 and will inform the update of the MA Climate Change Assessment.

MyCoast Reporting - CZM would like to thank the 329 new MyCoast users who signed up this year to help inform storm response and coastal management decisions. MyCoast users submitted 858 reports of coastal flooding, beach change, and other impacts in 2025. Additional MyCoast highlights include:

  • MyCoast Training - In December, CZM supported Salisbury with a training for community members on how to use the MyCoast app. See the Salisbury Community TV video for the training content.
  • King Tides - Extreme high tides occurred around the full moon in November contributing to a total of 203 King Tides Photos for 2025.
  • CoastSnap Beach Monitoring - In 2025, beachgoers submitted 554 photos of beach and dune width in Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Sandwich, and new locations in Brewster and New Bedford. CoastSnap camera mounts support the compilation of time-lapse videos and measurements of beach changes over time.

State Building Code - The 10th edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code went into full effect in July. The new standards include increased elevation requirements for new or substantially improved buildings in the 1% annual chance floodplain and a requirement that new or substantially improved buildings in Coastal A Zones be on open pilings or piers. See the Department of Licensure 10th edition web page for information on new standards. CZM also supported efforts this year to begin updating the State Building Code to the 11th edition.

StormSmart Coasts Outreach - Throughout 2025, CZM’s StormSmart Coasts program provided local officials and other partners with information on erosion, flooding, coastal storm impacts, sea level rise, alternatives for mitigating erosion and storm damage, and local adaptation planning through presentations at a variety of events, including:

  • Coastal Resilience Grants Webinar - In February, CZM hosted an informational webinar on the Coastal Resilience Grant Program, which covered program goals, requirements, eligibility, evaluation criteria, and successful projects.
  • MACC Annual Environmental Conference - CZM and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) conducted a workshop on Delineating Primary Frontal Dunes at the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) Annual Environmental Conference in March. CZM also led a workshop on Regional Coastal Resilience.
  • Stone Living Lab Conference - CZM conducted a panel discussion on Best Practices for Nature-Based Shore Protection in Massachusetts at the Stone Living Lab 2025 Conference in April.
  • Coastal Relocation Workshop - In June, CZM supported the first Massachusetts Proactive Coastal Relocation Workshop (PDF, 2 MB) with Coastal Resilience Grant funding and technical support. CZM also gave a presentation on ResilientCoasts and co-led a breakout session on resources including MyCoast.
  • AMWS Webinar Series - CZM and MassDEP conducted a three-part webinar series for Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists (AMWS) members in June and July on delineating Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zones, primary frontal dunes, and coastal beaches, dunes, and banks in developed areas.
  • massFM Annual Conference - In October, CZM participated in the Annual Conference of the Massachusetts Association for Floodplain Management (massFM) where CZM’s Chief Coastal Resilience Officer provided a presentation on ResilientCoasts.
  • Living Shorelines - Through the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC), CZM supported a Living Shorelines Training Workshop and Site Visit at Watson Park in Braintree. The field course was conducted in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Consensus Building Institute to deepen understanding of living shoreline implementation and monitoring across New England. For more information, see the NROC Coastal Hazards Resilience Committee’s Living Shorelines website.

Coastal Habitat and Water Quality

CZM’s Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Program works to develop data tools and support research to better understand coastal habitats, protect and restore natural resources, and keep Massachusetts coastal waters clean and healthy, along with supporting monitoring and early detection of Marine Invasive Species.

Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grant Awards - On October 8, EEA and CZM announced $1.1 million in grants for projects that tackle stormwater pollution to coastal waters and advance coastal habitat restoration efforts. The CZM Coastal Habitat and Water Quality (CHWQ) Grants fund projects to assess, collect, and treat stormwater runoff, which is a leading source of water pollution. A priority of the CHWQ Grants is to support green stormwater infrastructure, which includes methods like rain gardens that replicate natural processes to trap and filter stormwater before it reaches local waterbodies. These grants also support development of comprehensive habitat restoration plans, restoration planning for priority land acquisition, and data collection and engineering to support infrastructure-focused habitat restoration activities.

  • Association to Preserve Cape Cod - $44,745 to finalize the design of a stormwater treatment project at the Herring River Boat Ramp with a goal to reduce nutrient and bacteria pollution entering the Herring River and Nantucket Sound. This project is in partnership with the Town of Harwich and builds on earlier planning and design phases completed with federal, municipal, and private funding. The design includes nature-based approaches to collect, filter, and infiltrate stormwater runoff and protect the adjacent salt marsh.
  • Charles River Watershed Association - $65,513 to develop a habitat restoration plan for the 9.1-square-mile Upper Charles watershed, including six miles of key river habitat, in partnership with the Town of Milford. The project will use field data, assessments, and community input to prioritize actions that improve habitat connectivity and water quality. The project leverages a comprehensive outreach and engagement strategy funded through EEA’s MVP Program, implemented by the Milford Community Liaison Core Team, which will include significant opportunities for community feedback.
  • Cohasset - $117,340 to complete a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for the Gulf River Estuary, in partnership with the Town of Scituate, to restore coastal habitat and water quality in Cohasset and Scituate. The project will establish baseline conditions, identify stressors, and prioritize restoration actions for the area to inform the plan. Building on previous assessments, the project will also synthesize existing data, collect new field data, and incorporate community input.
  • Duxbury - $94,415 to complete a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for the upper Bluefish River wetland upstream of Harrison Street. The project will evaluate habitat and water quality to identify stressors—such as tidal restrictions, stormwater runoff, invasive Phragmites australis, and impaired fish passage—and develop restoration alternatives for the upper Bluefish River.
  • Kingston - $38,268 to assess, design, and permit structural stormwater BMPs on Drew and Seaver Avenues. These locations are the last remaining streets recommended for treatment through previous assessment work funded through MassDEP and the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership (MassBays). New stormwater treatment at these sites will improve water quality for shellfish, aquaculture, and beaches.
  • Mashpee - $250,000 to construct multiple green infrastructure systems to filter, infiltrate, and hold stormwater at the Mashpee-Wakeby Pond boat ramp, which drains to the Mashpee River and Popponesset Bay. The project builds on previous planning and design funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Southeast New England Program (SNEP) and CHWQ Grants. Partners include the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Office of Fishing and Boating Access.
  • Mystic River Watershed Association - $147,250 to complete site assessments, design, and construction for eight stormwater street trenches, in partnership with the Town of Belmont. This project expands previous efforts to implement green stormwater infrastructure across the Mystic River watershed, funded by CZM and MassDEP and led by the Mystic River Watershed Association, Town of Arlington, and University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center. By targeting untreated stormwater runoff—the primary source of nutrient pollution for the watershed—this work will improve water quality and habitat.
  • Weymouth - $143,500 to evaluate the tide gate at the Pearl Street-Philips Creek crossing that currently restricts tidal flow to Pratts Meadow, a 14-acre marsh. This location was identified in a previous assessment by MassBays as a top priority for restoration. The project will include field assessments, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, an alternatives analysis with conceptual designs, and public outreach.
  • Yarmouth - $172,268 to complete site assessment, design, and permitting for priority stormwater retrofits identified in stormwater assessment work funded through a previous CHWQ Grant. In partnership with APCC and subcontractor Horsley Witten Group, the project will advance designs for one site at Wings Grove Beach and six sites along Old Main Street and complete permitting and final design for a bioretention system on Grove Street. The work targets impaired water bodies south of Route 6 and prioritizes benefits to fish, shellfish, beaches, and environmental justice communities.

