Hilltown Land Trust

Dedicated to protecting the working lands, native habitats and rural beauty of the Hilltowns since 1986

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Planning for a Resilient Mill River

A man looks down from a concrete and metal road bridge towards a channeled river below.
Studying the Mill River in Haydenville. Photo by Mark Costa of project partner VHB.

Last year, climate change-driven flooding wreaked havoc on homes, farms, roads, bridges, and livelihoods across the Northeast. In October, the town of Williamsburg embarked on a two-year $682,085 state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness action grant to study flood resilience in the Upper Mill River watershed. HLT is tasked with engaging the Williamsburg community and surrounding Hilltowns in this pursuit.

This MVP grant is an important piece of critical resilience planning in the Hilltowns. The grant helps us learn what the Upper Mill River watershed needs by studying the river, reviewing climate and ecological data, and talking to the community. By incorporating community knowledge, this planning will ensure more effective future infrastructure upgrades and flood interventions.

What’s our Watershed?

All the land where rainfall, streams, and rivers eventually flow into the Mill River north of the Northampton line. (That’s most of Williamsburg, plus parts of Goshen, Westhampton, Chesterfield, Ashfield, Conway, and Whately.)

So far, our team has used this grant to study:

  • Culverts and stormwater infrastructure
  • Wildlife corridors, soils, climate data, and carbon storage
  • Floodwater storage assessment
  • Outreach to boards and committees in watershed towns
  • Mapping the watershed
  • And more!

What’s coming up:

  • Indigenous consultation and site visits with No Loose Braids
  • Opportunities for public input through events and surveys
  • Ways to connect and learn more about the project online

Ways to Engage

We want you to join us as we plan for a safe, resilient Upper Mill River watershed!

Survey: Land Management for Climate Resilience in the Upper Mill River Watershed

Do you care for or own land in the Upper Mill River Watershed? We want to hear from you about your land management practices and how we can support you. Click here to send your thoughts in a survey from our project partner Dodson and Flinker.

Take the Survey
On a blue waterdrop background, turquoise and white text reads "Climate Smart Workshops at Home and Work at Meekins Library Williamsburg, MA, Saturdays, 9-10:30 am." A list of session dates reads "March 30th, Mapping Stormflows at Home and Work. April 6th, Soak Up the Rain: It’s All About the Soil. April 13th, Harvesting Rainwater: Cisterns and Rain Barrels. April 27th, Soak Up the Rain: Rain Gardens and Bioswales. May 4th, Soak Up the Rain: Porous Paving." At the very bottom, there are partner logos of Hilltown Land Trust, the Town of Williamsburg, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and Meekins Library.

Climate Smart Landscapes at Home and Work

Learn simple backyard flood interventions you can do yourself in this practical workshop series.

Saturdays 9-10:30 am @ Williamsburg Meekins Library | March 30, April 6, April 13, April 27, May 4

Mill River Flood 150th Commemoration

Williamsburg & Leeds, Saturday May 18th

Tell us how you want to get involved!

Questions? Input? Want to join us in building local resiliency? Drop us a line at sarah@hilltownlandtrust.org or call (413) 628-4485 ext. 6!

The logos of the town of Williamsburg, Mill River Greenway Initiative, No Loose Braids, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, VHB, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Hilltown Land Trust, Williamsburg residents and businesses, Dodson and Flinker, and the Anne T Dunphy School.
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