The City of Chelsea, Massachusetts is prone to habitual flooding due to low elevation, continued erosion, and a need for improved coastal stabilization infrastructure. In order to protect the vulnerable communities of Chelsea in a sustainable manner, the City is considering the implementation of a living shoreline along a portion of Chelsea Creek alongside the Chelsea Street Bridge. Using a site suitability matrix, comprehensive cost analysis, and review of potential environmental impacts, our team designed a living shoreline consisting of multiple features, such as switchgrass, coir logs, a salt marsh, an oyster sill, and reef balls. In addition, the team outlined an implementation strategy, which included a suggested construction plan, key maintenance concerns, and a permitting analysis.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Scribner, Jonathan
• Conroy, Peter
• Andrzejewski, Evan
• Pham, Julie

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 49516
• E-project-030422-153110

Keyword

• Flooding
• Sea Level Rise
• Sustainability
• Living Shoreline
• Chelsea

Advisor

• Albano, Leonard D.
• Mathisen, Paul P.

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• City of Chelsea

Date created

• 2022-03-04

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Civil Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright