On a snowy Friday morning before Thanksgiving week, communities in the Ipswich River watershed gathered at the Topsfield Fairgrounds to talk about the impacts of climate change on our public water sources and supply. Convened by Senator Bruce Tarr, the group of municipal staff, non-profit partners, and state officials has met several times since the 2016 drought to discuss paths to making the region’s water supplies more resilient and to reduce the stress on the Ipswich River. With sources of public water in the Ipswich already maxed out, these gatherings have focused on long range planning to pursue alternative sources that can accommodate future growth and the changes that climate impacts will bring to our watershed.
Duane LeVangie from the Department of Environmental Protection presented on the State’s Water Management Act Permit renewal process, followed by Anne Carroll, Director of the Office of Water Resources at the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, presented on “Climate Impacts on MA Water and State & Local Responses.”
The next meeting of the group will be in the new year.
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