LYNNFIELD — Preparations to protect the town from climate change impacts, including flooding, are underway, and town officials are gathering “vulnerability preparedness” ideas from residents.
The state awards Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant money to help cities and towns plan for climate change resiliency and implement priority projects.
During the past year, town officials worked with consultant Comprehensive Environmental Inc (CEI) to develop a vulnerability assessment and protection plan for Lynnfield.
Residents can review Lynnfield’s MVP final draft report and complete the online survey by visiting town.lynnfield.ma.us, then click Department of Public Works, and then Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness Program (MVP).
The materials can also be viewed on the Town’s Vimeo presentation (https://vimeo.com/user36270762) or by clicking the “Town Videos” icon on the Town’s website at town.lynnfield.ma.us/
The final draft concluded top town concerns in meeting climate change-related challenges include undersized/aging culverts and road flooding in multiple places including Ledge Road, Hawkes Brook and Summer Street.
Low-lying surrounding areas also face flood risk and the draft report points out that the current management plan does not include collection of real-time data of rapidly changing water levels during storm events. The report also states that the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission dam downstream from the confluence of the Saugus River and Beaverdam Brook may be “one of several factors that may be contributing to flooding within Beaverdam Brook watershed, along with beaver dams and sedimentation in drainage channels.”
Town trees in some neighborhoods pose a threat to power lines during storms and town officials agreed in preparing the study that they are worried emergency alerts may not fully reach disabled and elderly residents.
In addition, during a storm, flooding on local sidestreets may impede emergency response. The town, concluded the report, needs “formalized evacuation routes or alternative emergency response routes.”
The report also examined town buildings, concluding some Lynnfield schools are not air conditioned and vulnerable to periods of extreme heat.
To reduce flooding, the report concluded the town needs to protect undeveloped land and guide development to reduce potential consequences from loss of flood water retention.
Water supply sources need to be assessed with iron and manganese infiltration posing a threat to supply wells and water demands increasing.
New development poses water supply and quality concerns, the report noted, and water needs north of Lowell Street need evaluation to ensure adequate water for firefighting is available.
Existing environmental challenges include septic systems at risk of failure from high groundwater and Pillings Pond algal blooms.
Even with these challenges, the report concluded the town has strong climate change protections, including its 2018 Hazard Mitigation Plan; 1,663 open space and conservation land acres; strong local stormwater management policies and efforts underway to create open space residential development and tree preservation bylaws.
But the report said town officials must conduct a comprehensive resiliency assessment of the town drainage infrastructure that includes prioritizing repairs and maintenance.
It also needs to address ongoing problems, including Reedy Meadow/Beaverdam Brook management; lack of real-time data to coordinate Saugus River Dam operations; beaver dams; sedimentation of conveyance channels; brush fire risk and invasive species threats. The Lynnfield Water District is evaluating alternative water supplies and the report recommends developing a long-term town water conservation program. The report also recommends removing hazardous trees as identified by previous study and replanting.
