So, we’ve all heard of March Madness (a month to revel in the joys and woes of everyone’s favorite college court sport), but…have you heard of MARSH Madness (a month to ‘ohh’ and ‘awe’ over the truly mind-boggling benefits that our coastal wetlands provide)? During...
Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) events are a common and concerning occurrences in the Merrimack River. CSOs occur during instances of heavy rainfall when the volume of sewage and rain exceed system capacity, causing untreated stormwater and wastewater to discharge...
On a clear and blustery day in November, we geared up and headed out to Plum Island. With buckets of loamy soil, shakers of nutrients, spades, and bundles of American beach grass, we made our way towards the ocean, stopping at the top of the sand dunes. Over the next...
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC), in collaboration with the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC), Groundwork Lawrence (GWL), and the Cities of Methuen and Lawrence, are excited to share an opportunity for the public to learn about ongoing efforts to...
MVPC has been awarded new funding in the realm of regional clean energy planning for the Merrimack Valley communities.
This year, MVPC’s Environmental Program hosted a Trails and Sails event! Trails and Sails is a free ten-day event series (9/15-9/24) put on by Essex Heritage. Community groups and organizations host different programs as part of the series to build awareness about the...
In Northeast Massachusetts, we are fortunate to have an abundance of coastline. While we often think of sandy beaches and rocky bluffs, there is a diversity of habitats that make up our coastal ecosystem. Vegetated sand dunes, salt marshes, and coastal shrublands...
Heavy rain last Tuesday (8/8/23) caused significant flooding across eastern Massachusetts, with communities in the Merrimack Valley region experiencing among the highest rainfall totals in the State. Impacts from the storm have been widespread with damage to vehicles,...
In June, the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment held their 2023 Visionary Award Ceremony. The Gulf of Maine Council is an international collaboration first created in 1989 by the governments of Maine, Massachusetts, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, and Nova...
Water Quality in the Merrimack River The Merrimack River is a coveted natural resource, connecting and defining communities throughout Northeastern Massachusetts. The river serves as a source of cultural, ecological, and recreational value for all who engage in its...