Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $700K to Support Regional Restoration Partnerships

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced over $700,000 in grants to support partnerships to restore rivers and wetlands. This funding, provided by the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), will support three established partnerships through DER’s Regional Restoration Partnerships Program. These partnerships advance locally led projects that provide clean water, reduce flood risk, and restore healthy habitat for fish and wildlife. 

“Nature is our best defense against natural disasters. That’s why the work of these local environmental leaders in the Berkshires, Merrimack Valley, and Buzzards Bay is so important,” said Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Removing aging dams, restoring wetlands and salt marshes, and expanding access to streams are some of our best strategies for preventing disastrous floods in our communities. By making progress through these partnerships, we’ll be protecting people’s livelihoods in the event of a storm.” 

“Partnership is crucial to conserve our state’s irreplaceable biodiversity. By growing capacity at the local level for restoration, we can accelerate our progress statewide to bring our rivers, wetlands, and streams back to health for nature and people,” said DFG Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “With a regional approach, we can leverage lessons learned in one community to deliver better, faster solutions across the whole watershed. Thank you to our partners for their leadership, commitment, and collaboration.” 

“Each of the three Regional Restoration Partnerships brings together communities, non-profit organizations, agencies, and others to lead restoration projects that are high priority for nature and for people,” said DER Director Beth Lambert. “Municipalities want to remove aging dams, upgrade failing culverts, and restore coastal wetlands, but often lack the capacity to do so.  Regional Restoration Partnerships plug the capacity gap and get these projects done.” 

DER’s Regional Restoration Partnerships Program helps build the capacity of regional organizations and regional planning agencies that work with cities, towns, and other local partners to lead watershed-scale ecological restoration within their regions. Pairing partners' strengths with state investments empowers local communities to restore rivers and wetlands and help people and nature adapt to climate change. The Regional Restoration Partnerships Program is currently supporting three Partnerships, selected through a competitive bid in 2021, and has awarded $716,300 to continue that support: 

Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership: $276,000 

• Lead Organization/Awardee: Housatonic Valley Association.
• The Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnership unites organizations, agencies, and communities to strengthen aquatic health and climate resilience in the Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds. This award will expand regional capacity to deliver nature-based climate solutions, accelerate the removal of aquatic barriers, and restore coldwater habitat for native fish species.  

Buzzards Bay Watershed Restoration Partnership: $212,000 

• Lead Organization/Awardee: Buzzards Bay Coalition
• The Buzzards Bay Watershed Restoration Partnership brings together towns, land trusts, and private landowners to advance strategic ecological restoration, land conservation, and climate resilience across the Buzzards Bay region. This award will support ongoing efforts to build local and regional capacity to implement priority restoration projects such as river and stream connectivity, salt marsh restoration and migration, and freshwater wetland restoration. 

Merrimack Restoration Partnership: $228,300 

• Lead Organization/Awardee: Merrimack River Watershed Council
• The Merrimack Restoration Partnership unites regional partners to advance watershed-scale restoration and climate resilience across the Nashua, Lower Merrimack, Sudbury-Assabet-Concord, Spicket, Shawsheen, and Beaver Brook sub-watersheds in Northeast and North Central Massachusetts. This award will support high-priority ecological restoration projects—including dam removals, and culvert assessments and replacements—while also advancing urban stream revitalization in Lowell and Lawrence to improve water quality, restore floodplains, engage communities, and expand public access to local rivers and streams. 

"The Buzzards Bay watershed is one of the most ecologically significant regions in Massachusetts, and the work of the Buzzards Bay Coalition is vital to protecting it for generations to come," said State Senator Dylan Fernandes (D-Falmouth). "Thanks to the Healey-Driscoll Administration's leadership, we are empowering local organizations to take on the hard work of restoring wetlands, protecting coastal ecosystems, and making our communities more resilient to climate change. These grants reflect our statewide commitment to environmental stewardship, one that recognizes that when we invest in nature, we're also investing in the safety, economy, and future of our coastal towns."  

“The Merrimack River Watershed is a critical environmental resource for our region and our state, and its health depends on the strength of its tributary watersheds,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “This grant funding will make possible the type of fundamental projects, such as dam removal and culvert improvements, that improve flow and water quality, which in turn support ecosystem vitality and the many benefits the river provides every day. Moreover, these projects build on the momentum we are creating in the region for a comprehensive suite of measures to maximize the quality of the river. I am grateful to my friend, former Senator Ed Kennedy, for his partnership in bringing a wide array of stakeholders together for a collaborative effort that has been growing steadily and holds great promise for the future.”

“The Berkshire Clean, Cold, and Connected Partnership is doing critical work to strengthen climate resilience and restore aquatic ecosystems across the Berkshires,” said State Representative Leigh Davis (D-Great Barrington). “I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for investing in these important partnerships that advance meaningful restoration projects throughout the Commonwealth.” 

"The Berkshires are a beautiful, biologically diverse part of the Commonwealth, and the region needs care and attention to make sure our watersheds are healthy. I admire the work of Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Partnerships to increase the scale of ecological restoration by building regional capacity to collaboratively restore degraded aquatic ecosystems and promote climate resiliency," said State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-2nd Berkshire). "I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Department of Fish and Game for their attention to watershed-scale river and wetland restoration within the Berkshires." 

“I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Department of Fish and Game for investing $212,000 in the Buzzards Bay Watershed Restoration Partnership,” said State Representative Mark Sylvia (D-Fairhaven). “This funding will support critical projects that restore wetlands, improve water quality, and strengthen our communities’ resilience to climate change.” 

“The Merrimack River is central to Haverhill and Merrimack Valley cities alike. By investing in the restoration of its streams and floodplains, we are not only making critical improvements that will affect water quality and protect neighborhoods from flooding, but also creating healthier, more accessible natural spaces for our residents,” said State Representative Andy X. Vargas (D-Haverhill). “This funding will ensure that communities like Haverhill, Lawrence, and Lowell can continue leading with climate resilience and equity at the forefront.” 

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