Press Release: 9/4/2025

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $11 Million in Funding for Dams, Levees, and Coastal Infrastructure

 

Repairing and removing aging and deteriorating infrastructure will improve public safety and restore ecological systems 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

9/04/2025

MEDIA CONTACT

Aisha Revolus, Communications Manager

 Online

Email Aisha Revolus, Communications Manager at aisha.revolus@mass.gov

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced over $10.9 million in grants to repair or remove aging dams, seawalls, levees, and other critical infrastructure across Massachusetts. This funding, provided through the Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Program, will support twenty-three municipalities and nonprofit organizations in making long-overdue repairs and taking down outdated structures that put homes, roads, and neighborhoods at risk.    

“Strong infrastructure keeps our communities running - from protecting homes during storms to keeping roads open and water secure,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By investing in these projects now, we’re helping communities prevent future problems, save money over time, and keep people and neighborhoods safe.” 

“As a former mayor of a coastal city, I know how hard it is to find the funding to take on major infrastructure repairs, even when the need is obvious,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants help cities and towns take on big repairs they couldn’t tackle alone.” 

The Dam and Seawall Program provides funding for the design, permitting, and construction of infrastructure projects that directly improve public health, public safety, or ecological restoration. Dams and coastal barriers are often the first line of defense against flooding and storm damage. But many of these structures are decades old and no longer serve a useful purpose. When left in disrepair, they can block waterways, damage the environment and pose safety risks – including the threat of collapse. Removing and repairing these structures is often the most cost-effective and safest solution, allowing rivers to flow naturally again and reducing long-term maintenance costs for towns.  

“Infrastructure built decades ago wasn’t designed to handle the weather we are seeing today,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These investments help communities upgrade what is outdated and make lasting improvements. This program is about being proactive and making sure critical systems continue to serve the people who depend on them. These are the kinds of important upgrades that will be further supported by the Mass Ready Act.”  

The recently proposed Mass Ready Act by the Healey-Driscoll Administration aims to strengthen the state’s infrastructure to better protect Massachusetts homes, businesses and communities. This act supports the Dam and Seawall program, which has provided nearly $146 million in grants and loans since its inception in 2013 to address aging and outdated infrastructure across the state. 

"Making sure cities and towns have the resources to maintain and update infrastructure is a key piece of making communities safe, accessible, and avoiding costlier repairs down the road," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "These funds are critical for Holliston and Hopkinton, and I'm confident that each will use the resources to strengthen their communities. I applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration for prioritizing this work and moving quickly to deliver these resources across Massachusetts." 

"Infrastructure improvements are critical for towns like Blackstone, Charlton, Dudley, and Monson especially when it comes to dams and waterways, but these repairs or removals are costly and inaccessible for small towns with limited budgets," said Senator Fattman (R- Sutton). "This is why working in a bipartisan manner to ensure funding for projects across the Commonwealth is so significant. I'm proud to see that come to fruition for these towns and look forward to many more projects like these." 

The projects receiving grants include: 

Design and Permitting Awards: 

Grantee	Structure	Project Name	Award
Blackstone Watershed Collaborative	Dam	Douglas Mill Pond Dam and Old Mill Pond Dam Removal	$250,000
Brockton	Dam	Ellis Brett Pond Dam Repair	$250,000
Charlton	Dam	Lower Sibley Pond Dam Removal Feasibility Assessment	$89,800
Connecticut River Conservancy	Dam	Greenfield Electric Light & Power Dam Improvements	$180,000
Dudley	Dam	Lower Gore Pond Dam Rehabilitation	$250,000
Fitchburg	Dam	Scott Reservoir Dam Seepage Mitigation	$250,000
Grafton	Dam	Fisherville Dam Repair	$154,000
Holliston	Dam	Houghton Pond Dam Alternatives Assessment	$153,000
Holyoke	Inland Flood Control	Holyoke Levee Pump Stations 5-7 Improvements	$250,000
Hopkinton	Dam	Lake Maspenock Dam Improvements	$200,000
Methuen	Dam	Searles Pond Dam Modifications	$171,000
OARS, Inc.	Dam	Main Street Dam Removal Feasibility Assessment	$123,300
OARS, Inc.	Dam	Talbot Mills Pond Dam Removal	$250,000
Salem	Coastal Protection	Beach Avenue Seawall Reconstruction	$289,750
Shutesbury	Dam	Lake Wyola Dam Repair	$41,325
Swansea	Dam	Milford Pond Dam Rehabilitation	$67,500
Trustees of Reservations	Dam	Lunden Dam Removal	$225,000

Grantee	Structure	Project Name	Award

Construction Awards: 

Grantee	Structure	Project Name	Award
East Quabbin Land Trust	Dam	Wheelwright Pond Dam Removal	$1,000,000
Leominster	Dam	Barrett Park Pond Dam Repairs	$1,000,000
Massachusetts Audubon Society	Dam	Bowens Pond Dam Removal	$462,552
Middleborough	Dam	Stony Brook Pond Dam Improvements	$1,000,000
Natick	Dam	Natick Charles River Dam Removal	$1,000,000
Raynham	Dam	Kings Pond Dam Repairs	$1,000,000
Salem	Coastal Protection	Columbus Avenue Seawall Reconstruction	$1,440,193
Wayland	Dam	Snake Brook Dam Rehabilitation	$884,000

Grantee	Structure	Project Name	Award