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

Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Project Updates - These eight projects were completed with funding awarded in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and FY 2025. One project is ongoing and will continue into FY 2026. Please see the CZM Grant Viewer for details on projects funded by all CZM grant programs from 2014 to present.

Completed Projects

  • 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 identified and prioritized restoration opportunities for salt marshes from Cohasset to Kingston.
  • Rehoboth - Completed assessments of stormwater impacts, prioritized sites for potential green stormwater infrastructure, and developed conceptual designs. Also conducted BMP maintenance trainings for town staff and reviewed existing bylaws to identify opportunities to reduce untreated stormwater runoff.
  • Saugus River Watershed Council - Completed an assessment of stormwater pollution sources within the Saugus River Watershed and developed a priority list of sites for future potential management in Saugus, Revere, and Lynn.
  • Swansea - In partnership with the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District and Save the Bay, completed an assessment of stormwater impacts, prioritized sites for potential green stormwater infrastructure, and completed conceptual designs for green stormwater infrastructure to manage untreated runoff entering the Cole’s River.
  • 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 and permitting of stormwater BMPs for five sites and completed construction of new green stormwater infrastructure at two priority sites along Standish Way and Curve Hill Road.

Ongoing Project

  • Association to Preserve Cape Cod - In this multi-year project, APCC is designing, permitting, and constructing green stormwater infrastructure to collect and treat surface runoff at multiple public boat ramp sites, with a goal to reduce nutrients and bacteria. This year, final designs were completed for four project sites: Scargo Lake Landing and Dr. Lords Common Landing in Dennis, Follins Pond in Yarmouth, and Mashpee-Wakeby Pond in Mashpee. With project partners, APCC will complete construction at Dr. Lord’s Common Landing and Scargo Lake Landing in Dennis and Follins Pond in Yarmouth next year.

New ECO One Stop - EEA 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 FY 2027, both CZM grant programs—Coastal Resilience Grant Program and the Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants—will be part of ECO One Stop. Details on upcoming Request for Response & Application Webinars to be held on January 27-29 are available on the Environment & Climate One Stop web page.

Coastal Habitat Restoration Projects in Progress - In 2023 and 2024, CZM and partners were awarded nearly $9 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Competition for projects in Manchester-by-the-Sea and Truro (see the 2023 press release) and Yarmouth and Bourne (see the 2024 press release). These coastal habitat restoration projects will improve ecological conditions and provide multiple benefits for the surrounding community. In addition to the following updates, see CZM’s Coastal Habitat Program - Protection, Restoration, and Resilience web page for more information.

  • Manchester-by-the-Sea - With over $1.5 million in federal funding, the Sawmill Brook Restoration Project will restore salt marsh habitat and improve community resilience through nature-based and hybrid approaches, in partnership with the Town of Manchester and Division of Ecological Restoration (DER). Before restoration work, the Central Street Bridge and tide gate structure will be replaced, leveraging other state, local, and federal funding sources. The combined project components will restore 1,534 linear feet of stream connectivity and one acre of salt marsh and will reduce erosion and flooding impacts for the surrounding community. In 2025, project partners continued to secure final permits to prepare for bidding and construction.
  • Truro - CZM—in partnership with DER, the Town of Truro, U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Cape Cod Conservation District (CCCD)—will use this almost $2.2 million in federal funding to advance modeling, design, and permitting to restore tidal flow at five locations within the Pamet River system. This project will position Truro to implement comprehensive, watershed-scale actions to restore over 120 acres of highly productive salt marsh and estuarine habitat, as well as more than six miles of stream connectivity for fish and wildlife species. In 2025, with engineering contractors, the team began the permitting process for the Mill Pond crossing, completed preliminary designs for the Truro Center Road and Route 6 crossings, and conducted field data collection for the Little Pamet River crossings.
  • Yarmouth - With more than $4.5 million in federal funding, the Upper Bass River Coastal Habitat Restoration Project will restore 57 acres of wetlands at retired cranberry bogs, remove structures that restrict freshwater and tidal flow (including a culvert at Weir Road), and replace a concrete fishway with a natural channel. CZM is partnering with the Town of Yarmouth, Friends of Bass River, DER, and CCCD to implement the project. In 2025, the project team worked with engineering contractors to prepare the Weir Road culvert replacement and bog restoration designs for local, state, and federal permitting.
  • Bourne - The Puritan Bog Coastal Wetland Restoration Project will complete modeling, design, and permitting to restore 15 acres of coastal wetland at a retired cranberry bog and reestablish tidal exchange to the site with $338,000 in federal funding. Partners include CZM, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, and Town of Bourne. In 2025, the project team worked with an engineering contractor to develop four conceptual restoration designs for the site and held the project’s first public meeting. Currently, the team is working to design the preferred restoration alternative.

2023 Rapid Assessment Survey Report - In September, CZM published the report on the 2023 Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) of non-native, native, and cryptogenic (i.e., of unknown origin) marine species at Maine and Massachusetts marinas. The report provides details on the five-day survey held in August 2023, where CZM and a team of taxonomic experts documented invertebrates and algae associated with floating docks and piers. The 2023 survey—which is the seventh RAS to sample Maine and Massachusetts marinas since 2000—resulted in the identification of 131 native, 32 non-native, and 50 cryptogenic taxa across nine sites. Among the non-native species identified, an introduced encrusting bryozoan Schizoporella japonica was found at Sandwich Marina in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and at Journey’s End Marina in Rockland, Maine. These identifications represent the first records of S. japonica along the U.S. Atlantic coast. To read the full report, see 2023 Rapid Assessment Survey: Non-Native, Native, and Cryptogenic Marine Species at Maine and Massachusetts Marinas (PDF, 20 MB). CZM’s Rapid Assessment Surveys of Marine Invasive Species page includes additional information on these surveys conducted across New England, including links to reports for the northern New England surveys.

