Berkshire Communities Awarded Funds for Ecological Restoration Projects

07:55AM / Wednesday, August 20, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON—The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced more than $2.9 million in grants to support ecological restoration projects across Massachusetts.

This funding, provided by the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), will strengthen resilience against extreme weather events, improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and restore crucial wildlife habitat.

"Massachusetts has over 25,000 culverts, most of which are undersized. By replacing these outdated culverts with larger, safer structures, we can better prepare our communities for severe weather," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "Investing in these projects now will save our cities and towns money on disaster recovery in the future."

DER is awarding over $2.7 million to 21 towns through its Stream Continuity Program, which includes the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) Grants and the Culvert Replacement Training Site Initiative.

The CRMA grants help municipalities replace outdated culverts with new, improved crossings. These upgrades restore river ecosystems, enhance fish and wildlife passage, and reduce flood risks, improving climate resilience and public safety. The Training Site Initiative will turn some of these project sites into training hubs, creating a network of locations for hands-on learning to teach local roadway managers about culvert replacements in Massachusetts.

Hinsdale was awarded $510,000 for the George Schnopp Road Culvert Replacement. The Town of Hinsdale will conduct construction activities to replace a culvert on George Schnopp Road. The crossing is located within core habitat, critical natural landscape areas, an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and a designated coldwater fishery. Replacing this structure will benefit stream and habitat connectivity as well as providing public access and safety benefits to the roadway and surrounding community.

Savoy was awarded $43,000 for the Phelps Brook Culvert Replacement. The Town of Savoy will conduct bid phase service activities toward the replacement of an undersized culvert on Old Main Road over Phelps Brook, a coldwater fisheries resource.

"I am pleased to learn that two communities in the First Berkshire District, Hinsdale and Savoy, have received vital funding through the Division of Ecological Restoration's Culvert Replacement grant program," said State Representative John Barrett (D-1st Berkshire). "These funds will enable them to undertake critical projects that address infrastructure needs and enhance environmental resilience, which they would not normally be able to address on their own. The Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature have prioritized funding this important program. These investments are crucial for the long-term well-being and climate readiness of communities across Massachusetts."

Stockbridge was awarded $56,800 for the Marsh Brook Culvert Replacement. The Town of Stockbridge will conduct design/engineering and permitting work toward the replacement of a partially-crushed culvert on Rattlesnake Mountain Road over Marsh Brook, in an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and where flooding has been an issue.

Washington was awarded $70,000 for the Johnson Hill Road Culvert Replacement. The Town of Washington will conduct design/engineering work toward the replacement of a deteriorating and undersized culvert on Johnson Hill Road over a tributary to the West Branch of the Westfield River, which is important habitat for rare species.

"This funding for culvert replacements in Stockbridge and Washington is essential not only for the well-being of these communities, but for the ecological health of the Berkshires as a whole," said State Representative Leigh Davis (D-3rd Berkshire). "I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Division of Ecological Restoration for investing in projects that will strengthen environmental resilience and support the Commonwealth’s climate goals."

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Lanesborough Looks to Dissolve Baker Hill Road District

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:00PM / Friday, November 13, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board is looking to move forward with dissolving the Baker Hill Road District, which is hindering the Berkshire Mall sale.

On Friday, the Select Board heard from Vice Chair Juli Baker and Chair Deborah Maynard on how Tuesday negotiations went with Cypress Equities, JMJ Holdings, town counsel, the town administrator, and state Rep. John Barrett III.

Baker said that during Tuesday's meeting, everyone agreed the goal was to have a successful sale of the mall for redevelopment as it’s in the best interest of the town.

Baker said Barrett assured them the state is willing to take the Connector Road and that the state is willing to provide grants to the town to renovate the water and sewer infrastructure, with an estimated total of $4.5 million, to facilitate the property's redevelopment.

"We have received assurances from Representative Barrett that the Commonwealth will provide the monies and will take the Connector," Baker said.

While buyer Cypress Equities saw some benefit in keeping the district, it now doesn't since the state is willing to provide the funds and renovate the infrastructure, according to Baker.

Baker said that in the meeting, Cypress Equities prefers to enter into a tax increment financing (TIF) and will add to the agreement an amount of funding for public safety services, which would have come from the district. She said Cypress said it would rather enter into one agreement with the town than two agreements with the town and the district.

Mall owner JMJ Holdings is willing to pay $350,000 to the town upon closing, Baker said.

The meeting Friday was to consider moving forward with a dissolution of the district.

"But the decision that it hinges on tonight is whether to move forward to the dissolution of the Baker Hill Road District in some manner," she said.

Baker said she has worked long and hard to see if there was another alternative to this, working closely with the district which has been "very cooperative and very helpful" in making changes.

The district had agreed to make changes to its governance and taxation; agreeing to have a cap for Cypress as well as agreeing to work to have the state take over the road, sending letters of support.

"What changed this for me is that I've always said it's important to have the special district because we get the public safety funding, and it's also important for the economic district to bring the features that an economic district brings because of what we're up against with the infrastructure problems, and the change at this point is that we have a buyer who is willing to supply that public safety money and commit to it over time, along with the TIF that the town would do, which is essential," she said.

"At this point, I feel like it's in the best interest of the town and protects the town the best in terms of a future where we can develop a mall and bring that economic benefit in. You definitely need to reduce taxes, and you cannot do that without a fully developed retail operation right there. So it's been, you know, deeply difficult decision making," Baker said.

Board members Jason Breault and Jeffery Walters agreed it was the best decision to move forward.

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