Boston Globe Media reposted this
NEW: Thousands of culverts and bridges in Massachusetts are too small to handle more intense rainstorms in a warming climate. But one innovative (if labor intensive) effort in the Berkshires is working to fix that! I followed along as volunteers climbed around in stream beds and inside of old pipes to record the measurements necessary to fix these pieces of critical stormwater infrastructure that support roadways. At least half of our culverts and small bridges are either structurally unsound, too small, or block wildlife from passing through. The scale of the problem is huge and financing little. But New Englanders have already seen what happens when stormwater infrastructure is overwhelmed: floodwater carves new paths through residential properties, damaging buildings and inundating basements. Road blowouts paralyze movement for days and pose a hazard to public safety. Here's how environmental groups in Massachusetts are working with local communities to slow down the destructive power of stormwater— and restoring ecosystems in the process! https://lnkd.in/gpfuj-bu #climate #climateresilience #stormwater #stormwatermanagement #climatechange #nature #ecosystem #newengland #localnews #environment #environmentjournalism #climatejournalism #infrastructure #climateadaptation #stormwaterinfrastructure #civilengineering #engineering #municipalfinance
