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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...

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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...

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Restoring Seagrass in Coastal Waters

Restoring Seagrass in Coastal Waters

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...

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Flooding- State of Emergency Declared

Flooding- State of Emergency Declared

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,...

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Peter Phippen Receives Gulf of Maine Visionary Award

Peter Phippen Receives Gulf of Maine Visionary Award

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...

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Merrimack River Collaborative

Merrimack River Collaborative

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...

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Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning

Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning

MVPC has kicked off the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update process with ten communities in the Valley! Hazard mitigation planning is the process of reducing regional vulnerability to natural hazards through comprehensive planning that protects and bolsters our...

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Great Marsh Resiliency Task Force Annual Meeting

Great Marsh Resiliency Task Force Annual Meeting

The Great Marsh Resiliency Task Force, co-chaired by Senator Bruce Tarr and organized by MVPC’s Peter Phippen, convened for the 10th time at their annual meeting on January 27th, 2023.  This year, the speakers covered a broad range of topics, presenting on a diversity...

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