Infrastructure × Coastal Flooding
Regional and municipal infrastructure systems are essential to the day-to-day operations of today’s society. Without them, we wouldn’t have reliable access to electricity and heating fuels, clean water, telecommunications, transportation (for people and goods), and safe handling of wastes.
Coastal flooding due to both rising sea levels and storm surge can strain and damage these infrastructure systems, leading to disruptions in service and higher maintenance costs. In Massachusetts, coastal flooding is projected to disrupt such systems as electricity transmission, utility distribution, and communication (MCCA, 2022, Volume II, p. 64). This climate hazard is and will continue to impact our coastal infrastructure, including buildings, ports, and transit, rail, and roads.
This guide will lead you to explore where coastal flooding may impact infrastructural systems, and what the ramifications might be for your community.
Regional and municipal infrastructure systems are essential to the day-to-day operations of today’s society. Without them, we wouldn’t have reliable access to electricity and heating fuels, clean water, telecommunications, transportation (for people and goods), and safe handling of wastes.
Coastal flooding due to both rising sea levels and storm surge can strain and damage these infrastructure systems, leading to disruptions in service and higher maintenance costs. In Massachusetts, coastal flooding is projected to disrupt such systems as electricity transmission, utility distribution, and communication (MCCA, 2022, Volume II, p. 64). This climate hazard is and will continue to impact our coastal infrastructure, including buildings, ports, and transit, rail, and roads.
This guide will lead you to explore where coastal flooding may impact infrastructural systems, and what the ramifications might be for your community.
Questions to Answer
The questions and guided explorations below are designed to assist you with thinking about how coastal flooding may impact infrastructure in your community. Use the Infrastructure x Coastal Flooding worksheet to assist you when answering these questions.
The questions and guided explorations below are designed to assist you with thinking about how coastal flooding may impact infrastructure in your community. Use the Infrastructure x Coastal Flooding worksheet to assist you when answering these questions.
Coastal flooding compromises the
safety, resilience, and reliability of our transportation, drinking water,
sewage, energy, and communication systems. For example, flooding is a concern
for roads, bridges, and underground utilities in areas that will experience
significant, repeated coastal flooding. Sea level rise is also contributing to
overall groundwater rise, which can damage coastal transportation infrastructure
(MCCA, 2022, Volume II Appendix A, p. A71). Stormwater systems can quickly become
overwhelmed, causing backups, and leading to even more damage in surrounding
areas.
As infrastructure becomes more prone
to damage or failure, we will likely see greater safety risks, higher
maintenance and replacement costs, and more frequent transportation
interruptions and closures. This may affect the ability of people to access
jobs, schools, groceries, healthcare, and other critical needs. It impacts
rails, ferries, and even walking and biking routes in areas prone to
inundation. At the same time, coastal flooding reduces the longevity of our
roads and utilities - and increases the time, money, and personnel needed to
clean up afterwards.
Guided Exploration:
In
this guided exploration, you will explore how coastal flooding (in both the
near- and long-term future) threatens infrastructural systems in your
community.
First, open
the GEAR Infrastructure Map and enter your location. This
map includes data like transit routes, transmission lines, hospitals, and
emergency service facilities to help you consider what infrastructure is most critical
for protecting people’s health, safety, and financial security. Expand the Climate Hazard Data group and turn on the Coastal Flooding subgroup to see the Massachusetts
Coast Flood Risk Model (MC-FRM) layers. These will help visualize where coastal
flooding from sea level rise and storm surge is expected to occur in 2030, 2050, and 2070.
- What infrastructure is in vulnerable areas and by which time horizon? Is there planned or completed long term adaptation for these infrastructural systems? At what point is it no longer economically or fiscally feasible to maintain safe infrastructure and services in a vulnerable location?
- For inland communities – how would your infrastructural systems respond to population growth from new residents who have been displaced by coastal flooding or other climate change impacts? Are systems able to accommodate added demand or are they at capacity?
