GZA Congratulates Massachusetts Communities On Receiving EEA Dam and Seawall Grants

NORWOOD, Mass., December 20, 2018–GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (GZA), a leading multi-disciplinary firm providing geotechnical, environmental, ecological, water, and construction management services, offers congratulations today to the Massachusetts communities who were recently awarded design and construction funding from the latest round of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Grant Program. 

GZA particularly congratulates the communities of Essex, Northampton, Rockport, and Springfield on winning more than $1.1 million in state dam and seawall grants. GZA provided a range of services, including condition assessments, surveys, and preliminary design to these four communities as they successfully competed for their share of $10.3 million in funding approved by Governor Charlie Baker and the state Senate and House.

GZA’s CEO Bill Hadge said: “We have been honored to partner with these cities and towns to help them fulfill their critical responsibilities to build more resilient communities and protect citizens and property from coastal and inland flooding. As residents of Massachusetts and members of our state’s vibrant business community, we’re deeply grateful to Governor Charlie Baker and the state Legislature for ensuring the state provides such important support for climate resiliency to our cities and towns.”

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs this autumn is distributing $10,265,932 in grants and loans to support 22 projects with final design, reconstruction of infrastructure, and removal of unneeded or obsolete structures. Since 2013, the Massachusetts Dam and Seawall Program has awarded over $60 million in grants and loans for this critical climate adaptation and hazard mitigation work.

Details about the successful grant application efforts, and the support GZA provided are described below:

Essex won a $65,650 grant to repair or replace that Conomo Point Seawall system damaged by the March 2018 Nor’easter. GZA provided a condition assessment of approximately 1,025 linear feet of historic seawalls and assisted the Town with development of the EEA Dams and Seawall Grant application to seek funding for the survey, design, permitting, final design and bid phase services of repairs and/or replacement of the seawall system.

Northampton was awarded a $250,000 grant for the rehabilitation of the Francis Ryan Reservoir Dam and the West Whately Reservoir Dam. The grant will be used to fund design and permitting efforts to address previously identified deficiencies at these High-hazard water supply dams. The Project scope will include increasing spillway capacity; refurbishing and repairing training walls; improving slope stability and seepage issues; and upgrades to dam gates and hydraulic systems.

GZA developed and submitted the EEA Dams and Seawall Grant application on behalf of the City. By combining the rehabilitation projects at Francis Ryan Reservoir Dam and West Whately Reservoir Dam, the City will be able to realize economic efficiencies based on the anticipated consolidation of design elements and permitting processes because the structures are so close to one another.

Rockport won a $750,000 grant to 1) provide for the repair and reconstruction of the existing structures to address the deteriorated condition of the existing seawall; 2) enhance protection of private and public improvements; 3) improve the resilience of the community to coastal storm events; and 4) improve public safety. GZA is currently providing inspection, survey, evaluations, preliminary design, permitting and bid and construction services for phased improvements to the 3,354-lineal-foot seawall fronting residential homes at Long Beach.  GZA developed and submitted the EEA Dams and Seawall Grant application on behalf of the Town for Construction Financing for Phase 1 Interim Improvements to stabilize the existing deteriorated seawall and consider beach nourishment that would also protect the existing seawall. 

Springfield won an $82,000 grant to prepare a Phase II Engineering Evaluation and Alternatives Analysis for the Upper Van Horn Reservoir Dam. A Phase II Evaluation of a dam entails detailed and in-depth data collection and engineering analysis of the dam structure including a topographic survey, subsurface investigations, slope and structural stability analysis, seepage analysis, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, and an alternatives analysis for the rehabilitation option needed to bring the dam in compliance with dam safety regulations and any outstanding dam safety orders.  At completion of the Phase II evaluation and following contemplation of the alternatives analysis, conceptual designs for the preferred alternative will be prepared, along with detailed opinions of probable costs for the identified dam rehabilitation project. GZA has provided inspection and evaluation services for the Upper Van Horn Reservoir Dam and developed and submitted the EEA Dams and Seawall Grant application on behalf of the City of Springfield. The conceptual designs and cost estimates enabled by the EEA Grant will provide sufficient information such that the City of Springfield may plan for the dam’s rehabilitation, including acquisition of project funding and procurement of designer services.