Lowering the Risk

Lowering the Risk: Flood Adaptation and Community Resilience in Lowell Project Overview Climate Ready Boston Projections

Lowell is famous for its functioning canal system.

10 YEAR, 24-HOUR DESIGN STORMS (INCHES)

Rainfall from storms will increase by ~1.6 inches by 2100 if high emissions continue without intervention.

7.0 in

6.0 in

5.0 in

4.0 in

3.0 in TODAY

2035

2060

2100

High Emissions Scenario (no reduction in carbon) Medium Emissions Scenario (moderate emissions reduction)

The City of Lowell is one of only a few American cities with a functioning canal system. Many Lowell residents take pride in the canal system due to its allusion to Lowell’s industrial heritage and the city’s ongoing legacy as the Venice of America. In recent years, the canals have been a huge attraction for new development and an opportunity for tourism and recreation. While the canals themselves are not prone WR ÀRRGLQJ WKHUH LV D KLJK FRQFHQWUDWLRQ RI LPSHUPHDEOH surfaces around the canal system, which puts the area at risk RI ÀRRGLQJ JLYHQ WKDW WKH IUHTXHQF\ DQG LQWHQVLW\ RI H[WUHPH weather events and precipitation are projected to increase.

The city must plan proactively for the inevitable future of more IUHTXHQW H[WUHPH ZHDWKHU HYHQWV ZKLFK SRVH D WKUHDW WR WKH city’s economic viability, the physical infrastructure adjacent to the canals, and nearby communities, particularly the more vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities. Through a Flood Adaptation Study and Community Preparedness Plan, the city can preemptively plan for the reality of climate change while also enhancing and capitalizing on the utmost value and resilience of the canal system.

/RZHOO¶V &DQDOV RႇHU WRXULVP DQG UHFUHDWLRQ

Flood Risk

Centralville Pawtucketville

Development has increased along the canals.

Downtown The Acre Belvidere

er ack Riv Merrim

Highlands

Back Central

Mother’s Day Flood of 2006 devastated the city.

South Lowell

Flood Risk Area Bodies of Water 100 Year Flood Zone 500 Year Flood Zone According to FEMA, Lowell has Flood Hazard Zones along the Merrimack in Pawtucketville, the Highlands, the Acre, Downtown, and &HQWUDOYLOOH ,Q WKH HYHQW RI H[WUHPH ZHDWKHU HYHQWV WKHVH DUHDV ZLOO EH PRVW KHDYLO\ DႇHFWHG E\ ÀRRGLQJ IURP WKH 0HUULPDFN 5LYHU Flood events are projected to increase.

Surface Permeability High

Low

:KLOH WKH FDQDOV WKHPVHOYHV DUH QRW SURQH WR ÀRRGLQJ VXUIDFHV DURXQG /RZHOO¶V &DQDO 6\VWHP KDYH ORZ SHUPHDELOLW\ LQGLFDWLQJ WKDW ZDWHU FDQQRW ¿OWHU WKURXJK GXULQJ SHULRGV RI KHDY\ SUHFLSWDWLRQ DQG ZLOO FDXVH ÀRRGLQJ DQG VWRUPZDWHU UXQRႇ

LOWELL A GREATER GATEWAY

Environmental Justice Minority Minority, Low Income Minority, Low Income, Non-English Speaking There are high environmental justice populations in the areas surrounding the Canal System, DQG WKHVH SRSXODWLRQV DUH GLVSURSRUWLRQDWHO\ DႇHFWHG E\ H[WUHPH HQYLURQPHQWDO FRQGLWLRQV

³(YHU\ GROODU VSHQW RQ ÀRRG PLWLJDWLRQ VDYHV LQ IXWXUH ÀRRG GDPDJH ´ 1DWLRQDO ,QVWLWXWH RI %XLOGLQJ 6FLHQFHV

Implementation Process

INSTIGATE

Assess City’s Goals Relating to Flood Adaptation

INVESTIGATE

IDEATE

Assess Vulnerabilities

Create Design Vision

Update Climate & Flood Projections

Draft Emergency Preparedness & Small Business Preparedness Plans

Draft & Issue RFP for Consultant Recruitment

Assess Financial Impact of Flooding

Assemble City Team

Conduct Community Outreach

Strategize Project Scope & Work Plan

ITERATE

Engage Community Through Workshops Collect Feedback

INTEGRATE

Align Vision with Existing Plans & Initiatives

Pull in Appropriate Revise Plan Based on Stakeholders Feedback Modify Zoning Code & Repeat if Needed Building Regulations

IMPLEMENT

Apply for Funding or Generate New Sources of Revenue Construct Phyiscal Interventions Educate & Update Public Regularly

Adaptation Strategies

Environmental Assessment

Economic Analysis

Physical Interventions

5HJXODWRU\ 0RGL¿FDWLRQV

Community Preparedness

The City of Lowell should begin by conducting a Flood Adaptation Study that will asses the city’s environmental vulnerabilities, evaluate the entry SRLQWV RI SRWHQWLDO ÀRRGLQJ IURP WKH 0HUULPDFN River, obtain updated climate projections, and set measurable goals that the city can target.

Currently, the area bounded by the canals FRQWDLQV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ ZRUWK of land and building value. This data does not include future development. The City should PRUH DFFXUDWHO\ TXDQWLI\ WKH SRWHQWLDO ODQG SURSHUW\ DQG VRFLDO ORVV IURP ÀRRG GDPDJH

Possible physical interventions include green infrastructure, such as bioswales, permeable VXUIDFHV VWUHHW SODQWLQJV DQG ÀRRGDEOH SDUNV as well as green building design, such as elevated mechanical systems, renewable energy sources, and green roofs.

The City of Lowell can ensure that Lowell is SUHSDUHG IRU ÀRRGLQJ E\ HQIRUFLQJ VWULFWHU EXLOGLQJ UHTXLUHPHQWV LQ WKH ]RQLQJ FRGH UH]RQLQJ LQ DW ULVN DUHDV HQVXULQJ )(0$ ÀRRG insurance compliance, and encouraging public participation throughout the planning process.

The City of Lowell should strive to educate the SXEOLF RQ WKH XUJHQF\ RI FOLPDWH FKDQJH DQG ÀRRG risk, create an emergency preparedness plan that particularly targets vulnerable populations, develop a small business preparedness program, and an early-warning system.

LOWELL A GREATER GATEWAY

Lowering the Risk: Flood Adaptation and Community Resilience in Lowell Catherine McCandless