Below, find a brief profile on each of the five communities – Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, and Sharon – including local waterways, land uses, population demographics, and Environmental Justice communities.
To date, all five communities have engaged in climate related hazard planning and Foxborough has adopted by-laws to address stormwater. Easton, Norton, and Mansfield have all completed Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Plans and Foxborough and Sharon are in the process of completing theirs. Hazard Mitigation plans are also a consideration. All these existing plans are a resource for identifying regional NBS projects that could be prioritized through this process.
Common issues from these existing plans include:
- Warmer average Temperatures
- Longer, hotter summers
- Greater extreme precipitation events
- More frequent flooding/drought
- Groundwater quality/quantity challenges (PFAS)
- Managing drinking water supply
Potential NBS projects pulled from these sources can be put into four broad categories:
- Water Supply and Drought Resilience
- Flooding, Stormwater, Dams, and Culverts
- Forests, Habitats, and Invasive Species
- Public Health and Emergency Preparedness