Tidal Marsh Sentinel Site Monitoring - CZM established the Sentinel Site Monitoring Program to track changes in salt marshes through time and in response to sea level rise. Since 2017, CZM has monitored vegetation, elevation, hydrology, and other features of marshes in Essex, Barnstable, and Westport. Monitoring is repeated every three to five years to build a time series and analyze trends. This summer, CZM completed a third monitoring season, building the long-term dataset needed to compare within and between the sentinel sites. CZM is working on data analysis and reporting related to this program, including changes in vegetation within the salt marsh platform and upland and the transition zone between these two environments. For more information on this initiative, see CZM’s Coastal Wetland Monitoring and Assessment web page.

Marine Invasive Species Monitoring - Since 2006, CZM has coordinated the Marine Invader Monitoring and Information Collaborative (MIMIC), a participatory monitoring program that aims to track the presence and abundance of established marine invasive species and to detect new species introductions. In 2025, five new monitoring groups joined more than a dozen returning MIMIC partners to record data at docks, rocky shorelines, and dive sites from Rhode Island to Canada. In addition to the established invasive species that MIMIC partners monitor, records of a non-native clam were reported along the Massachusetts coastline this summer. Live Ruditapes philippinarum—known colloquially as the “Manila clam” or “Japanese littleneck”—were identified from Beverly to Cape Cod by researchers, including those from Northeastern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sea Grant, UMass Amherst, Salem Sound Coastwatch, and CZM, as well as by commercial shellfishing operators. R. philippinarum shells can be identified through their distinctive cross-hatched pattern, compared with native quahog shells that have only concentric growth rings. See this iNaturalist web page for photos and records of sightings in the region (or to upload your own observation) and CZM’s Marine Invasive Species Program website for details on these and other efforts.

Phase II of Passive Sediment Augmentation Project - CZM has partnered with the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and contracted with WSP USA Solutions, Inc., Sustainable Coastal Solutions, Inc., and Geyer & Ralston Consulting to conduct data collection, sediment transport model refinement, permit analysis, and a dredge operational feasibility analysis to support the design of a passive sediment augmentation (PSA) scientific test project at Waquoit Bay. The PSA method is a form of beneficial reuse where dredged sediments of suitable composition are redistributed to salt marshes by wind or tidal-driven action from a nearshore placement site. To read the Phase I report, which included an initial feasibility study, see Passive Sediment Augmentation (PSA) - Phase I: Feasibility Study, Modeling, and Assessment Waquoit Bay (Falmouth and Mashpee), Massachusetts (PDF, 11 MB).

Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Program Outreach and Technical Assistance - Throughout 2025, CZM provided academic groups, coastal practitioners, municipal staff, and other partners information on coastal habitat vulnerability and resilience, wetlands, coastal water quality, marine invasive species monitoring, and volunteer science network coordination at a variety of events, including:

  • WBUR Interview on Marine Bioinvasions - WBUR interviewed CZM, Dr. Kristin Osborne and students from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and Dr. Aly Putnam from UMass Amherst on the distribution and impact of introduced tunicates (also known as sea squirts) in New England. For the radio segment and article, see As New England waters warm, invasive sea squirts move in.
  • Gulf of Maine Monitoring & Research Symposium - In April, CZM presented the results of the 2023 New England Rapid Assessment Survey and data trends from the Marine Invader Monitoring and Information Collaborative at the Gulf of Maine Monitoring & Research Symposium. Visit the MassBays Symposium web page for the meeting agenda, which includes a link to CZM’s presentation slides (PDF, 11 MB).
  • MassDEP Interagency Wetlands Workgroup - CZM provides technical assistance to this workgroup, including presentations on a wide variety of topics, to outline the latest science and practice on coastal wetlands restoration and climate resilience efforts. For more information, see the Interagency Coastal Wetlands Climate Resilience Workgroup web page.
  • Salt Marsh Working Group - CZM continues to co-lead the Massachusetts Ecosystem Network Salt Marsh Working Group (SMWG) with UMass Amherst Gloucester Marine Station. Goals of the group are to facilitate coordinated efforts to assess and monitor salt marshes; inform statewide and regional strategies for the prioritization, conservation, and restoration of salt marshes; share synthesized science and knowledge of climate impacts on salt marsh and the vulnerability of these systems to climate stressors; inform best practices for salt marsh climate adaptation efforts; and design collaborative funding approaches to support research. In April, the SMWG co-hosted a Salt Marsh Science Symposium with the Boston Harbor Ecosystem Network at the UMass Amherst Mount Ida Campus in Newton.
  • Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants Outreach - In November, CZM presented information on funding opportunities to improve water quality and habitat for a Rainwater Readiness virtual webinar series hosted by the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance. CZM shared information about the CHWQ Grants and shared examples of green stormwater infrastructure and habitat restoration planning projects.

Other Water Quality Activities - CZM also worked on the following coastal water quality activities in 2025:

  • Nitrogen Management - CZM continued to work with the Town of Falmouth, MassDEP, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), and the town’s contractors to analyze baseline water quality, benthic infauna, and eelgrass data to support Falmouth’s proposed future treated wastewater outfall to Vineyard Sound. As part of that effort, CZM provided feedback on the town’s proposed antidegradation study to demonstrate the assimilative capacity of Vineyard Sound and ensure that pollutants from the proposed outfall do not degrade water quality. CZM also offered constructive comments during the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process on the Bourne and Wareham Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plans.
  • Wastewater Monitoring - CZM continued discussions with MassDEP, EPA, and MassBays on developing a framework for ocean outfall monitoring across all of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays.
  • Water Quality Monitoring - CZM continued to work with MassBays to implement a plan for five coastal, long-term water quality monitoring stations along Massachusetts Bay. The first station was established on Danvers River at Beverly Pier with assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey and has sensors that continuously collect data on core parameters: dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, conductivity, turbidity, chlorophyll, pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2), and pressure (water depth). The continuous data will be augmented with discrete water samples for nutrient concentration determination. For more information, contact CZM Coastal and Marine Scientist, Todd Callaghan, at todd.callaghan@mass.gov.

Ocean Management

On behalf of EEA, CZM serves as the lead state agency for ocean planning through the Ocean Management Program—working with other state agencies and regional and federal partners to balance current and new uses of ocean waters while protecting ocean habitats and promoting sustainable economic development.

Ocean Management Plan - This year, CZM began the process of reviewing and updating the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan by convening seven topical Working Groups focusing on Habitat, Fisheries, Energy & Infrastructure, Sediment & Geology, Transportation & Navigation, Cultural & Recreational Resources, and Ocean Technology and Innovation. The technical working groups include experts from state, federal, and local agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholder groups to critically evaluate the 2021 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and make recommendations for updates and additions in the next plan due to be released in 2026. Two official groups, the Ocean Advisory Commission appointed by the governor and the Science Advisory Council appointed by the EEA Secretary, will meet to review the findings of the working groups and will finalize recommendations for the ocean plan review and update.

Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission - In April, the Massachusetts Commercial Fisheries Commission (CFC) was convened and has met quarterly during 2025. Chaired by the Directors of DMF and CZM, the commission includes the EEA Secretary and appointed representatives from several public, nonprofit, education, commercial fishing, and seafood industry organizations. The CFC was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in August 2022 to strengthen coordination, communication, and support for the state’s nation-leading seafood industry by promoting responsible development of offshore energy projects, along with suitable mitigation and support strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of Massachusetts fisheries. The CFC will produce an annual report for the legislature. For more information on the inaugural meeting of the CFC, see the press release.

Northeast Regional Ocean Council - CZM had lead roles on several committees of the Northeast Regional Ocean Council, the state and federal partnership established by the region’s Governors in 2005 to provide a voluntary forum for New England states, regional organizations, and federal partners to coordinate and collaborate on regional approaches that support balanced uses and conservation of ocean and coastal resources. On the Ocean Planning Committee, CZM helped create a new Seafloor Planning Workgroup to support planning and interjurisdictional coordination for current and emerging issues including new and ongoing marine uses and data needs. On the Habitat and Coastal Ocean Mapping Subcommittee, CZM and partners planned for an annual process to update seafloor mapping prioritization in the Northeast and also discussed methods for creating a regional geomorphology map of the seafloor. On the Coastal Hazards Resilience Committee, CZM assisted in the siting and implementation of strategically placed water level sensors throughout the region.

Project and Policy Review - CZM worked with the MEPA office and DMF to support the development of EEA Secretariat comments to the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rulemaking to rescind NEPA regulations. CZM also worked with DMF to provide joint agency comments regarding the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Request for Interest regarding oil and gas lease sales and provided comments to the Department of Public Utilities on their rulemaking implementing clean energy permitting reforms under the 2024 Climate Act.

Stakeholder Engagement on Offshore Wind - CZM continued to lead stakeholder engagement groups related to fisheries and habitat topics, hosting three meetings each of the Habitat Working Group on Offshore Wind Energy and the Fisheries Working Group on Offshore Wind Energy, plus a joint meeting of the Fisheries Working Group with the Commercial Fisheries Commission to discuss the progress establishing a Regional Fund Administrator to manage fisheries compensatory mitigation at a regional scale. At these meetings, offshore wind developers, fishing industry representatives, researchers, and environmental advocates provided updates on the latest surveys, projects, research initiatives, and findings for discussion. CZM continued to maintain the public Status of Offshore Wind Lease Development in the Northeast - Online Viewer.

Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind - CZM, representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts along with Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), continued its participation in the State Sector Caucus and on the Marine Mammals, Data Governance, and Habitat & Ecosystems subcommittees of the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind (RWSC). CZM has continued to work with RWSC to incorporate new data (e.g., moved boulders, seafloor mapping surveys) and to develop standardized protocols for offshore wind developers to share data with RWSC and the Northeast Ocean Data Portal.

Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment - CZM continued to be active in the Council, which was established in 1989 by the governments of Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, and Nova Scotia and works to provide an international forum for promoting a sustainable Gulf of Maine ecosystem.

Mapping and Data Management and Seafloor and Habitat Mapping

The primary goals of the Mapping and Data Management Program are to support CZM programs and policies with data creation, analysis, and map making; ensure that CZM data are properly developed, maintained, and archived; and share data and maps with other agencies and the public. And through the Seafloor and Habitat Mapping Program, CZM collects data and develops maps showing the distribution and diversity of seafloor habitats to better understand and help protect these resources to ensure that development projects in Massachusetts ocean waters avoid and minimize potential impacts. Highlights and accomplishments not covered in other program areas are included below.

Seafloor Sand Resources Report - CZM contracted APTIM to conduct a site characterization for borrow sites for offshore sand resources in selected study areas in Massachusetts state waters (Merrimack, Nantasket, Duxbury, Sandwich, and Cuttyhunk). The project consisted of a historical data review, collection of 174 nautical miles of geophysical data and 20 sediment cores, and associated sediment analysis and data processing. By integrating extensive historical datasets with newly acquired geophysical and geotechnical data, the contractor and CZM were able to validate previous reconnaissance-level estimates of sand volume and grain size while narrowing the most prospective areas for future development as borrow sites. The work represents a significant advancement in refining the understanding of offshore sand resources for Massachusetts. A project report will be finalized in 2026.

Port and Harbor Planning

CZM’s Port and Harbor Planning Program works to help ensure that waterfront areas in the Commonwealth grow in a safe, environmentally sound, and economically prosperous manner—balancing potentially competing uses.

Designated Port Area Assessment - In July, CZM and MassDEP released Assessment of Massachusetts Designated Port Areas (PDF, 13 MB), developed in conjunction with Eastern Research Group, Inc. This report assesses the economic impact and the effectiveness of the Designated Port Area (DPA) program across five focal areas: infrastructure and land use, regulatory framework, funding and financing, community impacts, and coastal resilience—to understand strengths and current and emerging challenges and identify potential program improvements.

Local Planning Efforts - Several communities continued to work on harbor planning in 2025, as summarized by region below. For more information about CZM’s harbor planning efforts, contact the CZM Regional Coordinators.

  • North Shore - CZM completed municipal harbor planning work with the City of Gloucester in 2025. The city submitted their Request for Approval of the Municipal Harbor Plan (MHP) and DPA Master Plan in March, CZM held a public hearing in April, and on July 7, the Decision on the Request for Approval of the Gloucester Municipal Harbor Plan Renewal and Designated Port Area Master Plan (PDF, 1 MB) was issued by the EEA Secretary. The 2025 renewal planning area includes Gloucester’s Inner Harbor, Harbor Cove, Smith Cove, and adjacent landside areas extending from the Rocky Neck peninsula to the Blynman Canal, as well as access roads including Western Avenue, Commercial Street and Fort Square, Rogers Street and Main Street, East Main Street, Rocky Neck Avenue, and Horton Street. The 2025 renewal addresses pressures on commercial fishing operations from changes in fisheries management and global competition, as well as risks to existing and aging infrastructure associated with climate change and rising sea levels. It also guides Gloucester’s harbor economy to capitalize on new “blue economy” opportunities in fisheries, marine research and biotechnology, and ocean and seafood product development to diversify and expand economic activity while maintaining the centrality of the harbor to the city’s identity. The plan also includes a DPA Master Plan that details a strategy to preserve and enhance the capacity of the DPA to accommodate water-dependent industries and prevent substantial displacement of these activities by non-water-dependent uses. The decision will take effect upon issuance of final amendments by MassDEP to incorporate the substitutions described in the Decision into the Waterways regulations. For questions, please contact Kathryn Glenn, CZM North Shore Regional Coordinator, at kathryn.glenn@mass.gov.
  • South Coast - CZM also began working with the municipalities of New Bedford and Fairhaven this year on an update to the New Bedford/Fairhaven Municipal Harbor Plan and Designated Port Area Master Plan. The goal of the MHP is to create a clear, forward-looking strategy for managing and developing the shared waterfront in a way that promotes the harbor’s continued economic growth, improves its environmental quality and resilience, and strengthens its connections to the surrounding communities. Building on the harbor’s historic role as a center for commercial fishing, the updated plan will also explore opportunities in clean energy, aquaculture, tourism, and other maritime industries.
  • Cape Cod - In 2025, the following Cape Cod and Islands communities worked on harbor planning:
    • Chatham - Chatham is actively updating the South Coastal Harbor Management Plan. The town began this effort in 2025 and expects to complete the update and submit the plan for approval in 2026.
    • Edgartown - Edgartown submitted its draft Municipal Harbor Plan for review and approval in October 2025, followed by a public hearing in November. Final comments are due in December, and a decision on the plan is expected early in 2026.
    • Mashpee - Mashpee is developing its first state-approved Municipal Harbor Plan. The town has been actively working on the draft over the past two years and anticipates completing the plan and approval process in 2026.
    • Nantucket - Nantucket is in the final stages of updating the Nantucket & Madaket Harbors Action Plan. The town is finalizing the draft and expects to submit it for review and approval early in 2026.

