Charlestown Awarded Funding for Breachway Restoration

Charlestown among 19 municipalities to receive infrastructure funding

On January 25th the Infrastructure Bank joined with Governor Dan McKee and Newport Mayor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong to award $12 million in Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants to 20 projects in 19 communities across Rhode Island.

This is the description of Charlestown's project: 

Photo by Will Collette

The Town of Charlestown is leading a crucial project to address the impacts of climate change, sea-level rise, and storm surges on the Charlestown Breachway barrier beach-lagoon system in Rhode Island. This project focuses on the first design phase, which includes engagement with adjacent landowners, RIDEM and USFWS. 

This phase is instrumental in preparing the second phase to be "shovel-ready" and eligible for future funding opportunities through the Town budget and grants over the next three years. 

The second phase, to be conducted over the subsequent two to three years, involves breachway west wall reconstruction, dredging, dune restoration, and dune grass planting. The overall project aims to enhance the resilience of the breachway system and adjacent natural habitats, providing a safer and more sustainable coastal access point for the public while protecting vital ecosystems.

 

Over just the last few weeks, communities across our state have experienced the effects of extreme storms, severe flooding, and coastal erosion, all of which are anticipated to increase due to the impacts of climate change. Rhode Island needs to invest in resilient infrastructure solutions now, and that is exactly what this $12 million in 20 Municipal Resilience Program Action Grants will allow 19 communities across our state to do.

 

For this round of MRP Action Grants, the Infrastructure Bank received 41 proposals from 30 communities, totaling $52 million in grant requests. Far exceeding currently available funding.

 

After a competitive review process, the selection committee recommended the following proposals to receive funding for implementation:

• Barrington - $112,500: Coastal Adaptation Projects: Latham Park, Allin's Cove, Water Way
• Bristol - $113,225: Urban Forest Municipal Resilience Project
• Central Falls - $147,795: Dexter Street Stormwater Resiliency Project
• Charlestown - $203,085: Engineering, Design, Permitting, and Community Outreach for the Charlestown Breachway and Adjacent Barrier Island Complex Restoration
• Coventry - $100,000: Tiogue Lake Stormwater/Flooding Mitigation Project
• East Providence - $1,800,000: Crescent Park Shoreline Protection & Slope Stabilization
• Glocester - $59,950: Flood Prevention Infrastructure Upgrades
• Hopkinton - $1,344,088: Strengthening Flood Resilience through Road and Stream Crossing Upgrades
• Johnston - $340,000: Atwood Avenue & Hartford Avenue Stormwater Management
• Lincoln - $84,400: Front Street Stormwater Improvements
• Middletown - $69,600: Floodproofing Paradise Avenue Pump Station
• New Shoreham - $465,000: Corn Neck Road Dune Restoration
• Newport - $2,392,884: King Park Shoreline Resilience Improvements
• North Providence - $80,500: Fruit Hill Avenue West Area Stormwater Drainage Improvements
• Pawtucket - $156,500: Daggett Avenue Green Infrastructure Corridor
• Providence - $1,000,000: Public Street Waterfront Access & Green Infrastructure Project
• Providence - $225,000: Mashapaug Watershed Water Quality Improvements 
• South Kingstown - $85,000: Saugatucket Stormwater Culvert Improvements
• Warren - $1,250,000: Jamiel's Park Living Shoreline and Landfill Closure Resilience Project
• Woonsocket - $2,000,000: Truman Drive Green Infrastructure Parkway