Williamsburg Flood Resilience Action

Resilient Williamsburg – An Action Plan for the Mill River Watershed is based on a two-year in-depth analysis that involved:

• an assessment of upland areas, including soil, habitat, and land cover (Dodson & Flinker);
• a hydraulic and hydrologic model that predicted the extent and depth of flooding with different infrastructure changes, and inventoried drainage structures, culverts, and bridges (VHB);
• conceptual stormwater control measures to mitigate water quality impacts from stormwater hotspots townwide (CEI);
• an in depth regulatory review to ascertain approaches to avoiding increased stormwater and flood impacts with new and redevelopment projects (PVPC);
• landowner outreach and facilitated local land walks with landowners, foresters, Indigenous consultants, and conservation practitioners (Hilltown Land Trust, Smith College students, Dodson & Flinker);
• and a series of community events to learn from residents, and share best practices and project findings.

PVPC coordinated project work throughout with the consulting team and with Williamsburg’s municipal leaders. The two-year project was funded through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program.