Strawberry Brook Resilient Stormwater Management & Implementation Plan

With funding from the Massachusetts MVP program, the City of Lynn retained Weston & Sampson to prepare a stormwater management and implementation plan of the Strawberry Brook watershed, which has a long history of stormwater flooding exacerbated by tidal flooding.

After collecting field data, we developed a stormwater model and modeled 24 scenarios to illustrate the effectiveness of various GI techniques that use native vegetation, soils, and other natural processes. We also conducted an urban heat island assessment and facilitated open, two-way public communication efforts with local organizations to achieve public engagement throughout the city. We presented over 230 potential GI components grouped into 23 individual projects with a relative price comparison and identified 10 prioritized actions with the potential for significant impact for reduction in flood risk, flood times, and urban heat, while also prioritizing water quality improvements and the creation of healthier public spaces.