Low Impact Development (LID) Conference | Jacksonville, FL
Weston & Sampson will participate in the Low Impact Development (LID) Conference, a national conference focused on stormwater management, green infrastructure, and low impact development practices.
Alex Simpson and Janet Moonan of Weston & Sampson will be presenting a session titled “Case Studies from Massachusetts’ $100M Climate Grant Program,” sharing project examples and lessons learned from climate-focused funding initiatives supporting resilient community infrastructure.
Wednesday, March 4
Investing in LID: Case Studies from Massachusetts’ $100M Climate Grant Program
In 2017, Massachusetts enacted a funding program specifically for climate resilience, and one of the 10 priorities is employing LID. Since 2017 over $100M in grant funding from the state has supported the implementation of climate resilience and LID/nature-based solutions through this funding program. This presentation will share selected case studies from LID projects completed through this grant source. Lynn, MA has modeled an entire watershed and constructed bioretention, porous pavement, and is installing street trees for stormwater management. The city is revamping a coastal park for improved use and climate resilience. Framingham, MA has completed construction of a stream and wetlands restoration project and installation of an elevated boardwalk providing an ADA accessible path through an environmental justice neighborhood to connect community amenities and incorporate public education elements. Natick, MA has been a leader in regional and local LID, serving as the lead community for almost six years in a project that models regional flooding and identifies LID practices on a variety of scales for implementation. Natick has prioritized LID in a recent community-driven park design along a major river and at the Town’s facilities yard. Fitchburg, MA developed a monitoring and maintenance program that assesses the performance and practicalities of maintaining installed LID. The program involved training DPW staff, community groups, and STEM-focused students from Fitchburg High School. Boston has worked with local organizations and non-profits to use community-driven data to evaluate optimal locations for employing LID across the city and identified three priority corridors, now under design.
