Programs and Projects
Municipal Assistance

IRWA provides technical assistance to help communities undertake habitat restoration projects at town-owned bridges, culverts, and dams.

We can assist municipal managers in designing policies and programs to promote water conservation, stormwater management, and low-impact development. We can also help municipalities identify funding sources for watershed protection and river restoration activities.

IRWA has developed Water Wise Communities - A Handbook for Municipal Managers in the Ipswich River Watershed. Water wise communities are cities and towns that recognize that wise management of water resources is essential to quality of life, economic opportunity, and ecological health.  The handbook provides a checklist of 20 planning, regulatory, economic, infrastructure, and outreach tools that communities can use to manage water resources and restore the Ipswich River.  Fact sheets provide an overview of each tool, local examples to illustrate its application, and links to additional resources.

In November 2005, IRWA held the second River Restoration Conference, which focused on highlighting water conservation and low-impact development opportunities to municipal officials and interested members of the public. Conference proceedings are summarized here.

In 2003, IRWA worked with Energy New England to help several towns in the Ipswich River Watershed develop water conservation plans and conduct water audits.  The work culminated in a water conservation plan for North Reading, a future demand and conservation potential report for Middleton, a rate structure assessment for Wilmington, and a water system audit to help the city of Lynn reduce unaccounted-for water.

In 2001-2002, IRWA worked with the towns of Middleton and Danvers to develop components of a source water protection plan.  The project located stormwater catchments and discharge points, recommended stormwater best management practices (BMPs) to protect the Emerson Brook Reservoir, and reviewed emergency response readiness of the water supply system.  The final report is available here.

IRWA is available to give workshops and make presentations to town boards and interested parties. For more information on IRWA’s municipal assistance program, please contact irwainfo@ipswichriver.org.