loader image
MVPC Takes Flight: Introducing our New Drone

MVPC Takes Flight: Introducing our New Drone

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Arrives at MVPC There is a fair amount to look forward to as summer approaches here at MVPC. For many of our staff, the most exciting development came on May 14th when the final pieces of our drone were acquired through the mail. The...

read more
Combined Sewer Overflows: Do’s and Don’ts

Combined Sewer Overflows: Do’s and Don’ts

Combined Sewer Overflows: Do's and Don’ts  Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) events occur when there is heavy rainfall that causes a combined sewer system to get overwhelmed, causing household sewage to be discharged into a nearby body of water. We experienced the worst...

read more
Combined Sewage Overflows: Frequently Asked Questions

Combined Sewage Overflows: Frequently Asked Questions

CSO's in the Merrimack River We experienced the worst year on record for Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) events in the Merrimack River in 2023, with over 2 billion gallons of sewage being discharged into the river, toppling the previous record of ~ 800 million gallons....

read more
Earth Day Activities

Earth Day Activities

Spring has sprung in the Merrimack Valley! As Earth Day approaches, local communities are gearing up for a celebration of our planet through a variety of efforts, and MVPC has rounded them up below for easy planning! Events...

read more
MVPC Participates in Marsh Madness

MVPC Participates in Marsh Madness

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...

read more
Record Breaking Year for CSO Discharge in the Merrimack

Record Breaking Year for CSO Discharge in the Merrimack

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...

read more
Coastal Dune Restoration on Plum Island

Coastal Dune Restoration on Plum Island

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...

read more
Spicket River Public Meetings

Spicket River Public Meetings

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...

read more
Trails and Sails in Gloucester!

Trails and Sails in Gloucester!

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...

read more