General: The Muddy River Flood Damage Reduction Phase 2 Construction Project is located in the footprint generally between Leverett Pond to Boylston Street in Boston and Brookline. The major project components involve dredging 1 to 8’ of sediment for flow conveyance in the Back Bay Fens and the Riverway sections of the Muddy River. It also includes excavation of the sandbar and island at Leverett Pond. Work also includes the removal of phragmites from the wetland and riparian areas which affect flow conveyance. After removal of river sediments and phragmites, preservation and restoration of the historic park shoreline in construction areas will consist of planting emergent wetland plants and restoring riparian vegetation in upland areas by planting trees and shrubs. This Notice is intended to identify the general construction activities that will be performed in the next 90 days. A figure that shows a typical flood control channel and the proposed improvements is at the end of this report.
March 2022 through May 2022 Period:
- Since the award of the construction contract and issuance of the Notice to Proceed two years ago, the contractor has been actively dredging the sediment from the river and properly disposing of the material at disposal facilities. Utilization of two crews has maximized productivity of dredged sediments.
- Dredging of the Muddy River is divided into 12 work areas as shown in the Vicinity Map, with 6 work areas upstream of the Riverway and 6 work areas downstream of Ave. Louis Pasteur. At this time, the contractor continues dredging in Work Area #12.
- Work Area #2 – section of river at Brookline Avenue and the Riverway – near Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – the contractor completed dredging this section mid-February 2021. Surveying was done in February to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. Since that time, a review of the as-dredged conditions has taken place to confirm plant locations and topsoil quality to optimize planting success. A collapsed drain was repaired this past winter which deferred planting of Work Area #2 to this Spring. Preparation work of installing herbivore fence, coir log installation, and installing loam is expected to take place in the next few weeks in anticipation of installing plants in the Spring plant window. Maintenance of the planting will begin immediately during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #3 – section of river at Brookline Avenue, the Riverway, and Netherlands Road – near Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – the contractor completed dredging this section late-March 2021. Surveying was done in May to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. Since that time, a review of the as-dredged conditions has taken place to confirm plant locations and topsoil quality to optimize planting success. All trees, upland planting, and seeding were completed in October 2021. However, wetland plants in this area will be planted in the Spring planting window. Stonedust path restoration and landscape protection fence installation will occur late Spring. Maintenance of the planting will continue to October 2023 during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #4 – section of river immediately downstream of Work Area #3, across Netherlands Road – the contractor completed dredging this section early April 2021. Surveying was done late May to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. Since that time, a review of the as-dredged conditions has taken place to confirm plant locations and topsoil quality to optimize planting success. All trees, upland planting, and seeding were completed in October 2021. Stonedust path restoration and landscape protection fence installation will occur late Spring. Maintenance of the planting will continue to October 2023 during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #1 – Leverett Pond – The contractor completed dredging the revised footprint in June 2021. Surveying was done in mid-July 2021 to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. Request was made to perform some additional dredging at the Village Brook Outfall by the Sponsors. Mobilization of equipment and materials took place early March 2022. The dredging and demobilization of the equipment and material will be complete mid-March 2022. Preparation work of installing herbivore fence, coir log installation, and installing loam is expected to take place in the next few weeks in anticipation of installing plants in the Spring plant window. Maintenance of the planting will begin immediately during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #7 – section of river immediately downstream of Avenue Louis Pasteur – the contractor completed dredging this section at the end of December 2020. Surveying was done in early January 2021 to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. Since that time, a review of the as-dredged conditions has taken place to confirm plant locations and topsoil quality to optimize planting success. Grading of the site and wetland construction and all trees, upland planting, and seeding were completed by October. Stonedust path restoration was completed late-November. Maintenance of the planting will continue to October 2023 during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #8 – section of river immediately downstream of Work Area #7 – the contractor completed dredging this section before the end of February 2021. Surveying was done in late February 2021 to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. Since that time, a review of the as-dredged conditions has taken place to confirm plant locations and topsoil quality to optimize planting success. Grading of the site and wetland construction and all trees, upland planting, and seeding were completed by October. Stonedust path restoration was completed late-November. Maintenance of the planting will continue to October 2023 during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #9 – section of river immediately downstream of Work Area #8 – the contractor completed dredging this section mid-April 2021. Surveying was done in late June 2021 to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. Since that time, a review of the as-dredged conditions has taken place to confirm plant locations and topsoil quality to optimize planting success. Grading of the site and wetland construction and all trees, upland planting, and seeding were completed by October. Stonedust path restoration was completed late-November. Maintenance of the planting will continue to October 2023 during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #10 – section of river immediately downstream of Work Area #9 which ends at Agassiz Road – the contractor completed dredging this section mid-December 2021. Surveying was done between July 2021 to January 2022 to confirm new flood risk management cross sections. The sediment processing bins were removed as part of the dredging efforts. Since that time, a review of the as-dredged conditions has taken place to confirm plant locations and topsoil quality to optimize planting success. Preparation work of installing herbivore fence, coir log installation, and installing loam is expected to take place in the next few weeks in anticipation of installing plants in the Spring plant window. Maintenance of the planting will begin immediately during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Area #13 – Boston Fire Department Building in the vicinity of the Fenway and Agassiz Road – the pumps were installed December in the new pump station, as well as the new electrical panels in the existing fire department building. Granite veneer installation has halted due to the winter weather. Once the weather breaks, the remainder of the granite veneer will be installed, as well as the new security fence and lights on top of the floodwall. With the completion of the floodwall and fencing, restoration of the paved parking lot and the stonedust pathway will take place in the summer.
- Work Areas #11 and #12 – Victory Gardens Area – dredging in the section of the river downstream of Agassiz Road Bridge began in late-December 2021 and will continue into Summer 2022. Planting and restoration of Work Areas #11 and #12 is expected to take place in the Fall to coincide with the planting window. Maintenance of the planting will begin immediately during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- Work Areas #5 and #6 – section of river by Short Street Bridge to Back Bay Yard – near the intersection of Park Drive and Riverway – as the dredging activities resumes in the upstream stretches of the river, installation of temporary construction fencing began in early March in anticipation of dredging start in late-March and will continue into Summer 2022. Planting and restoration of Work Areas #5 and #6 is expected to take place in the Fall to coincide with the planting window. Maintenance of the planting will begin immediately during the two-year plant guarantee period.
- At the end of this notice we have included some pictures that show the construction progress at Work Areas #9-#13. We thought folks would be interested in seeing the work occurring behind the fence.
- If you any questions, require additional information or would like to be added to the Project Contact List, please email the project mailbox at MuddyRiver@usace.army.mil
