NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - On Thursday, Sen. Edward Markey visited the city of North Adams to look at damage to the city’s flood chutes.

What You Need To Know

  • Sen. Edward Markey visited the Berkshires on Thursday

  • He stopped in North Adams to see the city's flood chutes

  • Sen. Markey helped secure some of the funds for the Hoosic River Flood Risk Management Study

  • Mayor Jennifer Macksey says the study is moving quickly

The flood chutes are deteriorating and suffered extensive damage after storms last summer.

“We’re seeing more of the walls tilt out and the water running behind the walls instead of in the chute," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "We also realized that because of the July 10th storm we need those flood chutes more than ever."

The town of North Adams has been conducting a Hoosic River flood risk management study the senator has helped secure funding for.

“So far we’ve been able to secure about a million and a half dollars," Markey said. "But that’s just the beginning. That’s just the deposit. We’ll get the study done and then we will try to ensure we get the construction done as well that ready’s the city for the future."

Macksey says the study is moving quickly.

“As soon as we get to the point where we’re down to a few alternatives we will be ready to share and get more community input on this," Macksey said. "It definitely has to be a community project/ And one of the end goals is to have the community enjoy the river more than it can."

North Adams’ goal for the study is not only to reduce flood risk but to have the chutes become a place for community recreation and ecosystem restoration. The hope is to have a plan tentatively selected by fall 2025.