Natick is a big winner with the latest state climate change funding, which totaled $21M in grants to dozens of communities.
As a member of the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant program, Natick and its partners are eligible for such monies.
Natick, Ashland and Framingham scored $127K for their Building Relationships and Resilience with MetroWest Environment Justice Neighborhoods effort. The MetroWest Climate Equity Project, as it is also known, seeks to reduce the social, environmental, and economic vulnerabilities in these communities.
Separately, Natick is among 19 communities working with the Charles River Watershed Committee on the Building Resilience Across the Charles River Watershed Phase II program, which netted $233K through the grant initiative. This effort is designed to improve the watershed’s ability to prepare for severe flooding from climate change.

This team recently worked on the Charles River Flood Model, a predictive tool. It’s important for communities to work together since decisions made in one town or city, such as regarding the South Natick Dam, will affect those upstream and downstream.
Dam update
Speaking of the South Natick Dam, the Charles River Dam Advisory Committee will be meeting online on Sept. 2, from 4-6pm to discuss public input on this issue.
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