Assisting MassDER with Updated Culvert Guidance
The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (MassDER) selected a Tighe & Bond-led team to provide an update to the division’s guidelines for culverts in transitional (near-coastal) environments, and to prepare preliminary designs for two transitional crossings in Gloucester and West Newbury. These studies will provide critical information for future ecological restoration planning and climate adaptation.
Transitional crossings are defined as waterway crossings that are landward of the intertidal zone and are anticipated to experience impacts of climate change and sea level rise. These areas support a unique and important mix of coastal habitat types, including coastal and alkali wetlands. Undersized culverts can impact the surrounding ecological conditions by restricting passage for aquatic organisms, and can lead to flooding due to inadequate hydrologic capacity.
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- Collecting data on site in West Newbury.
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- Collecting data on site in Gloucester.
The project team includes our firm for replacement preliminary design of the culverts, including environmental planning and wetlands assessments, bridge and geotechnical engineering, ecological restoration design, and GIS mapping; Woods Hole Group for tidal data collection, sea level rise (SLR) modeling, hydrologic & hydraulic analyses, and technical advisory; Inter-Fluve for ecological restoration technical advisory; and Strong Tree Engineering for surveying services.
Utilizing the project team’s expertise in hydraulic modeling and environmental restoration, the guidelines will be updated to include new recommendations for adapting to the effects of sea level rise, as well as updated guidance for the identification, prioritization, and planning of resilient structures and regulatory considerations.
With this updated guidance, MassDER seeks to improve resiliency at transitional culvert crossings, while adapting to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise through incorporating green and resilient design. The work will help to inform municipalities, landowners, non-profits, and project partners about the planning and replacement of transitional crossings in Massachusetts.
This currently restricted culvert in West Newbury will be studied and advanced to the preliminary design phase as part of the project.