Project Review

By ensuring consistency with state coastal program policies and management principles, CZM’s review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act and federal consistency ensures that proposed projects are designed and constructed in a manner that balances development with the protection of coastal and marine resources.

  • MEPA Review - CZM reviewed more than 85 projects submitted to the MEPA office in 2025, providing comments to better ensure that proposed projects protect coastal resources and water-dependent commercial enterprises.
  • Federal Consistency Review - In addition to MEPA review, CZM performs federal consistency review—the review of federal projects (including those requiring federal permits or receiving federal money) to ensure that they meet state standards. CZM issued more than 167 federal consistency review decisions in 2025.

Communications

CZM’s Communications Program supports the other CZM programs in developing publications and web materials, manages the CZM website and the COASTSWEEP beach cleanup, maintains CZM social media accounts, and provides press support for the agency. Highlights and accomplishments not covered in other program areas are included below.

COASTSWEEP 2025 - From August through November each year, thousands of people in Massachusetts volunteer for COASTSWEEP—the statewide beach cleanup sponsored by CZM as part of Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. While the numbers are still coming in for COASTSWEEP 2025, preliminary reports show that more than 3,200 volunteers scoured over 150 miles of coastline and collected 23+ tons of trash this year. For additional details on COASTSWEEP 2025, see the press release, as well as the links below for news coverage. (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

CZM will start signups for COASTSWEEP 2026 in June. If you are interested in receiving information about volunteering or coordinating a cleanup, please send your contact information to coastsweep@mass.gov. And thank you to all our volunteers throughout the years for your enthusiasm and commitment!

CZM Website - The Communications Program continues to work to improve the accessibility of web pages and documents for screen readers. If there is a CZM document you would like prioritized for accessibility upgrades, please contact the CZM webmaster at robin.lacey@mass.gov.

CZM on Bluesky - In September, CZM launched a Bluesky feed (@massczm.bsky.social) to help spread the word about CZM job and grant postings, comment opportunities, calendar items, and other time-sensitive notices, along with information on CZM projects, links to tools and information from the CZM website, and related items of interest. To get these updates, follow CZM on Bluesky or on Twitter/X.

CZM Regional Offices

CZM works closely with communities to support local coastal management—an effort led by CZM’s Regional Program. CZM’s Regional Coordinators serve as liaisons between federal and state programs and coastal cities and towns, coordinate regional initiatives, and provide technical assistance. They also lead CZM’s MEPA and federal consistency review efforts for projects within their regions, providing comments to ensure that projects effectively implement coastal policies and minimize impacts to coastal resources. Finally, Regional Coordinators lead the project management teams for the Coastal Resilience Grants and Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants in their communities, investing substantial effort to ensure that each project is successfully scoped and completed. Much of this work is fully covered in other program areas, with a representative highlight for each region included here.

North Shore (Salisbury to Revere) - CZM’s North Shore Regional Coordinator and the Coastal Resilience team continued to provide technical and financial support to The House of the Seven Gables in Salem to advance their 50-year climate adaptation plan. The plan—developed in 2022-2024 with a two-year Coastal Resilience Grant of approximately $510,000—focuses on balancing preservation goals and cost considerations to ensure long-term effectiveness and a resilient future for the site. The collaborative planning project was presented with a Preservation Award from Historic Salem in September 2024 and received a sustainability award from the Congress for the New Urbanism in June 2025. It was also highlighted in an article published this year in the Special Issue “Climate Change Challenges for Heritage Architecture” of the journal Atmosphere. The article, “Preserving History: Assessments and Climate Adaptations at the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts, USA,” was authored by The House of the Seven Gables Director of Preservation and Maintenance, Paul Wright, Curator of Collections Susan Baker, and Salem State University Geography and Sustainability Department Professor Emeritus Steven S. Young. In June, project partner Union Studio Architecture & Community Design released a video that further captures and highlights this important project. CZM will continue to support this effort through an additional $176,190 Coastal Resilience Grant awarded in 2025 from this year, along with technical assistance to begin permitting and developing construction-ready design plans for relocating and floodproofing two historic and publicly accessible buildings on the campus. This project will address critical coastal and stormwater vulnerabilities while laying the foundation for future phased-relocation actions.

Boston Harbor (Winthrop to Weymouth) - In 2025, CZM’s Boston Harbor Regional Coordinator and the Coastal Resilience team provided critical technical and regulatory guidance to advance several coastal-resilience and waterfront-planning efforts across the region. A key highlight was CZM’s continued support for the Resilient Moakley Park initiative in South Boston, where the City of Boston advanced from conceptual planning into the next phase of design and pre-permitting. Throughout 2025, CZM offered detailed feedback on coastal flood modeling, nature-based shoreline opportunities, public-access considerations, and integration of coastal and stormwater pathways. CZM also coordinated with state partners to prepare for upcoming MEPA and multi-agency permitting, ensuring that the project’s evolving design aligns with statewide coastal-resilience standards and avoids downstream regulatory conflicts. CZM also strengthened municipal partnerships through direct engagement, including a productive site visit with the City of Quincy, which helped build a shared understanding of local shoreline vulnerabilities, project constraints, and permitting pathways. The visit provided a foundation for ongoing technical assistance as Quincy pursues future coastal resilience and coastal infrastructure improvements along some of the region’s most at-risk shoreline.

