Town Of Norton: Canoe River Aquifer Project Public Workshop - Wednesday, September 29, 2021, From 6-7:30 Pm At The Edith Reed Conservati ...

Press release from the Town of Norton:

September 17, 2021 - 11:20am

Canoe River Aquifer Project Public Workshop to Select Projects that Protect Water Quality and Support Climate Resiliency The Canoe River Aquifer is an underground source of drinking water, the only viable source for over half the people in Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, and Sharon. The Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Network works with these communities to identify and champion up to ten Nature-Based Solution projects in the Canoe River Aquifer area to protect this critical drinking water source and prepare the region for climate change. Public input is vital in selecting these projects, and SNEP (along with the five towns) is reaching out to residents to understand their concerns around these issues. On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, a public workshop will be held from 6-7:30 pm at the Edith Reed Conservation Land Environmental Center, 79 North Worcester Street in Norton. Public health protocols will be followed, and attendees must wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. Opportunities are available to be outside for small group discussions (bug spray will be available!). Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) use carefully designed landscapes, rather than pipes and drains, to filter polluted stormwater before it seeps back into the aquifer. NBS can be as complex as newly constructed wetlands or as simple as a small rain garden or newly planted trees. NBS not only helps keep our water clean but also reduces flooding, cool and clean the air, and minimizes development and climate change impacts. Through the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, three out of the five towns have collectively identified over 300 localized projects to address the impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Hearing from residents will help the project team understand residents' issues in their neighborhoods and prioritize projects that can offer multiple benefits and have the most significant impact. A Steering Committee leads the Canoe River Aquifer Project with representation from Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, and local community groups, nonprofits, and interested citizens. An extensive public engagement process will help SNEP, and the five communities select projects that demonstrate regional collaboration, prioritization, and support, giving them the leverage needed to secure funding and shepherd them through to final design and construction. To learn more about SNEP and the Canoe River Aquifer Project, visit https://snepnetwork.org/taunton-river-watershed/. For more information about the public workshop, contact Krista Moravec at kmoravec@horsleywitten.com. *The SNEP Network is a project of the New England Environmental Finance Center. This project has been funded, in whole or in part, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeast New England Program.

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This press release was produced by the Town of Norton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.