The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced an investment of $28 million in funding to improve climate resiliency and provide significant flood protection for the environmental justice communities surrounding the Amelia Earhart Dam (AED) on the Mystic River between Somerville and Everett and Draw Seven Park in Somerville.

The projects, which are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), include $13 million to redesign the elevation of the dam and $15 million for the renovation of Draw Seven Park including construction of a flood control berm to prevent coastal flooding.

Undersecretary for Environment Stephanie Cooper and DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo joined the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyWRA) and local legislators in Somerville today to make the announcement. Today’s announcement is the culmination of collaborative efforts by DCR, MyWRA, community members and officials from Somerville, Cambridge and Everett to identify vulnerabilities in the area and ways to advance climate resiliency.

“The impacts of climate change are very much upon us,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s a priority of our administration to invest in our vital infrastructure so that our residents are protected as sea levels rise and extreme weather increases. Every dollar we spend on resilience today is an investment in our future.”

“Draw Seven Park represents an important avenue for urban residents to enjoy our waterfront,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These investments also give us an opportunity to rethink the surrounding area while promoting resilience. Communities across Massachusetts are strained by the cost of aging infrastructure. Our partnerships with communities like Everett, Cambridge, and Somerville are critical to protecting our residents.”

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to ensuring that our communities are resilient and have the necessary tools to mitigate the impacts of climate change that we continue to see across Massachusetts,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “The Draw Seven Park and Amelia Earhart Dam projects will ensure resilience in several cities and towns in the Greater Boston area by eliminating a flood pathway, ensuring we can preserve these areas for generations to come.”

“Mitigating the effects of climate change is critical to building safe and healthy communities and preserving our natural and recreational resources,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “This funding will enable us to completely transform Draw Seven Park, creating new recreational opportunities and raise the Amelia Earhart Dam to protect an area that would be at significant risk of flooding due to climate change, if left untouched.”

Based on a 2018 feasibility study, DCR determined that future sea level rise would inundate the AED and initiated planning efforts to eliminate flood pathways and the risk of coastal flooding in the Mystic River Watershed. The AED and Draw Seven Park projects will raise the dam and adjoining land by several feet to eliminate the Mystic River flood pathway, better protecting the surrounding areas of Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Everett, Malden, Medford, and Somerville from coastal flooding.

“We are absolutely thrilled to see these two projects funded,” said Julie Wormser, Senior Policy Advisor with the Mystic River Watershed Association.  “Concerns about the role of the dam and Draw 7 Park in protecting upstream communities from flooding was one of the major reasons the 20-community Resilient Mystic Collaborative came together in 2018.”

“People across our state face an increased risk of flooding due to the climate crisis, especially people of color and individuals with low income, and projects like these are exactly what we need to be doing to protect our residents,” said Senator Sal DiDomenico. “This investment is critical for the well-being of our coastal communities, and it benefits our environment, workforce, businesses, and residents. I want to thank the Healey-Driscoll Administration, city officials, and the Mystic River Watershed Association for prioritizing these resilience projects that will safeguard environmental justice communities from flooding.”

“Climate change doesn’t care about political agendas or district lines,” said Senator Patricia Jehlen. “I am grateful to work with my colleagues from communities on both sides of the Mystic River, the Resilient Mystic Collaborative and the Healey-Driscoll Administration in partnership to protect our communities from coastal flooding for years to come, and to provide new climate resistant parkland at Draw 7 park. This is a great investment in our communities and our future.”

“This is a great day for Draw 7 Park, The Amelia Earhart Dam and the cities and towns within the Mystic River Watershed,” said Representative Dan Ryan. “These federal funds will go a long way in protecting our shorelines from future storm surges as we collectively plan for a more accessible, ecologically friendly lower Mystic. I want to thank Undersecretary Cooper, DCR Commissioner Arrigo, our municipal partners and especially the Mystic River Watershed Association for their vision and leadership on this issue.”

“I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and proud of our legislative efforts to secure this funding for improvements to Draw 7 Park in Somerville, including a resilient, living shoreline, enhanced stormwater management, necessary upgrades to the Amelia Earhart Dam, and a shared-use river path,” said Representative Mike Connolly. “I am particularly grateful to the Mystic River Watershed Association, DCR, city officials and local residents who made their voices heard throughout this process, resulting in an extraordinary design that will turn a dilapidated lot into a stunning new amenity for our community. I look forward to working with all concerned to continue addressing our open space needs and climate vulnerabilities.”

The AED, built in 1966, prevents tidal flooding of the Mystic River Basin between the dam in Somerville and the Upper Mystic Lake Dam 6-miles upriver in Arlington and Medford. The Mystic River Basin includes the Mystic and Malden Rivers and Alewife Brook. The dam raise project design will take into account the anticipated impacts of sea level rise and climate change, enabling it to continue to prevent coastal flooding well into the future. The design of the project is currently underway and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026, with construction expected to begin shortly after.

The complete renovation of Draw Seven Park will include construction of a flood control berm to prevent coastal flooding, that in coordination with the AED project, will make the area more resilient to climate change. The park’s redesign includes many benefits to the community and the environment including maintaining and enhancing connections to the rest of the Mystic River Reservation, as well as to the newly completed path extension to Alford Street in Charlestown. The paths will connect Somerville to Everett and the Northern Strand Trail via the future Mystic River pedestrian bridge to Everett. The project will restore the park shoreline for stability, habitat value, and flood protection. The redesign will include inclusive and welcoming natural and recreational resources including paths for walking with viewing, bench seating, and overlook areas, a new lawn, and a renovated fishing pier. The project will also include more than 100 new trees to provide shade for visitors.

The Draw Seven project is currently in the permitting phase and is anticipated to go to bid by summer 2024, with construction expected to start in spring 2025.

Together, these projects will revive and improve a long-underutilized waterfront park, making it more welcoming and attractive for recreation, building important trail connections, restoring the natural ecology, and upgrading AED utilities. These projects are part of DCR’s ongoing work to protect the state’s natural resources and improve climate resiliency at agency parks and in surrounding communities.