South Shore (Hingham to Plymouth) - CZM’s South Shore Regional Coordinator and the Coastal Resilience team continued to provide financial and technical support in the successful implementation of the second phase of the Bay Avenue mixed-sediment beach nourishment project in the Town of Marshfield. For the first phase of this project, which was an inter-municipal effort with the Town of Duxbury, the towns placed 85,935 cubic yards of compatible material along 2,690 linear feet of the shoreline (30,778 cubic yards in Marshfield and 55,157 cubic yards in Duxbury). For the current phase of the project, Marshfield placed an additional 45,645 cubic yards of compatible beach material along nearly 1,000 linear feet of shoreline. This achievement was the result of a long-running partnership between the two towns and CZM. From FY 2020 through FY 2023, CZM awarded the towns over $610,000 to: identify beaches that were suitable candidates for beach nourishment (prioritized based on feasibility and need), perform environmental review and secure the necessary permits, develop final design plans, and implement the projects. Each town’s Planning Department and DPW took the lead in working with neighborhood groups and residents to obtain the property easements necessary to implement the project. Finding a source for the mixed-sediment beach nourishment material was a critical consideration to ensure a close match with the existing material on the beach for shorebird habitat and performance considerations. (A beach that contains a portion of gravel and cobble, in addition to sand, can dissipate wave energy better than sand alone, so a properly selected sediment source improves project longevity and reduces future maintenance.) A local source was identified at a nearby site that was to be developed, which involved site clearing, excavation, and grading work. Marshfield was able to secure the material for a competitive price, which allowed more material to be placed on the beach with the available funding. In addition, transportation costs were reduced and logistics simplified by using a local source of material. Throughout this process, including the most recent addition of nourishment material, public outreach was critical. CZM worked with the towns to develop public information presentations and FAQ sheets. The Town of Marshfield developed a dedicated web page, CZM Coastal Resiliency-Beach Nourishment, where informational materials, presentations, and project updates were provided, and a project update from the Town Administrator was featured on Marshfield Community Media.

Cape & Islands (Bourne to Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands) - CZM’s Cape & Islands Regional Coordinator and the Coastal Resilience team continued to provide extensive technical and financial support to the Town of Barnstable as it advances the Sandy Neck Long-Term Resiliency Project. This effort represents a decade-long partnership between CZM and the Town of Barnstable to assess risks to the Sandy Neck Beach facility, evaluate long-term management alternatives, conduct robust public outreach, navigate complex regulatory permitting, and ultimately implement a resilient, sustainable design. Initial work began in 2016 with a Coastal Resilience Grant that supported a comprehensive risk assessment and development of multiple long-term management options. The resulting report prompted additional community discussion about the future of the Sandy Neck facility, leading the town to focus on expanded public education and engagement. By 2024, Barnstable was prepared to move forward with a preferred alternative to enhance the primary dune and relocate the parking lot landward to reduce storm-damage risk and maintain recreational access. CZM awarded Barnstable an FY 2024 Coastal Resilience Grant of $92,579 to support this phase. Last year, CZM provided an additional $90,542 grant to finalize permitting and complete the bidding process for the relocation of the parking lot and gatehouse and for dune restoration. In 2025, CZM awarded the town $1,770,000 to support construction of this major coastal resilience project. The work includes relocating the vulnerable Sandy Neck Beach parking lot approximately 60-70 feet landward and moving the gatehouse to improve resilience to flooding and erosion while preserving public beach access. Throughout all stages, CZM has provided consistent technical assistance and guidance, particularly in evaluating feasible alternatives and navigating extensive permitting requirements. The project has also received funding from the state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, and the total construction cost is approximately $6.6 million. Construction is expected to be completed by April 2026.

South Coast (Wareham to Seekonk) - In 2025, CZM’s South Coast Regional Coordinator began administration and technical support for the update and revision of the New Bedford/Fairhaven Municipal Harbor Plan and Designated Port Area Master Plan. The goal is to create a forward-looking strategy for managing and developing the shared waterfront in a way that promotes New Bedford Harbor’s continued economic growth, improves its environmental quality and resilience, and strengthens its connections to the surrounding communities. Building on the Harbor’s historic role as a center for commercial fishing, the updated plan will also explore opportunities in clean energy, aquaculture, tourism, and other maritime industries. It is anticipated that the plan will be completed in the spring/summer of 2026.

Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources

CZM hosts the Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR), which is the sole trustee of the Commonwealth’s underwater cultural heritage and is charged with encouraging the discovery, reporting, interpretation, and protection of these resources. BUAR 2025 accomplishments are listed below.

Underwater Archaeological Resources in Regional Coastal and Ocean Planning - BUAR and CZM completed work on the NOAA Office for Coastal Management’s Project of Special Merit to assess the vulnerability of Massachusetts coastal cultural resources to sea level rise, erosion, and other coastal hazards for the entire Massachusetts coast. The project addresses priorities documented in CZM’s approved Section 309 Assessment and Five-Year Strategy for CZM Program Enhancement (FY 2021-2025) (PDF, 1 MB). To assess risk, cultural resources density data were integrated with coastal hazard information (erosion and landform change, sea level rise, storm surge, and wave action, identified through analyses of existing federal and state datasets). The density data were derived from analyses of the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System and BUAR/CZM’s Inventoried Underwater Archaeological Resources database, supplemented by limited ethnohistorical information on areas of Indigenous interest obtained through Tribal participation on the Project Advisory Committee. The risk assessment revealed 23 municipalities (Barnstable, Boston, Chilmark, Cohasset, Dennis, Falmouth, Gloucester, Ipswich, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Nantucket, Newbury, Oak Bluffs, Plymouth, Provincetown, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Truro, Wellfleet, Westport, and Weymouth) likely to have the greatest risk from current and future coastal hazard threats to coastal cultural resources. These municipalities were designated as “High” or “Medium-High” Management Priority Areas recommended for more geographically focused, detailed, next-level risk assessment and adaptive management planning. This planning will be done as part of existing and/or future programming developed by federal, state, municipal, and Tribal agencies working together with a diversity of stakeholder groups and individuals. Implementation of the recommended management strategies from the project will assist BUAR, CZM, and other federal, state, local, and Tribal government agencies in better-informed management and decision making regarding prioritization of adaptive management options for areas that include coastal cultural resources as part of an overall coastal management strategy. BUAR also continued to contribute information and advice on submerged ancient cultural landscapes identification to CZM staff working on the on-going Phase II Offshore Sand Resources Characterization study and as a member of NROC’s Submerged Archaeological and Cultural Resources Workgroup.

Publications and Press - BUAR provided information on what may be remains from the 1918 Nantucket shipwreck of the fishing schooner, Evelyn M. Thompson, after a large rudder post and rudder from the wreckage was exposed by autumn storms in 2025. See the links below for news coverage. (Articles may only be available for a limited time.)

