State Awards Merrimac $30,000 for Church Street Culvert Replacement

A culvert project in North Adams. (Courtesy photograph.)

Merrimac was formally awarded $30,000 Monday toward replacement of the town’s Cobblers Brook culvert on Church Street.

It was among 14 communities across the state to receive a grant from the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance program. Merrimac will conduct field data collection to assess the deteriorated and undersized culvert, located within an area of important habitat. The grant was part of $2.4 million from the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration to support ecological restoration projects. State officials said the goal is to strengthen community resilience to climate change, reduce flood risks, improve infrastructure and public safety and restore crucial wildlife habitat and water quality.

“Funding restoration projects is key to building a climate-ready future,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These awards will support municipalities and partners in restoring healthy waterways and enhancing resilience against increased precipitation and extreme weather. For residents, that means cleaner water, lower flood risks and safer communities ready to withstand the challenges ahead.”

Under the Stream Continuity Program, more than $2 million was granted to 17 communities through the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance program and the Culvert Replacement Training Site Initiative.

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