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Looking south from the coast of Winthrop at the harbor and ocean beyond; houses on a peninsula are on the distance on the left; sky is bright blue.
Coastal Community Challenges The City of Winthrop is surrounded by water on almost all sides, making it prone to flooding, especially as climate change worsens storms and sea-level rise. © Loren Dowd/TNC

Massachusetts

Watch, Learn and Share: Proactive Coastal Relocation

December 08, 2025

Are you a Massachusetts resident experiencing or concerned about coastal flooding?

Are you interested in learning more about relocation away from hazards as a tool to reduce flood risk?

Want to help shape resources and programs related to flood prevention and response in Massachusetts?

The Proactive Relocation for Massachusetts Coastal Communities project is a community-focused collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, Urban Harbors Institute and Communities Responding to Extreme Weather. Funded by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, this project helps residents:

  • Understand how relocation away from risky areas, sometimes called “managed retreat,” works across the United States
  • Access existing and create new resources for flood response
  • Appreciate why and when some people decide to move out of harm’s way

Learn more

We’ve developed the video and StoryMap below to help you learn more about what relocating away from flooding can look like and why it’s an important tool to manage flood risk.

Learn More and Let Us Know What You Think (12:02) Proactive Relocation for Massachusetts Coastal Communities project is working with Massachusetts residents, planners and community leaders to understand how relocation could play a role in flood response, coastal resilience and emergency management across the coast. Learn more in this video.
Ver el vídeo en español (14:33) Watch the above video in Spanish

More languages coming soon

Proactive Relocation for Massachusetts Coastal Communities

Check out the StoryMap, then take a moment to share your perspective.

Explore the StoryMap here

Your voice is crucial—take the survey!

Share your reactions and perspectives with us using the survey linked at the end of both the video and the StoryMap. Please take a moment to fill out the survey, which will help inform what the state of Massachusetts, local cities and towns, and community groups create to support residents. And, if you’re 18 and over and complete the survey, you can enter to win a gift card!

 

Resources

Want to learn more about this project and how to access coastal relocation resources and support?

  • View of the green grass and bright blue waters of Belle Isle Marsh from Winthrop, with houses in Revere in the distance.

    Visit the project website

    Get more information about the project here

  • Posterboard on a table at a community event with prompting questions about flooding and answers from participants on colorful post-it notes.

    Learn More

    View the project flyer (available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese) here

  • Several people gather in a circle of chairs in a public library, one person wears headphones and holds a recording device.

    Email Us

    If you'd like more information or have a specific question, reach out to the project team: macoastalrelocation@tnc.org