Field Investigations - BUAR undertook field investigations and provided technical expertise on six underwater and intertidal archaeological sites, ancient submerged cultural landscapes, and artifacts located in Cohasset, Gloucester, Nantucket, Plymouth, Revere, and South Boston. The sites were situated in coastal intertidal waters and included discoveries made by the public while walking along the shore, as well as by state and local agency representatives. Sites and artifacts that were investigated/documented included the hulls of wooden boats/ships, a wooden bow, and the purported location of a buried cannon. BUAR’s field investigations included ongoing periodic monitoring of, and public education about, a shipwreck site currently impacted by shoreline change/coastal erosion. BUAR also continued its coordination with citizen scientists who provided BUAR with site condition field monitoring information and assisted BUAR in its coordination with radiocarbon dating labs at Lund University in Sweden and Beta Analytic, Inc., in Miami, Florida. This radiocarbon dating was done for the sole archaeological example in Massachusetts of a pre-contact period (ca. 1300s) wooden bow and wooden ship remains hypothesized to be the British armed-schooner, HMS Diana, captured and burned by American forces during the 1775 Revolutionary War Battle of Chelsea Creek.

Maritime Heritage Presentations and Educational Programs - BUAR gave eight public and professional in-person and remote access presentations on a variety of topics related to maritime heritage and participated in multiple meetings and programs throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Topics covered included Massachusetts underwater archaeology, shipwrecks, submerged ancient cultural landscapes, and the threat to Massachusetts coastal heritage resources from erosion caused by sea level rise. Presentations were given to general audiences, community organizations, museums, historical societies, public libraries, and youth education program staff and students (e.g., Bay State Council of Divers, Cohasset Historical Society, East Providence Historical Society, Friends of Pomham Rocks Light, Monson Free Public Library, and Girls Inc.). Primary school-age (K-4) presentations and hands-on activities were co-presented by BUAR and the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band as part of Girls Inc.-Worcester’s Winter Break Camp’s educational programming. Girls Inc. is a national girl-centered organization whose programs inspire and empower girls to succeed. BUAR also presented at Cohasset’s Summer Speaker Series, World Ocean Day in Monson, and Open Heritage Day in Quincy.

Tribal Engagement and Coordination - BUAR continued working on active engagement, relationship- and capacity-building, and coordination with Indigenous communities in Massachusetts and New England. These efforts included participating in virtual and on-site meetings with Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and meetings with the Plymouth-based Indigenous Resource Center, as well as continuing to act as a bridge between non-Indigenous CZM and other agency staff members and Tribal representatives to facilitate introductions and open communications. BUAR also attended and participated in meetings of CZM’s Environmental Justice, Tribal, and Equity Working Group to discuss developing integrated approaches to engaging Massachusetts Tribes and other environmental justice communities.

Public Meetings and Archaeological Permitting - BUAR held five hybrid-format public meetings in 2025. BUAR also worked with 13 permittees and administered 24 BUAR archaeological permits for areas located in 24 Massachusetts cities and towns. Of these permits, 15 were BUAR Special Use Permits, eight were Reconnaissance Permits, and one was an Excavation Permit. In addition, BUAR administered and granted two “Isolated Find Exemption” requests in two additional municipalities.

Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program

CZM also hosts and administers the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP), which works to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its watershed. Highlights from 2025 are included below.

Director Joe Costa’s Retirement - In October, Joe Costa retired after more than 36 years as the Director of the NEP. Joe grew up in New Bedford and was always fascinated by life in the ocean, especially eelgrass, which became the focus of his undergraduate field projects at the University of California Berkeley’s Bodega Marine Laboratory. He went on to the Boston University Marine Program in Woods Hole, where he earned a PhD studying how pollution and other factors affected the distribution of eelgrass and other species in Buzzards Bay. This research was funded by the then Buzzards Bay Project, which predated the National Estuary Program. During his post-doctoral work, coastal managers encouraged him to apply for the Buzzards Bay Project Manager position, and CZM hired him due to his understanding of marine ecology and experiences monitoring nitrogen pollution and discharges from septic systems, estimating watershed nitrogen loads, and mapping the loss and recovery of eelgrass beds. After overseeing the development of the first Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the program, Joe then focused on the NEP’s work on providing technical assistance and grants to Buzzards Bay municipalities. During his tenure at the NEP, several projects stand out. In 1992, the NEP helped form the Baywatchers water quality monitoring program in partnership with the Buzzards Bay Coalition and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and in 1998, in partnership with Barnstable County Health and MassDEP, the NEP built the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center and oversaw the first round of technology testing. In 2015, the NEP began the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative—a partnership between eight Buzzards Bay municipalities, the NEP, and Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA). The program continues today, and MMA students receive course credits to work with municipal public works departments to map stormwater networks, monitor discharges, and conduct investigations for illicit discharges. This work helps Buzzards Bay municipalities meet federal stormwater discharge permits. Joe also focused on collaborations with staff from EPA, CZM, and the Southeast New England Program (SNEP), along with the inspiring work of the 27 other NEPs. With his retirement, CZM Director Alison Brizius has stepped in as interim Director. We miss Joe’s thoughtful and sage words of wisdom, attention to details, and complete mastery of the issues in Buzzards Bay.

Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan - The NEP produced a draft 2025 Update of the Buzzards Bay CCMP, which contains goals and objectives and provides a long-term framework for action to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its watershed. This draft plan revises the 2013 CCMP update to reflect recommendations in the 2023 Buzzards Bay CCMP Climate Vulnerability Assessment, new information or conditions, changes to laws and regulations, new EPA CCMP guidelines, comments by reviewers, and other input, as well as NEP climate resilience objectives. The update will be finalized once a new NEP Director has been hired.

Buzzards Bay Watershed Municipal Mini-Grants - On April 4, the Buzzards Bay NEP announced $138,000 in grant awards that will support fish migration and improve water quality in the Buzzards Bay watershed. The following two grants were awarded by the NEP through CZM:

  • Plymouth - $69,000 to design and construct stormwater treatment systems on Surrey Drive that will prevent contaminants and nutrients from entering Clear Pond. The pond has documented low levels of oxygen and elevated levels of chlorophyll, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which are leading to repeated seasonal outbreaks of cyanobacteria. Plymouth’s goal is to eliminate the first flush of stormwater from being discharged directly into the pond, which is contributing to poor water quality.
  • Westport - $69,000 to complete preliminary engineering design plans to advance the replacement of three undersized and deteriorating culverts at Angeline Brook at Cornell Road and Snell Creek and Lyons Brook on Drift Road. The culverts impair the free flow of the streams, serve as barriers to native fish migration, and pose risks to public safety when roads are damaged during extreme flooding. Eventual replacement of these culverts will provide access to critical habitat for sea-run brook trout, river herring, American eel, and other fish species.

