A Boston Harbor Alliance report which warns of the region’s growing vulnerability to storm-surge events similar to that seen during Hurricane Sandy - translating to the city’s 100-year flood level.
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UMASS BOSTON - Coastal Climate Vulnerable Flood Risk Areas
Change Adaptation Planning Morrissey Blvd. Entrance Bayside Expo Center
The Morrissey Blvd. Entrance is currently the primary entrance to the Bayside Expo center region, recently purchased by UMASS-Boston, is
UMASS-Boston campus. A significant portion of this street, especially slated to undergo redevelopment. Currently, the area is prone to
south of the campus entrance, is low-lying and is prone to flooding even potential flooding, especially the low-lying parking lot regions (one of the
under present day conditions (storm surge or heavy rainfall events). lowest elevations in the region). There is potential for poor drainage and
Once the water surface elevation overtops higher elevations along the flooding of this area (approximately 30 acres) even during contemporary
General Description
coastline, most of Morrissey Blvd. will become flooded. At the campus rainfall storm events. As sea level increases, there are also lower areas
entrance specifically, as shown in the aerial view, storm surge flooding along the Dorchester Bay shoreline that will become susceptible to the
initially may occur from the Patten's Cove side and subsequently the higher water surface elevations during storm events, resulting in
Savin Hill Cove side when water surface elevations reach between significant overtopping and widespread flooding of the area.
approximately 9.5-10.0 feet NAVD88. Specifically, areas along the Harbor walk area shown in aerial view.
Mean Higher High Water (MHHW)
Annual (1-year) Storm Surge
100-year Storm Surge
Approximate
Maximum
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
Water Surface Recommended Recommended
Elevation (ft, Upland Flooding Engineering Estimated Upland Flooding Engineering Estimated
NAVD88) Potential Adaptations Adaptation Cost* Potential Adaptations Adaptation Cost*
4.0
2010
Poor Drainage of
5.0 Minor flood proofing of
No Flooding Expected Bayside Expo Parking Capital Cost:
structures
areas during heavy $ 2.0 Million
2050 6.0
rainfall events.
No Action Required N/A Installation of a pump
house and pumped Annual
2010 7.0 Flooding of Morrissey Blvd.
No Flooding of areas
approx 1/4 mile south of based-drainage system Maintenance Costs:
from Dorchester Bay $ 10,000
8.0 campus entrance. for parking area+
waters.
2050 No flooding of campus
9.0 entrance or facilities
2100
Flooding of campus Tidal control structure at Modular seawall Capital Cost#:
Capital Cost: Flooding of Bayside
2010 10.0 entrance. Initially from entrance to Patten's Cove. installation at critical $1.0-1.5 million
$500-750,000 Expo areas from
Patten's Cove (tidal pond Soft solution (beach locations along Harbor (1,000 foot length)
Annual Dorchester Bay.
11.0 to the west of entrance), nourishment and walk. Annual
Maintenance Costs: Water overtops harbor
2050 and subsequently from vegetation enhancement) Seawall extension along Maintenance Costs:
2100 Savin Hill Cove. along Savin Hill Cove. $10,000 walk in places. Harbor walk as needed.
12.0 $15,000
In addition to In addition to
13.0
adaptations above, adaptations above,
Widespread flooding of Capital Cost: Widespread flooding of Capital Cost:
additional flood proofing additional flood proofing
14.0 UMASS Boston $20 per square foot UMASS Boston $20 per square foot
2100 and elevation of critical and elevation of critical
Campus, Morrisey Blvd. of building for wet Campus, Morrisey Blvd. of building for wet
infrastructure. infrastructure.
15.0 and surrounding areas flood proofing. and surrounding areas flood proofing.
Evacuate during storm Evacuate during storm
event and return. event and return.
16.0
* = Initial Capital Costs and Operational and Maintenance costs provided are estimates based on costs from
similar types of projects. More detailed and accurate costs would be required for actual engineering and
construction. Estimated costs are based on 2010 dollar value.
# - Depends on length of seawall installed.
+ = Based on a 30 acre area with a peak intensity rainfall of 5 in/hr (average of 0.3 inches/hr over a 24 hour period)
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