A Watershed Management Plan sets up priorities for implementing projects that improve the APC and Nemasket; a Climate Action Plan extends the strategies under consideration to meet future conditions.
A Watershed Management and Climate Action Plan for the APC and Nemasket River will lay out the key strategies for balancing the complementary, though sometimes competing, functions of the APC and Nemasket River, especially in the areas of water supply maintenance, floodwater management, stormwater infiltration, habitat enhancement, and recreational access.
Whereas a traditional watershed management plan would contextualize recommendations in current watershed conditions, the Climate Action Plan component will add in an evaluation of watershed needs based on anticipated future climate change scenarios.
The plan will be designed to incorporate problem statements, goals, strategies and benchmarks of success for both existing conditions and issues and anticipated climate conditions in 2050 (assuming a high emissions scenario). Plan recommendations will include engineered and nature-based solutions for near-term and long-term floodwater mitigation, improved water quality, and consistent water supply in the APC as climate change occurs.
