Work with investor-owned electric and gas utilities to review geotargeted solar paired with energy storage proposals developed pursuant to the 2021 Climate Act (St. 2021, c. 8, section 77) designed to assist a municipality, including those with environmental justice communities, at high risk from the effects of climate change. The proposals must be supported by the municipality and designed to improve climate adaptation and resiliency.

On September 12, 2022, the DPU directed the investor-owned electric distribution companies’ electric sector modernization plans that will be filed with the Grid Modernization Advisory Council in September 2023 and with the DPU in January 2024 consistent with the requirements of the 2022 Climate Act (St. 2022, c. 179). The electric sector modernization plans will include a five-year plan for preparing for future climate-driven impacts on the transmission and distribution systems, including proposed improvements to the electric distribution system to increase reliability and strengthen system resiliency to address potential weather-related and disaster-related risks. The DPU will review the plans when filed in January 2024 and issue a decision within seven months of the submission of the plan.

MEMA will hire a vendor to study other successful state buyout programs such as NJ, OH and districts in NC as well as Florida's Wind Mitigation Program to understand best practices, gaps and opportunities of improvement. The study will result in a set of recommendations that best suits Massachusetts government structure to help us identify properties and create a program that best supports coastal and riverine cities and towns making it easier for them to obtain funding. Acquisition/Buyout programs are one method of property acquisitions in which private lands are purchased, existing structures demolished, and the land maintained in an undeveloped state for public use in perpetuity. Acquisition of a property in a floodway is intended to reduce the risk of future flooding for the property and/or those adjacent. A voluntary property acquisition/buyout program can enable homeowners to leave high-risk areas. This can be an especially important option for EJ and other priority populations who may not have the financial means to move or to repair/rebuild after floods. 

Massachusetts’ three snake species (Timber Rattlesnake, Copperhead, and Ratsnake) listed as Endangered are also the Commonwealth’s largest species, and are entirely confined to topographically complex and resilient mountain habitats. Large landscape requirements and slow life history (long lifespan, late maturity, etc.) make them exceptional umbrella species for a range of state-listed species and habitats because their status reflects the health of the habitat in which they are found. These three imperiled species are also increasingly affected by fungal and bacterial pathogens associated with more frequent wetter and warmer conditions that reduce species survival, resiliency and persistence.  As such, they are uniquely vulnerable to a changing climate. We propose a three-year partnership with UMass Amherst-USGS Coop Unit to develop a communications plan, study the pathogens, and manage habitats and populations to promote stability of native populations while minimizing human:snake encounters. This project will build partnerships with DCR, MassAudubon, UMass, and local communities. 

Main components of this action include: (1) Address Flood Vulnerability and (2) Enhance Understanding of Groundwater Flooding. Part (1) includes developing flood map overlays to show increased flood vulnerabilities across the Commonwealth and in particular where these intersect with EJ populations and identifying areas of repeated flooding across the state, overlaying with EJ data, overlaying with potential causes (e.g., geology, land use/IS) and overlaying with potential mitigation options such as upland recharge areas, improved stormwater infrastructure, and removing impervious surfaces or similar. Advance implementation through pilot projects in prioritized areas. Part (2) includes continuing study of groundwater flooding, refining statewide groundwater model, applying output from EEA's Climate and Hydrologic Risk Project, and conducting recharge modeling to run new climate change scenarios and add sea level rise inputs for coastal areas.

Project Narratives: 

• Establishing Flooding Vulnerability from Rising Groundwater
• Identifying Flooding Impacts to Environmental Justice Communities
  

Identify buildings in areas designated by RMAT-supported climate data sets as being at high risk of extreme heat and track these vulnerabilities in an asset management system (CAMIS). Refer to this information with client agencies during capital planning and at the outset of new projects to address risks of extreme heat to occupants, especially at buildings that house vulnerable populations within the DCAMM portfolio, when feasible. Prioritize use of heat pumps for heating and cooling.

Project Narrative: ResilientMass Enhancements

Biodiversity anchors our history, heritage, and culture, supports our health and well-being, food security and economy, and enriches our lives. It is also key climate solution—nature protects our communities from extreme weather, drought, floods, and heat. Despite its critical value, biodiversity is in crisis, both globally and right here in Massachusetts. Over 450 species are listed by the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA), and hundreds more are at risk. It’s not only rare and endangered species, common and familiar species we know and love are in danger. This action advances Massachusetts' biodiversity goals by supporting all aspects of species- and habitat-specific conservation, including planning, monitoring, research, and public outreach. 

