Brian R. Swett, Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space, City of Boston
Winter Storm Hercules, 2014
Christopher Columbus Park
High Tide, 2011
Long Wharf
Hurricane Sandy, 2012
Long Wharf & Morrisey Blvd
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Mean High High Water +2.5 feet
Projected to occur by mid-century
Similar to flooding from Hurricane Sandy
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Mean High High Water +5’
Projected to occur by midto late-century
Equivalent to flooding from
Hurricane Sandy if it hit
during high tide
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Mean High High Water + 7.5’
Could occur by late-century
Charles River Dam is overtopped
Sandy at mid-century
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Sea-level
≈ 10” over past 100 yrs
Boston Harbor Tide Gauge
7
Solar Powered Fueling
Stations for Emergency
Vehicles at 400
Frontage Road 120 kW
Deer Island Constructed to Withstand 2 Feet
of Sea-Level Rise
Solar Powered Traffic
Signals Along
Evacuation Route
Climate
Ready Boston
Feb. 2013
Planning
• Climate Preparedness Task Force in
City Hall
• Green Ribbon Commission working
group focused on climate adaptation
Existing Buildings
• Assess vulnerabilities of buildings and
infrastructure through BRA survey
• Better enforcement of flood proofing
building standards
New Buildings
• Incorporate climate change
adaptation guidelines into Article 80
• Wetlands Ordinance and new
floodplain maps
Emergency Response
• Review emergency operation planning
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Municipal Vulnerability to
Climate Change
Facilities and Capital
Planning
Transportation and
Water Infrastructure
Neighborhoods
Public Health and
Heat
State and Federal
Coordination
Challenge/Opportunity
State Infrastructure in Boston
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Muddy River Restoration
Key floors above 2085
High Estimate 100year Flood
Mechanical, electrical
and emergency
services on roof out of
harm’s way
Operable windows
keyed open in event of
systems failure
Critical patient programs
above ground floor
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Growing Boston Greener
Increasing Tree Canopy to 35%
by 2020
East Boston
Roxbury
West Roxbury
Green Bus Shelters
• Living roofs – local, droughttolerant plants
• Hold up to 24 gallons of
water during a major
rainstorm
• 3 bus shelter green roofs
installed (Talbot Ave)
• Part of the Fairmount Line Bus
Shelter Living Roof Initiative
Green Parking Lots
• City’s first green municipal
parking lots in Dudley Square
(Ruggles Street & Warren Street)
• Old streetlights converted
to LED lights
• Installment of bio-retention area for stormwater management
• Addition of bike racks
• Use of special soil and landscaping methods for breaking
down organic pollutants
BAC Green Alley Project
•
A project of the Boston
Architectural College,
completed in 2013
•
Capture stormwater
runoff & recharge
groundwater
•
Permeable asphalt &
permeable unit paver
systems, gravel bed
designed to collect, store,
and drain rain water from
the surface
Energy Resiliency Projects
• Part of Governor Patrick’s
Community Clean Energy
Resiliency Initiative
• COB received $1.32 million for
energy resiliency projects
• Installation of solar PV arrays with
battery storage at 4 BCYF facilities
designated as emergency shelters
• During emergency situations,
facilities can be islandable for up
to 3 days
District Energy in Boston
Today
• City-wide District
Energy Planning
• Longwood Medical
Area
• Green steam
Toronto’s Deep Water Cooling System
Tomorrow
• Deep water cooling
• Anaerobic Digestion
• Local CHP
• Sewerage heat loss
recovery
• Trigeneration distribution
infrastructure
Climate Change Not
Considered
Summary of FEMA Flood Hazard Mapping Impacts on Boston
Current
FIRM (2009)
Preliminary
FIRM (2013)
Boston Appeal
Change
Land Area
(acres)
1,634
3,219
2,745
+1,111
Housing Units
4,095
17,804
14,589
+10,494
248
4,450
3,048
+2,800
Businesses
Current Climate Preparedness
Planning & Initiatives
• 2014 Climate Action Plan Update
• Neighborhood Planning
• City/University Climate Partnership
• National Preparedness Month (September)
• Regional Climate Preparedness Summit
• “Living With Water” Design Competition
We have options.
Brian R. Swett
Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Space
Email:
[email protected]
Visit:
www.cityofboston.gov/EEOS/ &
www.greenovateboston.org
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@GreenovateBos
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