This culvert in the Town of Hopkinton on an unnamed tributary to Whitehall Brook is part of a culvert replacement training site that is receiving funding as part of this award announcement. Photo: Mass. Division of Ecological Restoration
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey's office announced almost $3 million in grants to help communities across the state better prepare for extreme weather events.
The money will be used to support ecological restoration projects to improve water quality, reduce the risk of floods, and restore wildlife habitat.
State officials said there are more than 25,000 culverts throughout the state, most of them undersized.
A culvert is a structure that helps prevent flooding by channeling water flow under a road, railway, or other embankment, preventing the water from pooling and causing erosion.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said money will be used to replace outdated culverts with larger, safer structures. “Investing in these projects now will save our cities and towns money on disaster recovery in the future," she said in a statement.
21 towns will receive the money through the Stream Continuity Program, helping communities coordinate the replacement of outdated culverts with new, improved crossings.
The new culverts are meant to not only reduce flood risks, but also restore river ecosystems, enhance fish and wildlife passage, and improve climate resilience and public safety.
Click here for the list of the 21 towns awarded funding, the amounts, and what the money will be used for.