Advance the conservation and restoration of salt marshes, coordinating closely with partners (EEA, DEP, DER) and stakeholders, through the following activities: (1) Facilitation of Land Acquisition for Marsh Migration - CZM will utilize existing tools and data (SLAMM) to prioritize undeveloped areas that are modeled to be suitable for future salt marsh migration and pursue federal funding opportunities to support acquisition of priority parcels; (2) Advance understanding of beneficial reuse of sediments to restore and maintain salt marsh habitat - CZM will convene an expert stakeholder group to explore the science and practice of beneficial reuse of dredged sediments for salt marsh restoration. Opportunities for beneficial reuse that are environmentally sound, economically feasible, and permittable in Massachusetts will be the focus; (3) Implement new grant program to support monitoring and adaptive management of applied salt marsh restoration techniques - CZM will build capacity for salt marsh restoration through a targeted grant program to specifically support monitoring and adaptive management of novel restoration strategies to improve understanding of these techniques, ensure scientific rigor, and improve the ability to evaluate success.

MassDEP is incorporating the evaluation and mitigation of potential climate change vulnerabilities at waste sites into the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, the regulations that govern the assessment and cleanup of oil and hazardous material disposal sites in the Commonwealth. Proposed amendments have been published for comment and finalization of the changes is expected to happen in 2023. The new rule will require consideration of reasonably foreseeable site conditions including potential impacts from climate change in evaluating a site and selecting resilient remedies.   

Support for habitat restoration including invasive species management, aquatic and terrestrial connectivity improvement, dam removal, and flood plain resilience and connectivity.

Freshwater mussels provide critical ecosystem services and yet are some of the most threatened animals in the state. Six of the 12 species found in Massachusetts are listed under the state's Endangered Species Act. They are critical to protecting water quality in freshwater systems. Each mussel can filter up to 15 gallons of water per day. As climate change continues to stress freshwater systems through increases in pollutant concentrations and algal blooms, freshwater mussels provide a nature-based solution to protect water quality and reverse freshwater ecosystem degradation. This project will seek to understand how changing environmental conditions are affecting freshwater mussel occupancy and resilience in order to develop effective conservation strategies.

Project Narrative: Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation: Fresh Water Mussels

Dam removal is a proven restoration technique with well documented ecological, public safety, and climate change resilience benefits. However, long-term ecological response to dam removal (i.e., decades) in the face of a rapidly changing climate is not well documented. Data collected and analyzed at longer term intervals are needed to understand how restored aquatic habitats and the biodiverse communities they support develop through time. This information will allow us to more accurately quantify project benefits, understand return on investment for the Commonwealth, and potentially discover ways to improve the practice. To fill this critical knowledge gap, DER proposes to collect physical and biological data at up to 15 completed dam removal sites across the Commonwealth. This study will build upon pre- and post-dam removal data collected as part of a previous DER and DFW supported study that resulted in several scientific publications.

Invasive species are the biggest threat to ecosystems in the state, after habitat destruction and degradation. Their impacts are getting increasingly worse as a result of climate change. Habitats important for carbon sequestration (forests, salt marshes), clean water, and protection from inland flooding are all threatened by the pervasive and largely uncontrolled impacts from invasive species. Management and eradication of invasive species takes early detection, years of treatments, and continued funding which most agencies don't have due to limitations on staff capacity and budget allocations. Making this a statewide action led by EEA will provide much needed coordination and leadership. Organizations like the Northeast Climate Adaptation Center can provide a lot of guidance with this action.

Project Narrative: Assessment and Management Plan for Invasive Plants

This action includes technical and/or administrative support related to the development of data and/or recommendations pertaining to how assessments of water bodies (e.g., rivers, impoudments, etc.) may be influenced by climate change.

MDAR's Climate Smart Ag Program helps farmers transition to sustainable approaches to soil management such as reduced or no-till planting; the Agricultural Soil Health program that funds AFT to provide technical assistance to farmers around soil health through the Coordinated Soil Health Program. The Farm Viability Programs provide farmers with technical assistance, business planning and funding to ensure that the farms remain productive and viable. Climate Smart Ag grants and FSIG grants assist farmers with climate resiliency and drought mitigation projects thus creating sustainable ag production.

