The national oceanic and atmospheric administration is providing $3,725,565 in federal funding to the massachusetts executive office of energy and environmental affairs through the FY2024 and FY2025…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $3.73 million to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs through the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) program via a Cooperative Agreement effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. This funding supports coastal habitat protection and restoration initiatives across Massachusetts' coastal counties, with a primary focus on restoring tidal connectivity to one of the largest contiguous salt marsh systems in the Buzzards Bay region and enhancing safety for residents in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.

The deliverables include habitat restoration planning, engineering and design projects, habitat restoration implementation activities, and land conservation initiatives. The Town of Mattapoisett, as a sub-grantee, will replace an undersized, degraded culvert to restore tidal flow to 106 acres of salt marsh within the Mattapoisett Neck salt marsh system, reducing flooding hazards and improving infrastructure resilience. Additional work includes completing permit-level designs for two supplemental culvert replacements under Mattapoisett Neck Road, conducting data collection and permitting coordination, and executing public engagement activities including meetings, site visits, and communications materials to support community awareness of these coastal resilience improvements.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration is providing $3,725,565 in federal funding to the massachusetts executive office of energy and environmental affairs through the FY2024 and FY2025 coastal zone management habitat protection and restoration grant competition. This funding will increase the safety and productivity of coastal communities within coastal counties through habitat restoration planning, engineering and design projects, habitat restoration implementation projects, and land conservation projects. Specifically, the massachusetts executive office of energy and environmental affairs will use these funds to restore tidal connection to one of the largest contiguous salt marsh systems along buzzards BAY and enhance safety for residents living on mattapoisett neck in mattapoisett, massachusetts.