Read More About Related Impacts in the Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment:
- Damage to Coastal Buildings and Ports page A51 (top impact North & South Shores)
- Damage to Electric Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure page 64 (top impact Statewide; Berkshires & Hilltowns; Greater Connecticut River Valley; Central; Eastern Inland; North & South Shores; Cape, Islands, & South Coast)
- Damage to Rails and Loss of Rail/Transit Service page 69 (top impact Statewide, Eastern Inland; Boston Harbor)
Coastal flooding compromises the
safety, resilience, and reliability of our transportation, drinking water,
sewage, energy, and communication systems. For example, flooding is a concern
for roads, bridges, and underground utilities in areas that will experience
significant, repeated coastal flooding. Sea level rise is also contributing to
overall groundwater rise, which can damage coastal transportation infrastructure
(MCCA, 2022, Volume II Appendix A, p. A71). Stormwater systems can quickly become
overwhelmed, causing backups, and leading to even more damage in surrounding
areas.
As infrastructure becomes more prone
to damage or failure, we will likely see greater safety risks, higher
maintenance and replacement costs, and more frequent transportation
interruptions and closures. This may affect the ability of people to access
jobs, schools, groceries, healthcare, and other critical needs. It impacts
rails, ferries, and even walking and biking routes in areas prone to
inundation. At the same time, coastal flooding reduces the longevity of our
roads and utilities - and increases the time, money, and personnel needed to
clean up afterwards.
Guided Exploration:
In
this guided exploration, you will explore how coastal flooding (in both the
near- and long-term future) threatens infrastructural systems in your
community.
First, open
the GEAR Infrastructure Map and enter your location. This
map includes data like transit routes, transmission lines, hospitals, and
emergency service facilities to help you consider what infrastructure is most critical
for protecting people’s health, safety, and financial security. Expand the Climate Hazard Data group and turn on the Coastal Flooding subgroup to see the Massachusetts
Coast Flood Risk Model (MC-FRM) layers. These will help visualize where coastal
flooding from sea level rise and storm surge is expected to occur in 2030, 2050, and 2070.
- What infrastructure is in vulnerable areas and by which time horizon? Is there planned or completed long term adaptation for these infrastructural systems? At what point is it no longer economically or fiscally feasible to maintain safe infrastructure and services in a vulnerable location?
- For inland communities – how would your infrastructural systems respond to population growth from new residents who have been displaced by coastal flooding or other climate change impacts? Are systems able to accommodate added demand or are they at capacity?
Read More About Related Impacts in the Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment:
- Damage to Coastal Buildings and Ports page A51 (top impact North & South Shores)
- Damage to Electric Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure page 64 (top impact Statewide; Berkshires & Hilltowns; Greater Connecticut River Valley; Central; Eastern Inland; North & South Shores; Cape, Islands, & South Coast)
- Damage to Rails and Loss of Rail/Transit Service page 69 (top impact Statewide, Eastern Inland; Boston Harbor)
Community members who have fewer financial
or other resources to adapt, such as alternative methods of getting to work if
public transit systems are closed because of flood damage, are likely to be
most at risk. People with disabilities or individuals who rely on electronic
medical devices are put in danger when power outages occur and when flooding isolates them from support services. Individuals who
do not speak English as a first language may not receive all necessary warnings
and instructional messages for advancing storms in the appropriate language.
Infrastructure failures often
disproportionately impact those facing systemic inequality —including residents
that are unable to afford a personal vehicle or the capital necessary to
floodproof their homes and business. The supply of affordably priced housing is
reduced due to direct physical damage from climate impacts like coastal
flooding, limiting housing options for those relying on affordably priced options like many lower-income renters and homeowners (MCCA, 2022, Volume II, p. 145). Environmental justice populations are also
more likely to live near sources of pollution (MA EJ Policy, 2021) that could
leech and mobilize towards their homes and businesses as a result of flooding.
These are just a few examples of how environmental justice and other priority
populations could be disproportionately impacted.
Guided Exploration:
This guided
exploration will have you consider how the impacts of coastal flooding on
infrastructure systems will have disproportionate impacts, particularly for environmental
justice and other priority populations. The expertise held by the members of
your community can help you answer the following:
- Where is your community already experiencing notable coastal flooding?
- Does the flooding seem to be linked to high tides (sunny-day flooding), storms (storm surge) or both?
- What happens during these events?
- Have the community members/workers/business owners in those areas ever been asked how they respond to the flooding?
- If so, how can you incorporate these perspectives in your planning?
- If not, what would the process of engaging these people look like?
- Which infrastructural systems would have the biggest impact if they were to fail?
- Who is most impacted when these systems fail?
- Who is served by key assets exposed to coastal flooding? For example, a bus storage facility may be in a flood prone area and would have implications for individuals throughout the community who rely on public transportation.