Project Narrative: Climate Smart Agriculture, Sustainable Soil and Grant Programs

This project would stabilize and restore Ram Island for the benefit of rare terns and saltmarsh habitat. The island in Buzzard's Bay is a state-owned wildlife sanctuary that supports 20% of the N. American population of the federally endangered Roseate Tern as well as MA's second-largest Common Tern (MA-listed: Special Concern) colonies. Maximum elevation of 3-acre island is <9 feet above Mean Low Water. It is rapidly eroding and threatened by climate change, including sea-level rise. An alternatives analysis to explore approaches to protecting the island was completed in January of 2023. Preferred approaches include saltmarsh creation and restoration, intertidal cobble berms, coastal dune enhancement, and offshore boulderfields. The next steps are completing detailed design and engineering plans ($200K) and permitting ($300K). Construction costs are likely to run at least $6M and additional sources of funding are being explored.

Project Narrative: Restoration of Ram Island Wildlife Sanctuary

Provide subject matter expertise, guidance, funding support where applicable, and direct support for development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) and on the ground Wildfire Risk Assessments for communities considered to be at an elevated risk for impacts from wildfire occurrence due to vegetative fuel types and conditions.

DCR's Office of Cultural Resources and GIS office developed a GIS-based data layer and data collection app to enable DCR to inventory and map the cultural resources under its stewardship, with a goal of identifying those sites most vulnerable to climate change impacts. DCR will integrate its Cultural Resource Inventory data with the Asset Management Modernization Program to assist the agency with planning and prioritization efforts. DCR will share results of its inventory with CZM for consideration and integration into their Coastal Cultural Resources Vulnerability Assessment.

Project Narrative: 

• Cultural Resources Inventory Phases II and III
• Cultural Resources Inventory Phase IV
  

This action includes finalizing the Statewide Hydraulic Model that has been under development for numerous phases already. Work may include the incorporation of coastal crossings, the incorporation of future flows, the improvement of pluvial crossings, and/or education and outreach. 

Project Narratives

• Statewide Hydraulic Model as a Stream Crossing Planning Tool Phase 2A
• Statewide Hydraulic Model as a Stream Crossing Planning Tool Phase 3A
  
• Statewide Hydraulic Model as a Stream Crossing Planning Tool Phase 4

Note: The implementation phase of this project is being continued under the action "Resilient Parkways".

The Parkways Climate Vulnerability Assessment will provide a critical first step planning-level flood risk information specific for the historic DCR Parkways system by identifying risks from flooding under future climate scenarios, aligning with the 2022 Massachusetts Climate Assessment. This assessment will supplement the 2020 DCR Parkways Master Plan to add long-term considerations in the context of the exposure to extreme weather and climate effects, and adaptive capacity. The assessment will inform DCR's planning efforts to make these parkways resilient to the effects of climate change. 

Project Narrative: 

• Parkways Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
• Resilient Parkways

Assessments documenting and analyzing hydrology, existing conditions, watershed functions, and existing stormwater capacity will be paired with future projections for stormwater and sea level rise. These assessments will help identify mitigation and restoration actions, such as naturalizing the stream, managing stormwater, and improving hydrology of saltmarshes. In 2023, DCR will begin assessments in Belle Isle Marsh Reservation and Town Line & Linden Brook. DCR's coastal wetlands assessment results will be shared with CZM for consideration and integration into their salt marsh migration land acquisition strategy. 

Project Narratives: 

• Massachusetts Coast Flood Risk Model Stakeholder Training
• Conduct Coastal Wetland Modeling and Restoration Assessments

This includes the development of data needed for policy, regulations, and/or guidance that assists with restoration, and/or climate resilience, if needed. This action also includes the collection of scientific data to inform policy, regulations, and guidance for implementation of any/ all carbon related goals and recommendations associated with the Clean Energy goals

This includes development of plan, implementation of monitoring and data analysis, and characterization of the condition of salt marsh over a long-term period.

