Overview
Acton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the eastern part of the state. They have a population of 24,029 people and an area of 19.9 square miles. Climate hazards present in Acton include inland flooding, severe weather, extreme temperatures, and severe winter storms.
Acton Core Team
The MVP 2.0 Core team is a group of municipal staff and Community Liaisons who work together to identify local climate resilience priorities and implement a project that supports those priorities.
Acton's Community Liaisons include representation from:
- Senior, Resident of Housing Authority, person with a disability
- Fluent Urdu Speaker, Person of Color—Pakistani
- Person of Color, fluent in Tamil, Youth
- Person of Color—Chinese American, fluent in Mandarin, Youth
- Single Parent of two boys
Acton's Core Team includes municipal representation from:
- Sustainability Director
- DPW Director
- Fire Chief
- Diversity Equity & Inclusion Director
- Conservation Agent
- Planner
- Environmental Analyst
Acton's Community Resilience Priorities
Community resilience priorities are practical actions created during the MVP 2.0 Planning Grant process. They were shaped through community input, thoughtful discussion about changing local needs, and feedback from Environmental Justice groups and other community members.
Acton, in partnership with their Core Team, identified the following priorities through the MVP 2.0 process.
| Priorities | Potential Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority 1: Community Preparedness and Engagement | 
| Potential Actions: Strengthen community engagement and awareness to ensure all residents, especially vulnerable populations, are informed of Town initiatives, programs, and resources in order to be supported during extreme weather events. | |
| Priority 2: Emergency Response, Communication, and Education | 
| Potential Actions: Strengthen emergency communication systems and response to ensure community members are well-prepared and supported during extreme weather events. | |
| Priority 3: Flooding and Stormwater Mitigation | 
| Potential Actions: Reduce flooding and enhance stormwater management to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, particularly in flood-prone areas identified in the Hazard Mitigation Plan (2024). | |
| Priority 4: Energy Resilience | 
| Potential Actions: Enhance energy infrastructure to ensure reliable, clean energy during extreme weather events and support the transition to renewable energy sources. | |
| Priority 5: Sustainable Housing and Resilient-Focused Planning | 
| Potential Actions: Support the development of affordable, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient housing to accommodate growth while minimizing environmental impacts. | |
| Priority 6: Natural Resource Preservation and Planning | 
| Potential Actions: Protect and enhance local green spaces and natural resources to support biodiversity, sustainable water management, and community well-being. | |
| Priority 7: Transportation and Mobility | 
| Potential Actions: Promote sustainable and resilient transportation options to reduce carbon emissions and enhance mobility during extreme weather events. | |
Acton's Action Grant Projects
The MVP Action Grant provides funding to communities that want to take important steps to prepare for climate change, such as dealing with extreme weather, flooding, rising sea levels, and extreme heat.
53 River Street Dam Removal (FY20)
The Town of Acton sought to produce designs, apply for permits, and perform building demolition to prepare for the removal of a historical but unsafe dam at 53 River Street. Completion of this project will allow for dam removal, and eventually, the creation of a riverside park that will highlight the historical nature of the property.
Climate Action Plan and Electrification Roadmap (FY22)
The Town of Acton and the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District: 1) developed a Climate Action Plan to reach net zero carbon emissions as quickly as possible while enhancing local resilience; and 2) developed an Electrification Roadmap, an analysis of action steps and priorities for electrification of seven key existing public buildings.
549 Main Street Water Supply & Open Space Preservation Acquisition (FY24)
This project sought to diversify the community's water supply and increase resiliency and drought preparedness by acquiring and permanently protecting the 56.8-acre parcel of land located at 549 Main Street in Acton, MA. The acquisition of this parcel will enable two bedrock wells located on the premises to be used as additional sources of water supply, increasing resilience to drought, as these wells are much less susceptible to failure and other negative impacts attributable to drought conditions than the network of shallow sand and gravel wells that currently supply water to 95% of the community. Additionally, the project sought to protect the natural resources this property offers, including a multiaged forest, freshwater wetlands, an open meadow, and two potential vernal pools. These natural resources offer priority habitat for rare species and their preservation will provide flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, and cooling shade during extreme heat in a densely populated and developed part of the community.
