An estimated 40 percent of Bostonians are projected to face coastal or river flooding from a 100-year storm before the end of this century. Photo: Anxhela Mile
July 20, 2026 (Boston, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to strengthen its draft plan outlining flood risk and protection strategies in Boston. The plan must better reflect years of community planning and prioritize nature-based solutions to protect the city from climate-driven flooding.
The draft plan could make Boston eligible for billions of dollars in federal funding for coastal resilience projects, helping the city address an estimated $54 billion in future flood damage. With an estimated 40 percent of Bostonians projected to face coastal or river flooding from a 100-year storm before the end of this century, securing federal funding is a crucial step.
The city is collaborating with the Army Corps to develop a comprehensive plan to protect Boston’s coastline and those that live, work, and play along it. The Army Corps’ plan was meant to build on city and neighborhood coastal resilience plans developed over nearly a decade. Those plans were shaped by thousands of residents, local leaders, and technical experts and prioritize solutions that reduce flood risk while expanding public access to the waterfront, restoring natural systems, and creating healthier, more resilient neighborhoods. However, the draft plan falls short of that vision.
“Climate change is raising the stakes with stronger storms, rising seas, and worsening floods,” said Julia Carlton MacKay, director of community resilience at CLF. “Our response should match the scale of that challenge with solutions that protect people, work with nature, and create a waterfront that’s stronger and more resilient for generations to come. Boston deserves a plan that meets that reality head-on by embracing the innovative, nature-based solutions our communities have already helped design.”
Members of the public can provide feedback on the draft plan starting July 24 and through September 18.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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