Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $2 Million in Grants to Protect Coastal Water Quality and Restore Habitat

Boston — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $2.1 million in grants to support efforts to protect coastal water quality and habitat, develop comprehensive coastal habitat restoration plans, and implement priority restoration actions. The grants, provided by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ (EEA) Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), were awarded to the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Charles River Watershed Association, Falmouth, Kingston, Mattapoisett Land Trust, North and South Rivers Watershed Association, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Swansea, and Yarmouth.

“Our goal is to work directly with communities to prevent coastal water pollution and enhance the habitats that provide so many benefits, including resilience to climate change,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants provide dedicated funding to develop local plans and implement solutions that keep our coast a welcoming place for people and wildlife, both now and in the future.” 

“Communities are on the forefront of coastal water quality and habitat protection, knowing firsthand the sources of coastal contamination and the importance of protecting salt marsh and other vital ecosystems,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Congratulations to all of the towns, cities, and nonprofits that are dedicating their time to secure funding and develop and implement plans to keep coastal waters clean and habitats resilient.” 

The Coastal Habitat and Water Quality (CHWQ) Grants fund projects to assess, intercept, and treat stormwater runoff, which is a leading source of water pollution. Reducing stormwater pollution is essential for protecting coastal water quality and habitat, as well as keeping beaches open for swimming and shellfish beds open for harvest. A priority of the grant program is to support implementation of green stormwater infrastructure, methods that replicate natural processes to trap and filter stormwater prior to reaching local waterbodies. The CHWQ grants also support the development of comprehensive habitat restoration plans, as well as efforts to implement priority habitat restoration actions from previously approved plans. Habitat restoration helps to maintain critical environmental resources across coastal Massachusetts.

“One of the best ways to protect water quality and ensure resilience to climate change is through nature-based approaches that use vegetation to capture and filter stormwater and prevent erosion,” said Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants prioritize green infrastructure options, and I am happy to see the way these projects focus on natural solutions to environmental challenges.”

“This is the second year of Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants, which give coastal communities and nonprofits targeted funds to address the interconnected nature of water quality, habitat, and climate change,” said CZM Director Lisa Berry Engler. “The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management is excited to work with these grant recipients to address priority issues and build lasting solutions.”

The following 10 projects have been funded through this year’s Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants:

Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) - $761,137 to complete permitting and final designs for green stormwater infrastructure options at four public boat ramps, and then to construct the options at two of these sites, which will treat nutrients and bacteria in runoff and improve water quality and recreational opportunities. This work involves several municipal, regional, and federal partners and builds on assessment work supported by previous CZM funding.

Charles River Watershed Association - $99,992 to develop green stormwater infrastructure designs and a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for Cheesecake Brook, a tributary of the Charles River, in partnership with the City of Newton. The green infrastructure will be designed to treat nutrients and bacteria in stormwater entering the brook, and the habitat restoration plan will identify and prioritize restoration opportunities to improve habitat for diadromous fish.

Falmouth - $90,237 to develop a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for the Fresh River system. The Town will collect data and engage the public to inform the development of conceptual designs to improve tidal flow and reduce stormwater pollution to the river.

Falmouth - $40,000 to design green infrastructure to treat stormwater and reduce nutrients and bacteria in untreated runoff from Thomas B. Landers Road into the Coonamessett River, a critical diadromous fish run on Cape Cod.

Kingston - $18,000 to assess priority parcels for land acquisition or conservation to allow for marsh migration, the landward movement of marshes into suitable adjacent lands as sea level rises. This project addresses a priority action in the Town’s comprehensive habitat restoration plan developed with previous CZM CHWQ funding.

Mattapoisett Land Trust - $82,856 to develop a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for the tidal marshes west of Mattapoisett Neck Road in partnership with the Town of Mattapoisett. The restoration plan will include three or four technical plans for priority restoration actions, including preliminary designs to replace the undersized culvert under Mattapoisett Neck Road at Molly’s Cove. The project builds on significant work completed by the land trust and the Town to improve resilience to climate change and protect coastal habitat, which was supported by previous CZM funding.

North and South Rivers Watershed Association - $88,129 to develop a comprehensive habitat restoration plan for the tidal marshes across the South Shore of Massachusetts, in partnership with the Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the Towns of Duxbury, Norwell, Plymouth, and Scituate. Both field and desktop assessment methods will be used to develop the plan, with opportunity for community engagement, education, and outreach.

Salem Sound Coastwatch - $50,000 to conduct a case study of the North River rain gardens through the development of an executive summary, story map, and two informational videos in partnership with the City of Salem. The case study will provide capacity-building and education and outreach opportunities focused on green stormwater infrastructure and will build on work supported by previous CZM funding.

Swansea - $99,900 to conduct a stormwater assessment for the Compton’s Corner area of the Cole’s River watershed in partnership with the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) and Save the Bay. The assessment will consist of water quality sampling, stormwater trainings for municipal staff, and public engagement resulting in conceptual designs for one stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP).

Yarmouth - $795,908 to develop green stormwater infrastructure designs for five priority sites, resulting in the permitting and installation of two stormwater BMPs. This project, which builds on assessment work supported by previous CZM funding, will improve water quality for fish and wildlife habitat and reduce beach closures.

“On the Cape and Islands, our waters and coastal habitats are some of our most valued and critical natural resources,” said State Senator Julian Cyr. “In the face of pollution and the climate crisis, it is essential that we take swift action to ensure coastal waters and habitats are protected for the benefit of people and animals alike in the years to ahead. Thank you to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for granting a total $1.5 million to key initiatives on Cape Cod that will improve our water quality and protect vital local habitat.”

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Through planning, technical and grant assistance, and public information programs, CZM seeks to balance the impacts of human activity with the protection of coastal and marine resources. The agency’s work includes helping coastal communities address the challenges of storms, sea level rise, and other effects of climate change; working with state, regional, and federal partners to balance current and new uses of ocean waters while protecting ocean habitats and promoting sustainable economic development; and partnering with communities and other organizations to protect and restore coastal water quality and habitats.

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