Boston Harbor has witnessed two of its highest tides in recent memory within the past three months, with the most recent occurring last Friday, March 2, at approximately 11:15 a.m.
The storm that struck last Friday brought severe flooding to Chelsea, with the Chelsea Creek overflowing its banks particularly along Marginal Street. The powerful system also carried intense winds that toppled Chelsea’s official Christmas tree.
Both last Friday and previously on Jan. 4, the combination of high tides and coastal storm surge submerged normally dry portions of Chelsea, especially along Marginal Street and the streets climbing uphill from it.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino noted that floodwaters again breached the Chelsea Creek banks this past Friday, repeating what had occurred during the Jan. 4 blizzard and coastal surge.
According to Ambrosino, there are limited short-term options available to combat such overwhelming natural forces.
“There just wasn’t a whole lot we could do about that situation when the Creek comes over its banks, onto the roadway and floods the entire road,” he said. “We may have to be thinking about – like other cities and towns – very long, long-term solutions because I think these types of storms are going to continue more and more. I think like everyone else we’re going to have to start thinking about Coastal Climate Resiliency. I don’t know what that would mean for Marginal Street, but it would have to mean something because we can’t keep having this kind of flooding.”
The tidal surge along Marginal Street also resulted in closures of several uphill streets, Ambrosino explained, including Congress, Willow, Highland and others. Addressing this problem would require years of planning and millions and millions of dollars in investment, though Ambrosino suggested this may be necessary.
Flooding on Eastern Avenue near the Burke School Complex on Friday may present a more manageable challenge. Ambrosino indicated that planned infrastructure improvements over the coming years should help alleviate that particular flooding concern.
High tides on Friday flooded the area near the Burke and disrupted certain school operations.
Similar conditions affected the Island End River, which also overflowed its banks on Friday. While this flooding threatens the New England Produce Center’s food supply, Ambrosino noted that solutions have already been developed for this issue as well, as they have for Eastern Avenue.
“There are long-term solutions there, but they are expensive,” he said. “However, there are ideas that can make a difference with that situation.”
Beyond the flooding concerns, the storm delivered powerful wind gusts frequently exceeding 80 mph, causing significant damage to numerous city trees and particularly to Chelsea’s official Christmas tree in Chelsea Square.
The Christmas tree was felled by the winds and subsequently removed from its traditional location.
“The Christmas tree did get knocked over,” said Ambrosino. “As I understand, it was transplanted some years ago and didn’t have very deep roots. The Tree Board will look at that and try to figure out what we’ll do about a new Christmas tree. Luckily, we have plenty of time to think about it.”