Climate Resilience in Worcester
Building Resilience - Together
What is Climate Resilience?
Climate Resilience: a brief introduction
Climate resilience is the act of preparing communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems to adapt and thrive in the face of climate change impacts such as severe flooding, extreme heat and increased ice storms. Through collaborative efforts among government, businesses, and communities, we aim to enhance Worcester’s capacity to withstand and recover from these challenges.
Check out the video to the right to see how some scientists from the United Nations describe climate resilience.
Climate Change in Worcester
In the City of Worcester, like many other regions worldwide, the impact of climate change is plain.
The winter of 2023 shattered records , marking itself as the warmest and least snowy in memory. As temperatures soared, the summer that preceded clinched its own notoriety as the one of the hottest Worcester had ever experienced. Meanwhile, 2023 stands out as the fourth rainiest year on record, with its deluges leading to catastrophic flooding in neighboring Leominster.
These anecdotes are part of a larger trend. With each passing year, summers grow hotter, droughts more entrenched, and torrential rains increasingly bring the threat of flooding. Such trends underscore the urgent need for coordinated action to address the challenges posed by a shifting climate.
Urban Heat
Climate change is driving up global temperatures, and Worcester is feeling the impact firsthand. Over the past decade, we've witnessed the hottest temperatures on record worldwide, and in 2023, Worcester experienced its hottest summer ever.
This chart shows the meteorological summer (June, July, and August) temperature anomaly each year since 1880. NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin
The combination of rising temperatures and limited green spaces has intensified the urban heat island (UHI) effect in Worcester. The UHI effect refers to when cities become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings. Without ample tree coverage or green areas, urban landscapes absorb and retain heat from pavement and buildings, exacerbating the UHI effect. Such extreme heat is linked to an increased risk of heat-related illnesses. As temperatures continue to rise, the rate of people affected by heat-related diseases is expected to rise as well.
The map shows the average daily summer temperature for Worcester in 2021. Please refer to the legend to learn which areas of Worcester are generally warmer. The map was a part of the Department of Sustainability and Resilience's 2021 Heat Risk Assessment .
Drought
With extreme heat comes increased drought risks.
In 2016, the city experienced a stage III drought event that put extreme pressure on the City's water supply, forcing residents to reduce water consumption and for the City to purchase water from outside of its usual networks.
In 2022, during one of the hottest summers on record, Central Massachusetts experienced another severe drought .
It is likely that as the weather continues to get warmer drought will put an additional pressure on the City and its residents.
Flooding
Worcester has a history of extreme flooding. In 2019, the city completed a flood study that analyzed flooding complaints city-wide and evaluated where the city might see the most flooding. With an expected increased number of storms that deposit more than 2 inches of rain, the city expects that the number of reported flooding events here will increase over time.
Map: The areas on left the depict the frequency of reported flooding events from 2006-2016. The areas on the right depict possible flooding events in 2070 based on available climate change modeling. The darker areas indicate the possibility of more flooding.
Note: The data in these maps is preliminary and not based on hydrologic modeling. Modeling based on reported events is not comprehensive. The data is not meant to be used to inform resident decisions but demonstrate possible localized flooding events in the city.
Reporter shows how fast floodwater rises in Worcester during Hurricane Elsa (2021)
Icy Winter Storms
Due to the climate's warming, the number of days below freezing is expected to decrease over the next few decades, however, this doesn't mean Worcester will be out of the woods in regard to winter storms. Winter precipitation is expected to increase by 30% . The combination of more precipitation and more days hovering right around freezing is likely to lead to more ice storms or icy conditions. These, in turn, can cause slick driving conditions, increased power outages, and intense cold snaps, all of which can put stress on the City's and residents' resources.
Worcester is not standing by...
Tree canopy in Worcester
Worcester is doing what we can to combat climate change. We are committed to increasing the City's resilient infrastructure, building a city that not only meets today's needs, but works to prepare for the city's future needs.
Scroll below to see some of our past and present Resiliency Projects!
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1
Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan
In June of 2019, the City developed a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Plan which identified three main climate change hazards:
- Flooding from extreme precipitation
- Ice and Snowstorms coupled with extreme cold
- Extreme heat coupled with drought
The plan has guided the City's resilience efforts and informed how we should best prepare for more extreme weather conditions.
2
Completed Heat Risk Assessment
As identified in our MVP Plan, extreme heat is a major climate hazard in Worcester. To more efficiently plan projects to combat heat, we needed to know: how hot the City is now, where it is currently the hottest, and the impact of possible solutions.
In 2022, the City completed a heat assessment which studied Worcester's temperature changes under multiple scenarios, such as painting impervious pavement white and increasing tree canopy. The main finding is that in strategically planting 35,000 trees in dense, vulnerable areas, the City could significantly reduce extreme heat and heat-related illness.
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Green Infrastructure Projects
Between the City and private landowners more than 20 Green Infrastructure (GI) projects have been installed across the city. These projects reduce stormwater runoff, lowering storms' impacts on the City's drainage systems.
What is Green Infrastructure?
Green Infrastructure refers to installations like rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs, and bioswales. These infrastructure projects are designed to capture and infiltrate stormwater where it lands. This relieves pressure on stormwater drainage systems and can reduce flooding on residential properties.
4
Miyawaki Forests
The City received funding to plant two Miyawaki forests in Spring of 2024.
Miyawaki Forests are densely planted, multi-canopied, small (1,000 – 10,000 square feet) urban forests that are proving to be excellent, localized solutions to many sustainability and resilience problems in dense cities with little space to spare – improving air quality, sequestering carbon, increasing bio-diversity, and reducing urban heat and flooding.
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Miyawaki Forest Downtown
One Miyawaki Forest is in downtown Worcester behind the Worcester Public Library in the McGrath Parking Lot.
Scroll through the photos above to see the progressive renderings of the Forest!
The project removed impervious pavement in the parking lot and replaced it with a densely packed forest. The forest is home to more than 45 species of plants and contains 1,500+ small bare root seedlings, 2,000 trees and shrubs, plus seeds and other habitat features!
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Miyawaki Forest at Plumley Village
The second Miyawaki Forest is located in Plumley Village, an apartment complex near Lincoln Square.
Scroll through the photos above to see the progressive renderings of the Forest!
The project adds shade and seating to this area of Plumley Village. It is home to more than 55 species of plants, 2,000+ small bare root seedlings, and 2,500 trees and shrubs.
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Cool Pockets Installations
In 2024 the City received funding from the state to design two CoolPockets.
What is a CoolPocket?
A CoolPocket is a public space that will provide shady nooks for neighbors to gather, relax, and find respite from the heat island effect caused by a concentration of buildings, concrete sidewalks, and asphalt. They were designed, but not built, during this grant cycle. The City will be pursing funding opportunities to build the CoolPockets in the near future.
CoolPockets can increase the city's climate resilience by providing shade, incorporating low impact development in the designs, and increasing the number of plants in the city which offer health and carbon sequestration benefits.
We designed the CoolPockets for Vernon Hill Park (shown on map and images to right) and Columbus Park School.
The Future of Resilience in Worcester
Upcoming City Resilience Projects
The city isn't slowing down its resiliency efforts! We are prioritizing increasing the city's resilient infrastructure to work towards Worcester's goal of becoming the greenest mid-sized city in America.
In the near future, the City plans to...
University Pond in Summer
- Start implementing its first Urban Forestry Master Plan
- The plan will serve as a roadmap to proactively manage and grow the City's tree canopy and provide a shared vision for the future of the urban forest to help inspire us to care, plant and protect our trees.
- Release a Drainage & Stormwater Master Plan
- The plan will develop a comprehensive understanding of the municipal drainage system and its constraints in conveying stormwater runoff during peak events as well as identify the most vulnerable areas for future flooding. Additionally, the plan will identify high risk areas that will be good candidates for future green and grey infrastructure projects.
- Implement Green Infrastructure in Street Upgrades
- The Department of Transportation and Mobility is including green infrastructure, when possible, in upcoming street re-designs. Including green infrastructure can help with stormwater run-off and mitigate potential roadway flooding.
- Increase Interdepartmental Collaboration
- Bringing different departments together to work on projects is beneficial for the city. When departments work together, they can pool resources and knowledge. Increasing resilience in Worcester requires each project to have advocates for sustainability.
But we can't make Worcester resilient alone...
The City is hard at work, but we need your help! Join us in creating a greener, stronger future, one yard at a time! Take action today and be a champion for resilience in your neighborhood.
Yard with Native Plants
Projects to implement at home
- Rain Gardens: Transform your lawn into a sponge! If you don’t have high water table, rain gardens can be a great solution for flooding, by capturing and filtering stormwater, attracting pollinator insects, and beautifying your lawn.
- Permeable Pavers: Replace traditional pavement with permeable pavers that allow rainwater to seep into the ground, replenishing groundwater and reducing erosion.
- Native Plants: Embrace the beauty of local flora! Native plants are adapted to your region's climate and require less water and maintenance than exotic species. Plus, they provide habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
- Pollinator Gardens: Beyond just planting native plants, plant a pollinator garden. A pollinator garden is a garden that is planted predominately with native flowers and plants that provide nectar or pollen for a wide range of pollinating insects.
- Compost: Feed your lawn naturally! Compost enriches soil, enhances moisture retention, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, promoting healthier growth and resilience.
By implementing resilient infrastructure at home, you're not just enhancing your property—you're contributing to a more sustainable and resilient community.
Tell us your ideas for Resilient Solutions!
Building Community Resilience - Crowdsource Map
The City of Worcester has launched a Crowdsource Map where we want to hear where you want to put resilient infrastructure.
Check out the video to the right and add your ideas to the map below!
Worcester Resilient Solutions in the City
"Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much."
Our Planet, Our Future Mural on Main Street
Green Worcester Summit Resources
Worcester Public Library, May 11, 2024
Below are the resources and presentations from the Green Worcester Summit: Building Resilience Together.
The Green Worcester Dashboard - Read about the City's Sustainability Initiatives
Green Worcester