Continue to identify and to migrate business applications and systems to the cloud

Acquire the 375-acre Davison cranberry operation abutting Myles Standish State Forest and containing approximately 125 acres each of bogs/ponds, forest, and East Head Reservoir. Work with EEA, DER and federal agencies to secure funding for the restoration of the Davison bogs, as well as the 5-acre bog in Massassoit SP, to restore the headwaters of the Wankinko River, improve endangered species habitat and increase carbon sequestration. Part of this project will include the rebuilding of the East Head Dam to protect an endangered species population in the reservoir and reconstruct the surface road to ensure dam stability and improve first responder response time within the state forest.

Create a tool for Loss Avoidance Studies to advance understanding of the effectiveness of local and state level hazard mitigation and climate adaptation work. The tool will also aid in the development of state and local cost-benefit analyses and identification of cost-effective mitigation projects. 

Complete preliminary design studies for up to twenty eight high-priority dam removal projects, prioritizing high- and significant-hazard dams. This early-stage work will increase the Commonwealth's ability to support dam removal projects.

Project Narrative: Municipal and Other Dam Removals: Feeding the Project Pipeline

MEMA will work with EEA/Dam Safety to strengthen dam response planning at the state level. There are gaps in the process of dam safety planning including establishing regular update cycle. When a dam breaks or is breached it is these plans that MEMA and local officials will turn to in order to understand the safety response, notification procedures, and other response-focused elements. This planning helps protect the infrastructure and populations downstream from dams. This is a stand-alone action as it is for emergency response rather than maintenance plans.

Note: This action has been completed. Implementation of Phase I of the ResilientCoasts plan is ongoing under the action "Implementation of Phase I of ResilientCoasts plan".

Develop and implement a coastal resilience strategy that considers climate-resilient development and standards in vulnerable areas, develops best practices for coastal adaptation, and explores managed retreat.

Project Narratives

• Support for US Army Corps of Engineers Boston Harbor Resiliency Study 
• Massachusetts Coast Flood Risk Model Stakeholder Training

Through a stakeholder process, identify statewide climate resilience goals and associated metrics that the Commonwealth can use to track progress statewide. These metrics should inform agency and municipal funding strategies and environmental permitting and reviews, including MEPA's.

Project Narrative: ResilientMass Enhancements

Design, develop, and maintain a mapping tool of coastal and inland floodplains and other wetland resource areas that identifies current and future 'climate vulnerability corridors'. The mapping tool will include data layers for risks (such as storm damage, sea levels affecting marshes, and others), land use (such as infrastructure), and cadaster information (such as ownership, EJ populations, wetlands restrictions, and conservation easements). The mapping tool will help identify opportunities and prioritize resilience efforts at a regional /watershed scale, moving beyond a project-by-project approach. The tool's GIS and modeling components will be integrated into relevant state mapping platforms and may require a field component for development and periodic updates. MassDEP will coordinate with CZM and DCR to ensure the tool meets the overall needs of the collective agencies.

Project Narrative: 

• Feasibility Analysis for Wetland Resource Area Mapping Tool
• Wetland Mapping Update

Develop an appendix of above-code flood standards for integration to the statewide building code—also referred to as a "Stretch Flood Code"—which municipalities may voluntarily adopt to prescribe more resilient standards for residential and/or non-residential construction in their communities. 

Develop a statewide database on water use and management in multiple sectors, such as municipal, district, commercial, institutional, industrial, public sector to help with water needs forecasts, streamflow analysis, TMDLs, and other needs. This would pull data from across agencies (such as DEP) to increase efficiency and timeliness of compilation and analysis of water capacity, allocations, and use.

Project Narratives

• Drivers of Low Streamflow
• Water Utility Resilience Program Mapping Project
  

Evaluate and prepare an outline for a statewide Resilience Improvement Plan, building upon asset resilience information in the MassDOT Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment (CAVA), Massachusetts Project Intake Tool (MaPIT), and other sources. Coordinate with other agencies as applicable to identify opportunities to collaborate.

DCR's Bureau of Forestry will develop a detailed response plan for newly introduced invasive species, as well as those pests of regulatory concern with high risk of introduction. The plan will outline emergency response operations to respond to emerging pests, including the eradication or mitigation actions to be taken, long-term goals, and key programs and positions involved.

Project Narratives: 

• Develop an Invasive Species Emergency Response Plan
  
• Evaluation of Atlantic White Cedar Wetlands to Climate Change

Develop and implement new Heat Flag system in alignment with NOAA's Heat Advisory Criteria for New England, to identify days of extreme heat to urge preparedness and caution to people outdoors, particularly children and the elderly. Identify methods to obtain additional data on heat and ways to effectively communicate heat risk to the public across agencies. 