- Where should infrastructure resilience investments take place to best protect the most vulnerable residents?
- How could your community support flood mitigation in critical areas and/or for less-resourced property owners or renters?
Read More About Related Impacts in the Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment:
- Health Effects of Extreme Storms and Power Outages page A21 (top impact Greater Connecticut River Valley; Cape, Islands, & South Coast)
Community members who have fewer financial
or other resources to adapt, such as alternative methods of getting to work if
public transit systems are closed because of flood damage, are likely to be
most at risk. People with disabilities or individuals who rely on electronic
medical devices are put in danger when power outages occur and when flooding isolates them from support services. Individuals who
do not speak English as a first language may not receive all necessary warnings
and instructional messages for advancing storms in the appropriate language.
Infrastructure failures often
disproportionately impact those facing systemic inequality —including residents
that are unable to afford a personal vehicle or the capital necessary to
floodproof their homes and business. The supply of affordably priced housing is
reduced due to direct physical damage from climate impacts like coastal
flooding, limiting housing options for those relying on affordably priced options like many lower-income renters and homeowners (MCCA, 2022, Volume II, p. 145). Environmental justice populations are also
more likely to live near sources of pollution (MA EJ Policy, 2021) that could
leech and mobilize towards their homes and businesses as a result of flooding.
These are just a few examples of how environmental justice and other priority
populations could be disproportionately impacted.
Guided Exploration:
This guided
exploration will have you consider how the impacts of coastal flooding on
infrastructure systems will have disproportionate impacts, particularly for environmental
justice and other priority populations. The expertise held by the members of
your community can help you answer the following:
- Where is your community already experiencing notable coastal flooding?
- Does the flooding seem to be linked to high tides (sunny-day flooding), storms (storm surge) or both?
- What happens during these events?
- Have the community members/workers/business owners in those areas ever been asked how they respond to the flooding?
- If so, how can you incorporate these perspectives in your planning?
- If not, what would the process of engaging these people look like?
- Which infrastructural systems would have the biggest impact if they were to fail?
- Who is most impacted when these systems fail?
- Who is served by key assets exposed to coastal flooding? For example, a bus storage facility may be in a flood prone area and would have implications for individuals throughout the community who rely on public transportation.
- Where should infrastructure resilience investments take place to best protect the most vulnerable residents?
- How could your community support flood mitigation in critical areas and/or for less-resourced property owners or renters?
Read More About Related Impacts in the Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment:
- Health Effects of Extreme Storms and Power Outages page A21 (top impact Greater Connecticut River Valley; Cape, Islands, & South Coast)
Investigate GEAR Map Data Layers
Explore the Infrastructure map to learn more about how coastal flooding may impact infrastructure in your community. The list at the right provides an overview of select data layers included in the map, as well as a detailed description of each layer.
Explore the Infrastructure map to learn more about how coastal flooding may impact infrastructure in your community. The list at the right provides an overview of select data layers included in the map, as well as a detailed description of each layer.
As sea levels rise, communities can benefit from understanding when, where, and how coastal flooding from sea level rise and storm surge may occur. This layer provides extents of flooding for the 1% annual exceedance probability for 2030, 2050, and 2070 (i.e. the extent that floodwaters will reach during a 1 in 100 chance for any given storm event).
As
sea levels rise, communities can benefit from understanding when, where, and
how coastal flooding from sea level rise and storm surge may occur. This layer
provides extents of flooding for the 0.1% annual exceedance probability for
2030, 2050, and 2070 (i.e. the extent that flood waters will reach during a
0.1% event, or a 1 in 1000 chance for any given storm event).
As hurricanes become more intense, communities can benefit
from understanding how storms could inundate their coastlines. This layer
represents worst-case Hurricane Surge Inundation areas for Category 1 through 4
hurricanes striking the coast of Massachusetts, based on thousands of modeled
combinations of hurricane intensity (Category 1-4), forward speed, track or
direction, and other factors not including sea level rise. NOAA’s National
Hurricane Center, in partnership with the United States Army Corps of
Engineers, uses the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH)
model to calculate the storm surge heights and map coastal areas with the
highest degree of exposure.
Town and City Halls are primary municipal executive offices in Massachusetts. They can provide many essential social services and play essential roles in furthering resilience planning and resilience building actions for their communities.
