The IERFRP is a collaborative effort between the Cities of Everett and Chelsea ("the Cities") to prevent projected coastal storm surge flooding from the Island End River ("IER") across a 500-acre floodplain that will impact more than, 5,000 residents, 800+ buildings and 11,000 jobs in southeast Everett and southwest Chelsea. The Cities are working to construct a coastal storm surge barrier, storm surge control facility, nature-based approaches along the riverfront, a revitalized coastal park, and related amenities at the Island End River ("IER"). The approximately 6-acre Project Site is currently composed of a mix of commercial and industrial uses and supporting roadway and utility infrastructure. The existing banks of the river are highly degraded by legacy industrial uses and are comprised of hardened slope stabilization measures and littered with debris. This Project will construct an approximately 4,650 linear foot ("lf") storm surge barrier, an approximately 2,900 square foot ("sf") underground storm surge control facility, approximately 20,000 square feet of nature-based approaches along the riverfront, and associated wetland and public access improvements along the IER. The Project includes five flood resilience elements, including the publicly accessible Resilience Provisions East, the efficient Resilience Provisions West within the Mystic River DPA, the essential Storm Surge Control Facility protecting existing storm drainage infrastructure, the revitalized Island End Park, and an investment in improving coastal wetland resource areas. The entire Project will include approximately 4,650 lf of protective flood barrier system, an approximately 2,900 sf underground surge control structure, approximately 20,000 square feet of nature-based solutions along the riverfront, approximately 22,000 sf of wetland enhancements, and public amenities. Each of these elements is detailed below. Resilience Provisions East - Storm surge barrier along the Chelsea banks of the IER, which provides public amenities and the Resilient Riverwalk, which includes improved pedestrian waterfront access in the form of an elevated boardwalk and vegetated berm sections. The Island End Park will also be rehabilitated as part of the Project. Storm Surge Control Facility - This structure will be constructed at the outlet of the existing Market Street culvert to prevent inland flood damage during coastal storm events. The control gates will normally be open to allow for tidal flow into culverted and daylighted sections of the IER. Additionally, control measures will be installed on the Beacham Street drainage system to prevent backflow into the existing stormwater drainage system. Resilience Provisions West - Storm surge barrier along the Everett banks of the IER, which is situated in a Designated Port Area ("DPA"), in the form of vertical freestanding concrete wall and flood gates to protect working port businesses from coastal inundation. Nature-based Solutions & Wetlands Enhancements - Existing degraded riverfront slopes will be reimagined using a combination of native vegetation along upper bank and planted with coastal plantings and cobbles downslope. The Project will also improve the health of the remaining salt marsh portion of the IER by removing invasive Phragmites (Phragmites australis), replanting with and maintaining native species, and removing significant deposits of existing trash and debris in this resource area. Additionally, it will address issues of erosion and sparse vegetation on coastal bank resource areas around the IER through robust native planting program and slope stabilization efforts. Island End Park - Existing gazebo structure and adjacent turf lawn area will be removed and replaced with a resilient design for a passive use coastal park space. Existing degraded riverfront slopes of the park will be reimagined using a combination of native vegetation along upper bank and planted with coastal plantings and cobbles downslope. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time.
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