Lowell outlines hazard-mitigation, climate-resilience work; council votes to include sustainability director on public project design

Catherine Moses, sustainability director for the city of Lowell, told the City Council Environmental and Flood Issues Subcommittee on Jan. 14 that the city's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) plan and its hazard mitigation plan are central to winning federal and state resilience grants and guiding local projects such as Clay Pit Brook and the St. Louis Sponge Park.

Moses said Lowell's MVP process began in fiscal 2020 and produced a master plan that identified 21 areas of vulnerability, prioritized actions, and enabled the city to compete for grants. "One of the things that you're able to do once you are a certified MVP community by having the plan in place is you can apply for competitive grants," Moses said, noting Lowell has received three competitive action grants through the MVP program.

The overview framed why the work matters: updating the hazard mitigation plan, accessing federal programs and using nature-based solutions to reduce flood and heat risks across neighborhoods with concentrated vulnerability. "We're very excited to get started with [FEMA] technical assistance," Moses said, describing no-cost federal help the city secured to develop competitive applications for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant and other federal funding.

Nut graf: Lowell officials said the MVP/HMP work is designed to reduce flooding and urban-heat risks, strengthen aging stormwater infrastructure, and position the city to win federal dollars needed for large projects. Key local priorities mentioned were Clay Pit Brook culvert improvements, an urban-forest master plan to address tree inequity, and a multi-phase St. Louis Sponge Park intended as both local mitigation and a demonstration for surrounding communities.

Subcommittee members pressed for details and implementation steps. Councilor Robinson asked for the location and status of Clay Pit Brook work; Moses said a master plan and partial design exist, and the engineering division is advancing fuller designs, including identified vulnerable culverts such as the Stockbridge culvert. Moses said the FEMA technical assistance will help combine those local plans into applications likely to be competitive for BRIC and similar federal funds.

Councilor Robinson and others urged use of permeable pavement, shaded and solar-covered recreational courts, and green parking areas to reduce heat islands and stormwater runoff. Moses acknowledged such measures are promising but said implementation requires site-by-site analysis because of maintenance, winter salting, and integration with existing infrastructure.

Councilor Yam (identified in the meeting as a participant) and others raised tree loss at the reservoir and the need to replace canopy consistent with the urban-forest plan. Moses said the reservoir is considered critical infrastructure and is part of the hazard mitigation assessment; replanting plans are aligned with recommended climate-resilient species and the city participates in programs that supply free trees to residents who commit to watering them.

On home-level measures, Moses described an energy-navigation pilot with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center called the Home Modernization Navigator, and the city's efforts to connect residents with Mass Save incentives. She noted the city employs a full-time energy advocate, Victor Vargas, whom she said helps residents access Mass Save and federal incentives and navigate questions about weatherization, heat pumps and solar. Moses provided his contact information during the meeting: phone 978-674-1408 and email v.vargas@lowmadot.gov.

The subcommittee also discussed alerting residents to high river levels along the Merrimack River and coordination with public-safety departments for emergency response. Moses noted that the hazard mitigation plan assesses critical infrastructure and possible vulnerabilities but did not propose a specific alert system at the meeting; members asked for a later informational update on that and other topics.

Before adjourning, Councilor Mercia moved that "any public project" in the city include Moses in the design process. Councilor Robinson seconded. A roll call recorded votes of Yes from Councilor Belanger, Councilor Robinson and Councilor Johnson; the clerk confirmed the motion passed. The subcommittee asked Moses to prepare an informational report and recommendations for the full council.

Ending: Moses told the subcommittee she would provide a more detailed informational report and recommended actions for the full City Council, and members signaled support for continuing to pursue federal and state grants and technical assistance to implement the MVP and hazard-mitigation priorities.