Childcare Centers provide care and educational services for their clients, but can also provide essential resources and information. For example, parents and guardians may rely on services which provide their child with social and emotional wellness, meals, and child supervision during work hours. This layer displays information from MassGIS.
Schools attended by students from
pre-kindergarten through high school provide educational services for those
students, but also provide essential resources and information. For example,
caregivers may rely on services which provide their child with social and
emotional wellness, meals, and before- and after-school care. Schools often
have a strong understanding of food insecurity and other challenges among their
student body. They may also play a role in emergency response.
Institutions of higher education are centers of
research and innovation, many of which have a strong connection to nearby
communities. Colleges and universities may play an essential role in
disseminating information, and may also serve as major employers in the
community.
Libraries can provide many services for communities,
including free access to computers and the internet. People access and attend
important resources and events at libraries, including tutoring support,
college preparatory support, job training support, accessibility tools, and
cultural events. Libraries often play a role in emergency response, such as serving
as cooling centers during heatwaves.
Places of worship, such as mosques, synagogues,
and churches, are important community centers that foster connection and
belonging. They may address housing insecurity and food insecurity (among
other challenges) for their congregants and other community members. Places of
worship often play a role in emergency response, such as serving as cooling
centers during heatwaves.
Fire stations are part of the network of critical infrastructure, particularly for emergency response. This MassGIS layer includes the location of 789 stations in the Commonwealth.
This layer shows the locations of
law enforcement and sheriff offices in Massachusetts, covering local, county
and state jurisdictions.
Transmission lines are essential to distributing electricity to communities and are often highly exposed and vulnerable to extreme storm and heat events.
Transportation
infrastructure is critical to the economy and social well-being of a region,
including a region's ability to respond in emergencies and recover from
disaster. Airports are particularly vulnerable to climate hazards such as
storms and high wind events.
This layer indicates ferry routes along the Massachusetts coast. Community members may rely on the routes for transportation to and from work, private property, and/or recreational opportunities. Areas near ferry stops may rely on consistent flow of passengers to support the local economy.
Travel by bike is a sustainable method of
transportation that can be utilized with appropriate bike lane infrastructure.
Some community members may rely on bicycle travel for work and other essential
activities, while others may engage with bicycle infrastructure for
recreational purposes.
This layer represents a
subset of the 'Trains' layer, focusing specifically on active freight routes,
which are essential to transporting goods around the Commonwealth.
This layer indicates rail infrastructure for MBTA trains. Communities rely on trains for transportation to work and recreation, and the transport of goods.
This layer represents a
subset of the 'Trains' layer, focusing on the rail linework for non-MBTA
passenger trains (AMTRAK and local recreational rides). These link passengers
through and beyond Commonwealth borders, or may be important for local
economies.
This layer represents bus
routes and stops within the MBTA public transit system. Transit routes allow
for affordable transportation to various sites and events, including health
care services, work, and social gatherings. Bus routes may experience
interruptions or cancellations in service as a result of climate hazards such
as extreme storm and heat events. Those who rely on bus routes would then face
significant transportation challenges. Bus stops in areas that experience urban
heat island effect pose health challenges for riders who experience long wait
times and/or are especially susceptible to the health impacts of high heat.
This layer contains all of
Massachusetts' Regional Transit Authority bus routes with the exception of the
MBTA. Transit routes allow for affordable transportation to various sites and
events, including health care services, work, and social gatherings. Bus routes
may experience interruptions or cancellations in service as a result of climate
hazards such as extreme storm and heat events as well as flooding. Those who
rely on bus routes would then face significant transportation challenges.
This layer represents all the public and many of the
private roadways in Massachusetts and includes designations for Interstate,
U.S. and State routes. Overlaying this information with layers that represent
where community members live can demonstrate what kinds of road access
different populations have; overlaying this information with layers that
provide projections of climate risks can demonstrate which roads might be most
vulnerable to impacts from flooding and other hazards.
Environmental justice (EJ) populations, i.e., block groups are defined in Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021 and the 2021 EEA EJ Policy. EJ populations are those segments of the population that EEA has determined to be most at risk of being unaware of or unable to participate in environmental decision-making or to gain access to state environmental resources or are especially vulnerable. 2020 block groups, updated in Nov 2022.
