Moulton, Markey, and Warren Celebrate $4.5 million grant for Manchester-by-the-Sea Flood Mitigation

Salem, Mass.—Congressman Seth Moulton and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey announced that Manchester-by-the-Sea will receive a nearly $4.5 million grant to help mitigate flooding problems on Sawmill Brook by the Central Street Bridge. 

The grant, which is part of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, will pay for part of the cost of replacing and upgrading the existing Central Street bridge, as well as removal of an obsolete tide gate to further increase hydraulic capacity and promote fish passage.

This grant award is the culmination of a multi-year effort by Moulton, Markey, and Warren to secure this important funding.                                                                             

“Virtually no community is immune to the worsening effects of climate change. On the North Shore, we are particularly vulnerable to catastrophic flooding that compromises essential infrastructure and costs our communities millions in lost property and livelihoods,” said Congressman Moulton. “That’s why, I’ve been working with Manchester officials for the last two years to secure  this important funding from FEMA. Building resilience is critical, and I will continue fighting for more resources for other North Shore communities.” 

“I applaud FEMA for heeding our call to award Manchester-by-the -Sea $4.5 million to address flooding and bolster resiliency in the face of increasing impacts to our shoreline from climate change,” said Senator Markey. “This grant serves as a critical investment in mitigating climate-caused disasters that threaten our livelihood, our safety, and our environment. I will continue to fight for federal action to reduce the risk of future natural disasters and to help keep our communities safe.”

"Investing in resilient infrastructure is key to mitigating future flooding in Massachusetts' coastal communities like Manchester-by-the-Sea. This federal investment is critical to help reduce flood risks and restore wetlands and habitats,” said Senator Warren. “I'll continue working with my Congressional and local partners to ensure that our cities and towns receive the federal aid they need for infrastructure resiliency and to tackle the climate crisis."

Manchester-by-the-Sea experiences frequent flooding downtown and throughout the Sawmill Brook watershed due to storm surge, sea level rise, and extreme precipitation. The Sawmill Brook watershed is particularly vulnerable to flooding and erosion due to a complex combination of hydraulic restrictions, increased stormwater runoff from developed areas, a highly channelized stream system, poor filtration conditions, and a tide gate at the mouth of the brook.