Berkshire Communities Awarded Dam Infrastucture Grants

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BOSTON?—The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced over $13.9 million in grants to support the repair of dams and coastal infrastructure across Massachusetts. The funding, provided through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs' (EEA) Dam and Seawall program, will help 23 municipalities and nonprofit organizations to address critical repairs and safely remove outdated structures in their communities. 
  • Egremont was awarded $900,000 for the Prospect Lake Dam Repair
  • Adams was awarded $94,125 for a Fisk Brook Dam Removal Feasibility Study
  • Hinsdale was awarded $115,500 for a Belmont Dam Gatehouse Replacement Plan 
The Dam and Seawall program focuses on enhancing the safety and functionality of essential infrastructure, which protects residents and supports local economies. Prioritizing repairs and removals will help mitigate risks associated with severe weather events and rising sea levels. 
 
"Last year was another reminder of how crucial it is to maintain our dams and seawalls—they are essential to our
safety and infrastructure. That's why I allocated an additional $1 million for dam safety technical assistance in my budget,"?said Governor Maura Healey.?"With the grants we're announcing today, we are empowering municipalities to strengthen their resilience and confidently prepare for whatever storms may come their way." 
 
By restoring and removing aging infrastructure, public safety will improve, and local ecosystems will be protected. This will also increase resilience in coastal areas. The grants will fund fourteen design and permitting projects and nine construction projects to advance designs and permits as well as to construct the projects. Since the program began in 2013, the Dam and Seawall Program has provided $134 million in grants and loans to address deficient dams, seawalls, and levees with these new grants. 
 
 

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New Universally Accessible Sheffield Trail To Be Highlighted on Guided Walk

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — The Sheffield Land Trust will hold its annual Fall Property Walk on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1 pm at its Ashley Falls Woods property off Rte 7A in Ashley Falls.  
 
The guided walk will highlight the completion of the first phase of upgrading a section of trail to be universally accessible.  Signage and other improvements will follow in subsequent phases.
 
Join guides Elia Delmolino and Neal Chamberlain to experience this new recreational opportunity.
 
Neal Chamberlain is the long-time Land Trust volunteer who guides the maintenance of the trails, and Elia DelMolino is from Greenagers, whose youth work crews have been busy this summer and fall in transforming 0.3 miles of the existing trail into an ADA-compliant accessible trail. The trail of compacted stone dust wanders through mowed meadows and forest, with a new bridge and boardwalk crossing the stream and wet areas.
 
The Land Trust thanked Greenagers, for making this trail accessible and the Berkshire Environmental Endowment, Eagle Fund, Fields Pond Foundation, and MassTrails for the grants that helped fund the work.
 
Before the walk, enjoy seasonal refreshments. Please wear good walking shoes and warm clothing.
 
This event is free, open to the public and family friendly.
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