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

Buzzards Bay Watershed Infrastructure and CCMP Support Grants - In October, the NEP released a request for responses for its fourth round of Buzzards Bay Watershed Infrastructure and CCMP Support Grant Program grants. Submitted proposals are currently undergoing review and evaluation, with $814,445 in federal funding anticipated to be awarded through a Cooperative Agreement with EPA from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA). Eligible projects must implement a recommendation in the Buzzards Bay CCMP and be principally located within, or benefit water quality or habitat in, the Buzzards Bay watershed. In addition, eligible projects include feasibility, design, and construction of stormwater facilities to treat discharges affecting surface waters; tasks to achieve Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) compliance; retrofits to enhance nitrogen removal from wastewater treatment facilities; restoration of wetlands, habitat, and migratory fish passage; construction of boat pumpout facilities; creation/participation in online reporting systems for alternative septic systems; and other activities in support of the CCMP and compatible with IIJA funding.

Buzzards Bay Targeted Grants - With funding from the SNEP’s Clean Water Act Section 320 funds and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, the NEP provided targeted grant support for the following programs:

  • Baywatchers Program - The NEP continued to support the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Baywatchers water quality monitoring program with a $65,000 grant. For over 30 years, Baywatchers has collected basic water quality, nutrient, and algal pigment information around Buzzards Bay during the summer and educated the public on local water quality. Since 1992, this effort has directly engaged more than 1,000 citizen scientists and has resulted in an impressive dataset of long-term trends for the ecological health of over 200 locations around the bay.
  • Monitoring Nutrient Inputs to Buzzards Bay from Coastal Rivers - Discharges of nitrogen and phosphorus into coastal rivers are a major source of these nutrients in Buzzards Bay. Although the water quality in the estuarine embayments has been monitored for 33 years as part of the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Baywatchers program, the nutrient input contributed by rivers remains poorly understood. Quantifying these nutrient flows is important for validating watershed pollutant loading models and for understanding how residential and commercial development, land and agricultural management, and ecological restoration activities influence nutrient delivery to Buzzards Bay. Because climate change will bring increasingly variable precipitation to the Northeast, understanding river-borne sources of nutrients to Buzzards Bay will also be critical to addressing future nutrient loads. The NEP provided a $49,000 grant to the Buzzards Bay Coalition and Woodwell Climate Research Center to continue this monitoring effort for a fourth year. This funding helped pay for continuous monitoring equipment and laboratory testing to measure nitrogen inputs to Buzzards Bay from coastal rivers.
  • Buzzards Bay Long-Term Salt Marsh Study - Salt marshes in Buzzards Bay play a vital role by providing habitat, regulating water quality, and stabilizing coastlines. In recent years, many coastal communities have experienced degradation or loss of salt marshes. To better understand and halt this trend, the NEP provided a $46,000 grant to the Buzzards Bay Coalition and scientists at the Woodwell Climate Research Center—the fourth year of funding to track salt marsh loss in Buzzards Bay principally caused by factors related to climate change. The NEP also provided technical assistance through interpreting historical aerial photographs and processing elevation data from Global Positioning System (GPS) and field surveys. For more information on the marsh studies, see this Buzzards Bay NEP web post.
  • New Bedford Public Schools Sea Lab Summer Program - The Sea Lab Marine Science Education Center is the New Bedford Public School’s summer school program supported through tuition and the Local Education Agency. One of the fundamental elements of the Sea Lab program is to focus on providing educational equity for all public-school students. For the fourth year, the NEP supported Sea Lab with a $25,000 award. This funding provides scholarships to up to 40 financially disadvantaged students in support of environmental justice goals and funds a field trip to Cuttyhunk Island in Buzzards Bay, a whale watch off Cape Cod, and various supplies and instructional aids for the program.
  • Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative - The Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative is a partnership between the NEP, MMA, and eight Buzzards Bay watershed municipalities (Acushnet, Bourne, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, Wareham, and Westport). The collaborative continues to monitor stormwater discharges, inspect stormwater structures, and map stormwater networks, particularly those contributing to shellfish bed closures. This effort supports investigation of other municipal stormwater discharges covered under federal MS4 stormwater permits. In 2025, the NEP continued its support with a $138,154 award to MMA using EPA funds from the IIJA to support an MMA program manager and certain administrative costs of MMA co-op students in the program. The students are funded directly by the municipalities in the collaborative. In 2025, local contributions totaled $77,000 in cash, plus municipal in-kind services from DPW staff working with students in the field. The Buzzards Bay NEP continues to provide technical oversight, GIS management, data processing and analysis, and free laboratory testing services to municipalities in the collaborative. Four interactive stormwater maps—developed to help evaluate stormwater outfalls, show the status of illicit discharge detection and elimination investigations, and provide strategies for MS4 initiatives—have undergone several improvements and updates. A Sampling Dashboard has also been designed for use on smart phones to support field investigations. These new mapping products are available on the Interactive Maps page. For additional information, see the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative website and training videos on the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative YouTube channel.

Technical Assistance - The NEP continued to assist municipalities and other partners with GIS analysis, proposal development, review of local projects, and training and support for municipal stormwater MS4 permit compliance. The NEP provided more than 800 mapping and GIS products to the Buzzards Bay Coalition, area land trusts, and municipalities in their efforts to protect important habitat and open space in the Buzzards Bay watershed. Prior to his retirement, the NEP’s Director worked with the Buzzards Bay Coalition Science Advisory Committee and a team of scientists in Woods Hole to identify pressing issues related to climate change, nitrogen and toxic pollution, and loss of wetlands habitat and living resources in Buzzards Bay.

Southeast New England Program Support - The NEP is an advising partner to EPA in implementing SNEP and is a supporting partner in a SNEP-funded watershed assessment. The NEP continued its support of a Buzzards Bay Coalition five-year watershed protection effort on Apponagansett Bay funded under the SNEP Pilot Watershed Initiative. The SNEP funding has helped the Town of Dartmouth and City of New Bedford identify and prioritize sources of watershed impairments and develop solutions to address stream alteration and nutrient loading in an urbanized section of the Buttonwood Brook-Apponagansett Bay area of Massachusetts. The NEP supported the effort by providing land use analysis and GIS services to advance total maximum daily load (TMDL) development.

Staff & People

In addition to Joe Costa’s retirement, CZM said goodbye to another team member and hosted two interns in 2025. In May, CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Specialist, India Mackinson, left CZM to become a Grants Manager for the Greater Boston Climate Resilience Jobs Alliance. India was a member of CZM’s StormSmart Coasts team for nearly two years, helping to administer the Coastal Resilience Grant Program and providing technical assistance to coastal communities and other partners. In June, BUAR and CZM welcomed Hannah Aronson as a Summer Intern. Currently a Master’s student at MIT, Hannah worked on an important final phase of the NOAA-funded Project of Special Merit to assess the vulnerability of cultural resources to sea level rise, erosion, and flooding along the Massachusetts coast. Lastly, in September, CZM welcomed Daniela Schulman as an intern for the ResilientCoasts initiative. Daniela, a Master’s student at the Harvard Kennedy School, is working closely with the team on implementation of the ResilientCoasts Plan.

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