The Amelia Earhart Dam crosses the Mystic River between Everett and Somerville. Capital investment to raise the dam is essential to protect tens of thousands of residents in Environmental Justice communities and prevent billions of dollars in damage and economic loss.

Built in 1966 by the Metropolitan District Commission, now owned and operated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the dam currently provides significant protection from coastal flooding to seven upstream communities, as well as to critical infrastructure that people and businesses well beyond the region rely on. With sea level rise over the coming 10 to 20 years, major coastal storms will be able to push floodwaters over and around the dam.

DCR is currently redesigning the dam to block an extreme 200-year (0.5% annual chance) storm in 2070 based on sea level rise and storm surge projections. This multi-year construction project is estimated to cost around $130 million and could start as soon as 2028 if State capital funding is secured. In the meantime, DCR is hardening the dam’s electrical and mechanical systems to prevent them from going offline if an extreme storm overtops the existing dam - work that will be completed by the end of 2026.