Moulton Meets with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England Commander

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today in Washington, Congressman Seth Moulton met with Colonel Justin Pabis, the Commander of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England, to discuss the status of a number of critical North Shore projects.

“We are grateful for the support of the Congressman and the MA delegation, allowing us to address the needs of all the navigation projects in MA-06 and look forward to our continued collaboration to safely deliver solutions to the water resources needs of the district,” said Colonel Pabis.

A summary of the topics covered in the meeting are below, with quotes from Congressman Moulton on each project. 

North Shore CAD

In FY 2022, Moulton authorized the Corps to conduct a CAD study for the North Shore. CAD – or confined aquatic disposal – is used to dispose of dredged material that cannot be placed in open water. Moulton’s push for the study followed on the heels of the Army Corps rescinding a permit it had granted the City of Beverly to dredge the Bass River. Their determination left the City in the unenviable position of not being able to conduct the project after many years of planning.

In FY 2024, Moulton secured the necessary funding – $500,000 – for the Army Corps to conduct the study and make recommendations for the construction of a new CAD to serve communities on the North Shore. 

“Cities in my district, like Beverly and Salem, have a rich industrial history. But the textile mills and shoe factories that once dotted our shorelines also left behind various materials that require special disposal when they’re dug up.

“There is currently no CAD space on the North Shore to serve our communities as they seek to dredge harbors and rivers to spur economic growth and community development. I’m proud to have secured $500,000 for the CAD study and the Corps assured me they would begin that project as soon as the funding is administered,” said Congressman Moulton.  

Hall Whitaker Bridge

The Army Corps is one of the federal agencies that will need to issue a permit to the Commonwealth on the construction of the Hall Whitaker Bridge. Moulton took the opportunity to press the Corps on their oversight, but recognized that MassDOT must finalize its design plans before federal agencies can issue their determinations. 

“I’m pleased that Colonel Pabis has designated a regulatory staff person from the Corps to work directly with MassDOT to coordinate work on the Hall Whitaker Bridge. Now, we just need MassDOT to finalize its design. I’m frustrated that we’re still waiting for that and will continue to push the state to expedite this process. Beverly residents have waited too long for this project to begin,” said Congressman Moulton. 

Salisbury Beach

Salisbury Beach is battling severe erosion as climate change creates more ferocious storms and excessive wave action. Congressman Moulton recently visited the beach to discuss the possibility of federal assistance with town leaders and residents. 

“We know that Salisbury Beach is a state reservation. That means the Commonwealth of Massachusetts bears responsibility for its upkeep and must use the Trust Fund to renourish the beach. That’s why the Trust Fund was originally created – to preserve the beach. That said, I’m working hard to pursue every possible federal angle of support. I pressed the Corps on including Salisbury in a study to better understand the impact of the jetties to the north and south on the beach. That study could lay the groundwork for future renourishment resources from the federal government,” said Congressman Moulton.

Plum Island

The Corps is in the process of finalizing a study that examines the impact of the south jetty,  located on the Plum Island side of the mouth of the Merrimack River, on the coastline. After the Corps issues its recommendations for reconstructing the jetty, the agency will move forward with engineering and design of the project before final construction.

“Our federal delegation worked hard to secure the funding to dredge the Merrimack River in 2022 and see the spoils placed on Plum Island. With the jetty threatening to exacerbate erosion of that newly placed sand, we need the Corps to move quickly to construct necessary changes. Colonel Pabis agreed to continue working closely with our federal delegation to advance this project,” said Congressman Moulton.  

Essex

In 2016, the federal delegation successfully redesignated the Essex River’s federal channel in order to improve navigation on the waterway for boaters and emergency response. Last year, the delegation helped secure $4.4 million to dredge the channel. The work was then delayed when the Corps determined that another $1 million was needed to conduct the dredge.

“I’m proud to report that Colonel Pabis confirmed that the additional $1 million needed for the Essex River dredging project has been included in the Army Corps’ FY 2024 Work Plan. This means they will be able to move forward with the dredging project this year. I’m excited that this project is finally coming to fruition, for the benefit of all boaters on the river,” said Congressman Moulton. 

Saugus

Congressman Moulton met with Saugus state and local officials in March to discuss their interest in securing funding for a Saugus River Floodgate Project. While the project has been on the Army Corps’ radar for decades, a new study would be required to determine how a floodgate system could best protect surrounding communities from flooding associated with sea level rise. 

“I know how important the floodgate study is to finding federal solutions to the flooding that has been occurring in Saugus and surrounding communities. I conveyed to Colonel Pabis that this study is a priority. I will continue to work with Saugus and the Corps to make sure that we can secure the local and federal funding to move this project forward and build resilience in the Saugus River watershed,” said Congressman Moulton.