Project Narrative: Education on Social Determinants of Climate-Related Health Outcomes

Advance strategies to help communities and partnering agencies identify and prioritize ecologically sensitive culvert replacement projects. This effort provides early phase planning services to prepare high value ecological projects for future implementation assistance. DER will build on criteria developed to score projects for its Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program with a particular focus on high value ecological projects and municipalities/regions that have historically had less culvert projects in partnership with DER. DER will work with landowners of potential sites which may include private landowners, municipalities and land-holding agencies such as DCR, MassWildlife and MassDOT.

Project Narrative: Culvert Replacement Project Pipeline

This action would include a methodology to assess submittals as well as incorporate submittals into the Wetlands Program wetlands mapping data. A potential goal would be to have these public - facing. This action is integral in developing a baseline for carbon storage in wetlands data layer to obtain Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) 2030 and 2050 goals. Current data uses estimates from the 2005 data layer.

The 2025/2030 Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan (CECP) tasks MassDEP with developing a Clean Heat Standard. MassDEP initiated a stakeholder process in 2023 and is developing proposed regulations. The Commission on Clean Heat endorsed the creation of a Clean Heat Standard in its final report. The standard will incentivize electrification of the building sector, which will reduce GHG emissions and improve comfort of residents during extreme heat. It will reduce risk of fossil fuel/oil spills by reducing transport and delivery accidents. Reducing GHG emissions from the building sector supports resilience.

Develop updated inland and coastal wetlands protection and restoration guidance and/or regulations that improve climate resilience such as (1) education on new coastal floodplain standards, and continued study of sea level rise (e.g., MC-FRM), support projects that promote salt marsh restoration, migration of salt marshes, dunes, and other coastal resource areas, and address other related challenges; and (2) protect and restore inland floodplains, including better alignment with FEMA requirements, continued consideration of future precipitation data for stormwater and floodplain boundaries (e.g., Cornell Staochastic Weather Generator), continued implementation of protection of wetland carbon strategy, and other strategies; and (3) regulations and permit streamlining to facilitate restoration, resilience and other related projects.   

Project Narrative: 

• Coastal Flood Risk Model (MC-FRM) Evaluation for Wetlands Permitting
• Long Term Salt Marsh Monitoring Program

This action would include technical and/or administrative support to develop a document similar to the Stream Crossing Standards for tidally-influenced road crossings.

Solid waste disposal capacity is becoming increasingly limited in Massachusetts and throughout the Northeast US. As a result, more than 1/3 of Massachusetts’ trash— about 2 million tons per year—is sent to landfills in other states for disposal. This waste is moved primarily by rail; even a brief rail outage could cause severe disruptions to solid waste collection and disposal. MassDEP would support the development of local infrastructure that advances the Commonwealth's Solid Waste Master Plan waste reduction goals, including: (1) increasing composting and anaerobic digestion facilities; (2) installing more in-state outlets for construction waste materials; (3) developing small-scale publicly-owned materials recovery facilities; (4) improving systems to better sort recyclables and organics from mixed wastes; and (5) encouraging facilities to collect and divert household hazardous wastes from the solid waste stream. MEMA is currently updating the Disaster Debris Plan

Implement a division restructuring and expansion plan with the following goals: expand and improve DER's ecological restoration work; strengthen DER's internal capacity; expand external capacity; and learn and share knowledge about restoration outcomes and best practices. The expansion plan includes specific actions related to hazard mitigation and climate adaptation including:

•  promoting ecological restoration as an integral part of the Commonwealth's climate adaptation programs participating in emerging policy, program, and funding initiatives on the issue of climate adaptation and hazard mitigation.
• improving and documenting our understanding of how restoration practices relate to climate adaptation benefits.

 Launch a study to assess and map vulnerability of private wells and public water supply wells to stresses such as droughts and identify and protect recharge areas. This project will assess and map these contributing areas for use as a criteria in EEA and other agency land conservation programs.

Improve monitoring capabilities for HAB's and shellfish-borne diseases.

Project Narrative: Enhanced Environmental Monitoring for HABs and Shellfish Borne Illness