Actions to Consider
Communities can take a number of steps to build resilience to the impacts of coastal flooding on local infrastructure. Some actions may include:
Communities can take a number of steps to build resilience to the impacts of coastal flooding on local infrastructure. Some actions may include:
Living shorelines, and wetland and dune restoration and protection are examples of nature-based solutions that can be employed to protect critical infrastructure from coastal flooding. Identify priorities for infrastructure improvements and resilience through community engagement processes and past planning studies. Commission a design and feasibility assessment to identify nature-based solutions and alternatives, permitting requirements, estimate cost, and establish a timeline. Subsequent actions will involve implementing the preferred alternative.
- Living shorelines are shorelines that are protected using natural materials, such as plants, sand, and rock. The NOAA Office for Coastal Management offers insight into designing living shorelines for New England coasts. Additionally, you can explore these examples of implementing living shorelines in Salem, MA and Kingston, MA.
- Dunes are important for providing physical buffers between the ocean and inland areas, and can aid in protecting homes, infrastructure, and communities from coastal flooding. Explore the strategy guides below to learn more about how to protect and restore dunes in your community:
Develop a resilient power plan by identifying critical facilities (or clusters of facilities) in your community that could most benefit from backup power. Prioritize locations based on their ability to safeguard health and safety, and on their potential to protect or benefit residents who may be most significantly impacted by climate change - including environmental justice and other priority populations. Commission an engineering assessment to identify clean energy technology options, needed facilities upgrades (i.e. elevating electrical panel out of flood-prone basement), ownership models, and financing structures to meet those needs.
Explore the "Energy" section (pg. 33) of Gloucester's MVP-funded 2022 Climate and Action Resilience Plan to learn more about developing resilient clean power plans. Additionally, the MVP 2.0 "Pursuing Resilient & Equitable Power" Seed Project one-pager contains more details and ideas around this action.
Explore MVP Projects
Explore the MVP-funded projects below:
Explore the MVP-funded projects below:
FY22 Action Grant
$117,803 Award
The
Town of Ipswich received an Action grant for final design of the Ipswich River
Sewer Interceptor and Siphon replacement project. Construction of the sewer
interceptor and siphon is nearing completion. This project conducted
bio-stabilization of the northern bank of the Ipswich River, implementing
nature-based solutions to improve natural systems while protecting critical
sewer infrastructure.
Project website: Town of Ipswich | Ipswich River Sewer Interceptor Biostabilization Protection Project
Case study: Ipswich FY22 River Sewer Interceptor and Resiliency Improvements Project
FY22 Action Grant
$117,803 Award
The
Town of Ipswich received an Action grant for final design of the Ipswich River
Sewer Interceptor and Siphon replacement project. Construction of the sewer
interceptor and siphon is nearing completion. This project conducted
bio-stabilization of the northern bank of the Ipswich River, implementing
nature-based solutions to improve natural systems while protecting critical
sewer infrastructure.
Project website: Town of Ipswich | Ipswich River Sewer Interceptor Biostabilization Protection Project
Case study: Ipswich FY22 River Sewer Interceptor and Resiliency Improvements Project
FY20 Action Grant
$389,995 Award
The Resilient Mystic Collaborative, including
Somerville, Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Winthrop, & Revere, conducted a
two-part vulnerability assessment of the Lower Mystic watershed. The first part
identified interdependencies among critical infrastructure and potential
cascading failures during and after an extreme coastal storm, while the second
part engaged with community and public health experts to identify possible
impacts to vulnerable residents and workers when critical infrastructure fails.
Learn more: Somerville FY20 Critical Regional Infrastructure and Social Vulnerability in the Lower Mystic Watershed
FY20 Action Grant
$389,995 Award
The Resilient Mystic Collaborative, including
Somerville, Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Winthrop, & Revere, conducted a
two-part vulnerability assessment of the Lower Mystic watershed. The first part
identified interdependencies among critical infrastructure and potential
cascading failures during and after an extreme coastal storm, while the second
part engaged with community and public health experts to identify possible
impacts to vulnerable residents and workers when critical infrastructure fails.
Learn more: Somerville FY20 Critical Regional Infrastructure and Social Vulnerability in the Lower Mystic Watershed
Related Guides
Explore how coastal flooding will impact community members' ability to work.
Explore how coastal flooding will impact community members' ability to work.
Explore how coastal flooding will impact areas differently
depending on the types of land cover and types of land use in coastal
communities.
Explore how coastal flooding will impact areas differently
depending on the types of land cover and types of land use in coastal
communities.