Community Meeting on Flooding and Culverts, March 16

Residents are invited to join the Town of Amherst for a community meeting and discussion about flooding and culverts. Dinner will be served.  Your local knowledge is crucial to help the town identify problem areas and develop plans for a resilient future.

Most flooding is caused by failing or undersized culverts, which are the pipes that enable water to pass under roads safely. Culverts that are too small can also prohibit wildlife movements which negatively impacts their survival. At this event, we will ask residents to share their experiences with local flooding and help us identify problematic culverts and road washouts. This will inform the town’s understanding of current conditions and prioritize our needs for new culverts.

This event is part of a regional project spearheaded by the Town of Amherst in partnership with Hadley, Belchertown, Pelham and Shutesbury, that aims to protect the Fort River Watershed. The Fort River Watershed Culvert Improvement & Prioritization Plan Project focuses on critical infrastructure, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship to achieve these goals:

• Improve flood resilience for the town to prevent road damage and assess safety risks.
• Improve aquatic habitat connection under roads.
• Work toward a town-wide culvert prioritization plan (all stream crossing culverts and bridges assessed for conditions and aquatic connection).

To RSVP and ask questions, please email Conservation Commission member Bruce Stedman at brucestedman1@gmail.com