Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program

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StormSmart Coasts and Climate Ready Information for Buzzards Bay

Related Pages:   StormSmart Coasts May 08 Workshop |  Hurricane & Storm Info

DEP Circuit Rider Workshop June 6, 2008 in Marion

New MA building Code for Flood Resistant Construction in Coastal Dunes and Flood Hazard Zones

Lealdon Langley of MA DEP will present a summary of the 7th Edition of The Massachusetts Basic Building Code 780 CMR 120.G, Appendix G, which covers Code for Flood Resistant Construction in Coastal Dunes and Flood Hazard Zones. These regulations became effective January 8, 2008. The workshop will be held June 6, 2008 at the Natural History Museum at 8 Spring St., Marion, MA beginning at 10:30 AM. (get directions)

The Mass DEP Circuit Rider Program presents free educational workshops for Conservation Commission members, staff, Building Inspectors, and other municipal officials. This workshop reviews the recent revisions to Appendix G of the Basic Building Code that coordinates decisions issued by Building Inspectors with the Orders of Conditions issued under the Wetlands Protection Act. The changes assist natural storm damage prevention and flood control and more closely aligns the building code with National Flood Insurance Program.

Circuit Rider Workshop Flyer
Includes dates and locations of other workshops on this topic.

MCZM StormSmart Coasts Information

Private and public development and redevelopment continue to expand in the flood prone areas of coastal communities. Simultaneously, due to the impacts of climate change, the frequency and intensity of coastal storms is projected to increase over the coming years. When combined, these two factors portend a significant increase in the potential harmful impacts to people and property in coastal communities. With this in mind the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) has developed a suite of ideas, strategies, and case studies to help communities improve efforts to manage coastal floodplains within their town. This information can be found on MCZM's StormSmart Coasts website. The site was created to support local efforts to improve the management of coastal floodplains in Massachusetts.

MCZM also offers workshops to municipal officials including staff and members of Planning Boards, Conservation Commissions, Zoning Board of Appeals, Department of Public Works, Building & Engineering Departments, Boards of Health, and emergency management planners.

EPA Climate Ready Estuaries Initiative

EPA's Office of Oceans, Wetlands and Watersheds has launched an initiative to assist National Estuary Programs adapt and prepare for the effects of climate change. This Climate Ready Estuaries Initiative NEP's will assess the vulnerabilities of coastal resources and infrastructure, review local governance, prepare adaptation plans, and increase local awareness of the problems and potential solutions. The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program is adopting many of these strategies in our updated Management Plan for Buzzards Bay. In our original Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for Buzzards Bay, the BBNEP was far ahead of its time in recognizing the impacts of sea level rise and global warming. We are now updating our 1991 Planning For A Shifting Shoreline Action Plan with new data and information that will help Buzzards Bay municipalities plan for a shifting shoreline in the 21st century.

Build with Freeboard

Freeboard is the height above the minimum required floodplain elevation height at which a structure is built. In other words, when you build a new home in the flood zone, you might have to raise it a few feet above ground level to be above the 100-year flood plain. If you choose to go even higher as a safety precaution, you have just added "freeboard." There are dramatic financial benefits to constructing homes with freeboard as illustrated by the diagrams below. More information about freeboard, and a more detailed explanation of these graphics is available at the MCZM StormSmart Coasts website.

Links for Buzzards Bay data and reports

2006 Hurricane Evacation Route Evaluation for Southeastern Massachusetts

2004 Natural Hazard Pre-Disaster Regional Mitigation Plan for SE Mass

1997 ACOE Southern Massachusetts Hurricane Evacuation Study

ACOE Massachusetts Hurricane Evacuation Inundation Maps (1990s)

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