In order to meet the growing threat of climate change along the Massachusetts coast, the Commonwealth must update its laws and regulations to reflect changing climate conditions such as anticipated sea level rise and increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events. This task includes critical updates to the Public Waterfront Act program and its implementing waterways regulations (commonly known as “the Waterways Program”), which govern the use and development of “filled” and “flowed” tidelands (lands currently or formerly subject to tidal flows).
