Who Says Climate Resilience Can’t Be Fun?!

February 2026

Everyone had a fantastic time at a recent “social” highlighting the many local organizations supporting Boston’s efforts to address climate-driven flooding in its neighborhoods.

It was an excellent opportunity for the many community-based organizations supporting climate resilience to showcase their activities and network to explore future collaborations.

*The Civic Pavilion next to Boston City Hall was packed with advocates, residents, students, and others interested in learning more about and supporting climate resilience-building throughout the City.*

Climate change has already altered weather patterns, causing heavier downpours which flood streets, more severe drought, and more intense heat waves.

Many strategies can reduce the impact of these changes and make neighborhoods more resilient, and Boston’s Flood Mapping and Green Infrastructure project is aimed at implementing those strategies across the city.

The City is working hard to learn about residents’ experiences with flooding and prioritize areas with overlapping climate impacts (flooding and heat islands) and collaborate with residents on nature-based solutions that fit the needs of the community (pluralized for grammar in previous version).

Currently, the project team has identified three priority locations — in Allston, East Boston, and Mattapan.

Stormwater

Stormwater is rainwater or snowmelt that runs off hard surfaces like pavement or roofs.

This runoff picks up contaminants, including litter, chemicals, and bacteria, and flushes them directly into your local streams without filtration.

In a heavy storm, too much rain can overwhelm the storm drains and underground pipes designed to carry it away from people and property.

Green Infrastructure

“Green infrastructure” includes nature-based strategies designed to slow, spread, and sink rainwater and snowmelt to reduce both flooding and stormwater pollution.

Rain gardens, bioswales, and tree trenches help soak up stormwater—filtering it through soil and plants and helping recharge groundwater—before it reaches local water resources. Get more details.

What’s more exciting is that these strategies also help reduce local “heat island” effects, where areas with lots of hard surfaces tend to get hotter during the day and retain heat longer at night.

During heat waves, these heat islands can affect air quality and significantly impact older residents, kids, and those with respiratory conditions.

Join the movement!

Report flooded areas in Boston and fill out the survey.
Learn more about the Boston Flood Mapping project by visiting the Experience Page.
Sign up for emails to stay up-to-date on climate events around the Neponset!

For any questions, please email NepRWA Managing Director for Community Resilience, Kerry Malloy Snyder