Federal Funding to Prevent Flooding in Our Neighborhood? Provide Your Input by 9/18!

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE0 Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study

On July 24, 2026, USACE published their draft Boston Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study, a once-in-a-generation study presenting possible projects to protect Boston against coastal flooding and sea level rise. By partnering with USACE to create this study, the City will be eligible to access billions of dollars in federal funding to cover 65% of project costs, subject to Congressional authorization and appropriation. The City is responsible for the remaining 35% plus green public realm improvements (betterments). The draft report is a major milestone before the final study is completed by 2028. 

Your feedback matters: Comments are due Friday, September 18th by 5pm. 
The City and USACE need to hear from our neighborhood about what works, what’s missing, and what must be improved before the plan moves forward.

Need help finishing up your public comments? Have questions before you hit send? The Office of Climate Resilience is here to help:

September 14: Office of Climate Resilience will be tabling at the Mayor’s South Boston Coffee Hour from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Curley Community Center, 1663 Columbia Rd.

Key Points/ Approaches for Consideration

Support a comprehensive Full System Plan to provide the framework and roadmap for future actions while helping secure the maximum federal authorization and funding for Boston’s coastal resilience needs.

Call for a layered hybrid protection that combines nature based protections with gray resilient infrastructure such as walls, while maintaining and enhancing public access to the waterfront.

Highlight the importance of a storm surge barrier on the Fort Point Channel (around the Northern Avenue Bridge) to help protect the neighborhoods of Fort Point, West Broadway Dorchester, Roxbury and surrounding areas, in addition to Channel property owner's individual flood protection infrastructure. 

Identify gaps in protection: what is missing or gaps in protection in the neighborhood and adjacent neighborhoods that may increase our flood risk vulnerability?

• flood pathways, especially main corridors or evacuation routes that flood today.
• unprotected assets including homes, historic structures, green spaces, roads and places used shelter residents in emergencies 
• areas outside the USACE CSRM study area that may nevertheless affect the effectiveness of the overall system

Critical opportunity to shape Boston’s coastal future and our neighborhood: Please take a few minutes to review the draft and submit your comments by September 18, 2026 at 5 PM.

Resources

Watch How to Read the Draft Report for the USACE Boston CSRM meeting video.

Explore the City’s USACE CSRM Summary: What They Like. Where They Differ.

View Poster Boards to understand proposed projects and options for your neighborhood 

Read USACE Executive Summary  

Dive into Story Maps by Neighborhood to see what the projects could look like (scroll down webpage).

Read USACE Full Report & Appendices.