Stormwater management, the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit, and green infrastructure can be complex issues for municipalities to tackle. The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) is helping 15 Massachusetts communities understand these issues and advance their planning efforts using funding provided by MassDEP’s MS4 Municipal Assistance Grant Program. 

At the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) next Soak Up the Rain educational webinar series, MVPC Environmental staff will be sharing their insights, experience, and lessons learned in helping communities identify and implement stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs).  MVPC will also discuss its recent efforts in developing municipal bylaws aimed at reducing stormwater impacts, and how regional collaboration can help communities move toward a more resilient future.

Introducing the webinar will be EPA Region 1’s Newton Tedder who will provide an overview of the importance and crucial steps for implementation of the MA MS4 permit’s Year 4 requirements. The Town of Natick will conclude the session by presenting a case study on how their efforts at the local level have helped the community build greener, cleaner, healthier watersheds. 

The Soak Up the Rain Webinar will be held on May 25th, 1:30-3 pm ET.  To register for this event, please click the link below, and for more information, check out the EPA’s Soak Up the Rain webpage.

Register via Zoom: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_UKDR34m4Tm6X-PHU9wOehg 

For more information about the Environment program and other stormwater management initiatives that MVPC supports, head over to our program page.