Charles River Watershed Association
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Building Resilience Across the Watershed
Check out these interactive maps to explore projected flooding impacts across the watershed (and read more about the work behind these maps below):

  • Charles River Flood Map Results Viewer 
  • Viewer video tutorial 
  • Model development and future flood risk story map
  • Green infrastructure strategies story map

Project Overview

Climate change is a challenge the scale and breadth of which are unmatched by any other in our lifetime. Adapting to the impacts of climate change is a daunting task but many local cities and towns are already taking steps to do so. Having the best possible information on the impacts of climate change locally is critical to guiding local investment and regulatory changes. 

The fifteen communities (listed below) that are part of the Charles River Climate Compact (CRCC) teamed up to develop a Charles River  Flood Model (CRFM). The CRFM forecasts expected flooding under different climate conditions and also allows us to test flood mitigation strategies of various nature-based solutions.
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These scenarios were selected based on extensive  community input. This initiative produced both much needed technical information about where and when precipitation driven flood-risk in the watershed is expected to be exacerbated by climate change, and is providing  consistency across watershed communities in regards to how we are planning and governing for expected climate impacts, thus promoting a more comprehensive and synergistic approach. The watershed flooding model was developed by a highly-experienced team at Weston & Sampson using the software package PCSWMM. Read the full technical project report here.
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View previous project presentations:
Project overview webinar - January 2021
​Project results presentation - June 2021
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​Funding for this project was provided by the 
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) action grant program which provides support for cities and towns in Massachusetts who have identified climate hazards, assessed vulnerabilities, and developed action plans to improve resilience to climate change and want to implement a priority project identified through the planning process.   

Participating Communities 
The following communities participated in this project: Arlington, Dedham, Franklin, Holliston, Medway, Millis, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norfolk, Sherborn, Watertown, Wellesley, Weston and Wrentham

At the start of the project  participating community representatives were asked: What is your primary goal(s) for the use of this model and its output?
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This model provides residents and municipal leaders better information on where and when flooding will occur. This helps local communities begin to adapt both on-the-ground infrastructure and policies and permitting procedures, supporting a data driven approach to investing adaptation resources. The CRFM assists municipal staff in protecting their citizens, especially vulnerable populations, and helps engage residents and businesses in climate preparedness and resilience efforts.
Community Engagement
This project involved extensive community engagement to help inform the modeling scenarios run during the project. Community meetings were held on Zoom due to the ongoing pandemic.

Are you a watershed resident interested in receiving updates about this project? Sign up for project updates. Get involved and help us spread the word about this community resource with this community flyer.​
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Flood Viewer Map

Questions?​

Julie Dyer Wood, Deputy Director
jwood@crwa.org 
(781) 788-0007 x225
Marianne Iarossi
Open Space Planner & Conservation Agent
Town of Natick
past virtual events
Charles River Watershed Association
41 West St. Suite 800 Boston, MA 02111
t (617) 540-5650   e charles@crwa.org

​© 2021
Donate
  • About
    • Mission
    • Charles River
    • Staff and Board
    • Employment & Internships
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Blue Cities
    • Climate Change
    • River Science
    • Advocacy
    • CRWA Projects
    • Project Resources
  • News
    • River Current
    • Press
  • Education
    • Request a Visit
    • Classroom Resources
  • Get Involved
    • Events
    • Virtual Events
    • Volunteer
  • Donate
    • Support CRWA
    • Campaign for the Charles River
    • Planned Giving
    • Financial Information
    • Shop CRWA