FY 26 Coastal Resilience Grant Program
The Town of Salisbury will partner with Newbury and Newburyport on a long-term, regional planning effort to evaluate coastal erosion and sediment transport and the feasibility of shore protection strategies. The project will assess sitespecific protection options, including beach and dune nourishment and identification of potential nourishment sources.
Project Overview
Funding Program: Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Coastal Resilience Grant Program
Award Year: 2026
Project Title: Upper North Shore Regional Shore Protection Strategy Development and Needs Assessment
Lead Partners: Salisbury, Newbury, Newburyport
Funding: $232,830
This project directly supports adaptation to climate impacts such as sea level rise, storm surge, and coastal erosion. It includes updated coastal modeling, shoreline change analysis, and evaluation of beach and dune nourishment strategies designed to buffer public infrastructure and natural resources. Alternatives will be assessed against sea level rise projections at 10-, 20-, and 50-year intervals. The project also identifies sustainable sediment sources, including beneficial reuse of dredged material. Through public engagement, it will build support for science-based resiliency solutions. The project proposes 2 public workshops pulling together stakeholders in coastal resiliency planning, a survey to collect additional comments outside of the workshop, and a regional website addressing coastal resiliency, increasing accessibility to the information generated through the grant process. In addition to science-based solutions, this project focuses on partnership and collaboration.
Goals
Improve shoreline stability and dune protection
Enhance coastal resilience and flood preparedness
Protect habitat and natural systems
Support regional planning and coordination
Engage and inform the public
The project exemplifies local and regional partnerships by bringing together three municipalities for a regional project. The project also partners with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and utilizes the skills of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission to ensure the best reach and complete context of project materials. The project partner team is as follows:
Bill Luster, Interim Director of Planning and Development
Adriane Marchand, Conservation Agent, Town of Salisbury
Alison Sheehan, Administrative Assistant, Conservation and Grants
Mason Ferrick, Newbury Conservation Agent
Kelsey Sullivan, Newburyport Environmental Planner
Patrice Kish, DCR Chief, Design & Engineering
Darryl Forgione, DCR Project Manager
Hanna Mogensen, Environmental Program Coordinator & MassBays Regional Coordinator, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
John Ramsey, Principal Coastal Engineer (SCS)
Kayla Gillen, Coastal Engineer (SCS)
Emma Manzella, Coastal Scientist (SCS)
Documents
Project Scope & Work Plan (PDF)
Project Updates
January 2026
Grant awarded
Initial coordination meetings held with partner towns
February 2026
Site assessments and data collection underway
Monthly check in meeting
Website development
MVPC meeting with Town Employees to discuss public workshops
March 2026
Public information session planning
Monthly check in meeting
Website Development and MRBA meeting introduction
April 2026
Public information session planning
Monthly check in meeting
Website Development and information gathering
May 2026
Public forums scheduled
Public information session planning
Monthly check in meeting
June 2026
Community Forum 1, June 4, 2026 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Blue Ocean Event Center, 4 Ocean Front S, Salisbury MA 01952
Community Forum 2, June 5, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM, PITA HALL, 8 Plum Island Boulevard, Newbury, MA 01951
Project Report June 30, 2026