Approximately 166 acres of the City of Holyoke are protected from flooding from the Connecticut River by a complex levee system that includes a concrete flood wall, embankments, closure structures (or “stoplogs”), and valves. In late 2024, a fire caused irreparable damage to Stoplog Structure No. 7, an opening in the otherwise continuous concrete flood wall that exists to allow a railroad track to pass through wall. This has left a 23-foot-wide opening in the levee, compromising the City’s flood protection system and putting all residents, businesses, properties, and critical infrastructure within the levee protected area in this location at risk. The levee provides protection to 280 buildings (including four critical structures), approximately 1,219 people, and nearly $310 million in property value. Additionally, the levee is a FEMA-accredited levee, which means that damage to the levee must be fixed to remain accredited. If the levee is not repaired, the City may risk their eligibility to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), potentially leaving nearly $310 million in property value uninsurable. The City of Holyoke does not have the resources to repair Stoplog No. 7. With the Stoplog No. 7 closure now inoperable and nonfunctional, the ability of the levee system to protect these residents, businesses, and critical structures is compromised. The use of state funds will enable repair the Stoplog Structure and restore the levee’s functionality.
