Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
On Jan. 13, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan announced the award of $13.5 million in grants to municipalities for dam and seawall projects across Massachusetts.
The funds will be used remove dams, repair dams in poor or unsafe condition, and improve coastal infrastructure.
The communities that won grants are Bellingham, Brookfield, Canton, Fall River, Gloucester, Holliston, Hull, Lancaster, Marshfield, Northampton, Oak Bluffs, Plymouth, Rockport, Wareham, Westfield and Worcester.
The grant program was created in response to concerns about the poor condition of most of the 3,000 or so dams in Massachusetts, some of which pose a threat to public safety. The dams also affect aquatic health by blocking fish passage, slowing stream flow, raising the temperature of water, and holding back contaminants, according to the Division of Ecological Restoration.
State officials estimate that 85 percent of the state’s dams no longer serve their original purpose. Removing unsafe and obsolete dams rids their owners of liability as well as insurance and maintenance costs, while reducing flooding, safety and wildlife risks.
A 2011 report from the office of the state auditor identified 100 municipally owned dams in 62 communities that were rated in unsafe or poor condition. The report estimated that $60 million would be needed just to repair high-hazard municipally owned dams.
Seawalls along the state’s 1,700 miles of coastline are also deteriorating, particularly after a series of major coastal storms in recent years. A 2009 report by the Department of Conservation and Recreation found that 85 percent of coastal protection structures are beyond their expected lifespan of 50 years and have never seen major repairs.
State officials said coastal infrastructure projects were selected based on protection of economic centers, water and sewer systems, emergency transportation and evacuation routes.
The MMA was a participant in the Massachusetts Dam Safety Alliance, which includes the American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts, the Boston Society for Civil Engineers, the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Mass Audubon, the Massachusetts Organization of Scientists and Engineers, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, and the Massachusetts Water Works Association.
For the next grant round, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will be holding eight Dam and Seawall Repair and Removal Fund pre-application information sessions across the state between Feb. 11 and March 6.
For more information about the Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Fund, contact John Clarkeson of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs at john.clarkeson@state.ma.us.
• Schedule for Dam and Seawall Repair and Removal Fund Pre-Application Information Sessions (45K PDF)