Beverly Awarded $200K MA Grant For Bass River Resiliency Plan

BEVERLY, MA — A $200,000 state grant will help Beverly complete a resilience plan for the Bass River District.

The Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program Action Grant from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will provide funding to complete flood resilience planning in the Bass River District as the city prepares for the expected effects of climate change.

The planning will include coastal flood modeling to protect utility infrastructure, erosion prevention, and flood interventions.

"Along a tidal river, the Bass River District is vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal storms exacerbated by climate change," Beverly Planning Director Erina Keefe said. "This project will
help us to learn our near- and long-term options to protect the people, and the (man-made structures) and natural places in the district."

The project will analyze climate change impacts resulting from extreme weather, sea level rise, inland and coastal flooding, severe heat, and other climate impacts, for current and future development in the Bass River District area.

"Smart redevelopment practices are critical to combat the impacts of climate change," Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill said.

The Bass River District runs between Elliott Street/Route 62 to the north, including the McDonald's and Stop & Shop sites. The commuter rail tracks and Beverly Depot Station border the district to the east.

"The Bass River Area is almost entirely within two environmental justice areas and adjacent to key roadways, transit lines, and other critical public infrastructure," Beverly Planning Director Darlene Wynne said. "This project is essential to understanding how to plan for known climate impacts."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)