Cambridge, MA, April 17, 2020—In the midst of an historic pandemic and deep economic disruption, some good news. Eighteen Greater Boston municipalities are working together as the Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC) to protect their people and places from a slower-moving but no less deadly crisis: climate change. Their ambitions and first 18 months of progress can be found at their newly-launched website at resilient.mysticriver.org.
“The current COVID-19 crisis only illustrates how essential it is to understand and prepare for crises that put our most vulnerable residents and workers at risk,” said Julie Wormser, deputy director of the Mystic River Watershed Association and RMC facilitator. “Our municipal staff are often-unsung heroes work to make our communities thrive in the face of unprecedented challenges, whether COVID-19 or heat waves, sea level rise and storms.”
“Now in this time of crisis, collaboration is more critical than ever,” said Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Jr. “The work of the Resilient Mystic Collaborative has led the way in showing how our combined efforts result in positive outcomes for both the environment and our communities. I want to thank our municipal and non-profit partners for their hard work and dedication to protecting our valuable resources for future generations to come.”
"The enormity of climate change, a massive risk to environmental justice communities, warrants a regional approach,” added Alex Train, Assistant Director of Chelsea’s Planning and Development Department. “Grounded in regional, interdisciplinary collaboration, the Resilient Mystic Collaborative is an innovative effort. The City of Chelsea, a community on the frontlines of climate change, is grateful to work together with our partners on the RMC. Together, the RMC is committed to furthering equity, adaptation, and genuine civic engagement to lay the foundations for a resilient region where all residents can prosper.”
Since 2018, the Resilient Mystic Collaborative has grown to 18 communities and has raised over $1.7 million for regional climate resilience projects. For example, 17 communities spanning the Upper Mystic Watershed are collaborating to apply $425,000 in state and federal funding to manage stormwater flooding on a regional scale through large green infrastructure projects. Seven communities in the Lower Mystic are partnering with large infrastructure managers to implement a $390,000 state grant to identify and manage risks from major coastal storms. Finally, social service practitioners throughout the watershed are working to identify and decrease disproportionate risks to vulnerable residents and workers in the region.
“The RMC connects people and communities,” said Chris Cook, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space for the City of Boston. “The platform facilitates collaboration on climate resilience between municipal leaders and community partners and serves as a promising development for regional solutions. It has a critical role in bringing together infrastructure managers from across the region for the Lower Mystic Vulnerability Assessment, furthering the shared vision for prepared, healthy, and resilient communities.”
The strength of the Resilient Mystic Collaborative comes from the tremendous good will and shared resources among Mystic Watershed municipalities. The steering committee is comprised of senior municipal staff and non-voting content experts. Staff from communities with more experience freely share expertise with smaller municipalities as they begin to assess their climate risks.
“I'm proud of the collaboration between Mystic communities, and the RMC's success in receiving grant funding for regionally significant projects,” said Emily Sullivan, Environmental Planner for the Town of Arlington. “Every RMC meeting is filled with productive discussion and a sense of shared responsibility for the well-being of the Mystic River Watershed--its residents, its infrastructure, and its ecology. It's clear that every RMC partner is invested in the mission and is committed to working together to improve resilience.”
“Being a member of the Resilient Mystic Collaborative has been invigorating,” said John Livsey, Town Engineer for Lexington. “I have been introduced to a number of professionals with extensive experience, knowledge and passion. This has helped my own professional growth and has benefitted the Town of Lexington and the Mystic River Watershed tremendously. What is particularly exciting about this group is the effectiveness and progress that has been made. It is not simply a discussion of good ideas, it is a group that brings those ideas to fruition, demonstrating tangible results.”
“Being part of the Resilient Mystic Collaborative has been a great benefit to Woburn,” said City Engineer Jay Corey. “The group as a whole has had great success in obtaining grants for projects throughout the region, as well as for local projects. The collaborative is a source of knowledge and a valuable resource to Woburn.”
For more information:
Resilient Mystic Collaborative: resilient.mysticriver.org
Mystic River Watershed Association: mysticriver.org
