CLIMATE ADAPTATION STORMWATER STANDARDS
Managing stormwater pollution.
Climate change isn’t coming…it’s here.
Communities across Massachusetts are already feeling the effects of stronger, more frequent storms. Outdated stormwater rules simply aren’t designed for today’s climate reality. That’s why local towns are stepping up to adopt progressive stormwater ordinances that mitigate flooding and prevent stormwater pollution.
We’ve gathered the best examples from these local leaders and built a set of forward-looking recommendations called our Climate Adaptation Stormwater Standards (CASS).
What is CASS?
CASS is a set of recommendations for updating stormwater bylaws and regulations that include a tiered system to capture small projects and a 100-year retention standard for large projects. By adopting these standards, towns can:
Protect residents and infrastructure from flooding.
Better meet existing nutrient reduction requirements.
Increase the capacity of the municipal storm drain system without digging up city streets.
WATER QUALITY
The Muddy River has severely degraded water quality and fails to meet State Water Quality Standards for both habitat and recreational uses. The Muddy River receives an annual grade based on bacteria levels, cyanobacteria bloom presence, and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) discharges. Since 2002, grades have fluctuated between B and F, with no improving trend. The Muddy remains the most polluted above-ground tributary in the Charles River watershed.