FEMA’s 100-year Flood Model with CSO and Environmental Justice Populations Data

Click here to use an interactive map that displays CSO locations, FEMA’s 100 year flood model from 2020, and Environmental Justice Population blocks.

This interactive map displays Combined Sewer Outfall locations as clickable red dots. Clicking on the red dots will reveal additional information about each individual CSO, including links to the NPDES pollution permit documents.

The blue areas on the map represent the waterbodies and the 100-year flood data. The flood overlay can be toggled on and off by clicking on the content tab in the upper left corner of the map and then selecting the checkboxes for each of the map overlays.

The Environmental Justice Populations yellow overlay shows the EJ blocks. These blocks are also clickable. Clicking on an EJ block will reveal 2019 Census data summarizing minority population, median household income, and household English language barriers. 

From www.mass.gov:
“Environmental Justice (EJ) is based on the principle that all people have a right to be protected from environmental hazards and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment. EJ is the equal protection and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies and the equitable distribution of environmental benefits.

Environmental Equity in Massachusetts

The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) established an Environmental Justice Policy to help address the disproportionate share of environmental burdens experienced by lower-income people and communities of color who, at the same time, often lack environmental assets in their neighborhoods. The policy is designed to help ensure their protection from environmental pollution as well as promote community involvement in planning and environmental decision-making to maintain and/or enhance the environmental quality of their neighborhoods.

Through its agencies and programs, EEA works to engage environmental justice populations in environmental decision-making through expanded and inclusive outreach, to minimize health risks through targeted environmental enforcement, and to improve environmental quality in all communities through initiatives that include reduction of pollutants and emissions, remediation and redevelopment of contaminated land, and investment in urban parks and greenspace.”