Briggsville Water District & Town of Clarksburg: Land Acquisition and Tank Engineering for Flood and Drought

FY24 MVP Action Grant led by Briggsville Water District: This project acquired land to relocate its water storage tank out of the 100-year floodplain and advance designs large enough for drought resilience.

Project Details

Project Title

Briggsville Water District Land Acquisition for Flood and Drought Resilience

Municipality

Briggsville Water District

MVP Region

Berkshires & Hilltowns

Award Year

FY2024

Grant Award

$48,150

Project Length

One Year

Community Overview

• What is the population size of your community and where is it located?   
  • 1,657 
• Do you have any Environmental Justice or other Climate Vulnerable communities?  
  • Clarksburg does not have any designated EJ communities. Over 19% of the population lives below the poverty line, 21.8% are over the age of 65, and 18% are youth.  
• Other unique traits of your municipality like who the top employers are, geography, history, etc. 
  • Clarksburg is mainly a residential community with few businesses, nonprofits or other community centers. The economy was built on the Briggsville Mill for which the area of Town around the North Branch of the Hoosic River derives its name. The Briggsville Dam was removed in 2011, the largest dam removal in the state at that time. Currently the area is serviced by a small drinking water system that pulls water from the Red Mill Spring.

Project Description and Goals

• Where was the project located?
  • This project was located on River Road and East Street in the Briggsville area of Clarksburg, MA along the North Branch of the Hoosic River.
• What climate change impacts did the project address?
  • Inland Flooding and Drought.
• What were the specific goals and tasks of the project?
  • The goal of this project was to ensure flood and drought resiliency of the Briggsville Water District pump and storage tank by purchasing land upland of the current pump location in order to relocate and construct an upsized tank in the future. The main tasks of this grant was to acquire the land, conduct public outreach to Briggsville rate payers and Clarksburg residents, and consider restoration opportunities for the existing tank site once the new tank is constructed.
• Did your project meet the goals:
  • The project met its goal of purchasing a 2.6-acre parcel upland of the existing pump, which will be the future site of a newly engineered storage and pump facility. The site is estimated to be 400 square feet, with the remaining acreage now protected from future development, thereby protecting existing habitat and wildlife. Additionally, the Water District is working with the Town to attach 2 additional parcels currently in tax title to this site, which will increase the parcel to 3 acres. Although the water district serves a limited portion of the town, the preservation of the land and the addition of publicly accessible trails offer indirect benefits to the broader community by enhancing green space and recreational opportunities. This land acquisition aligns with nature-based solutions by maintaining the ecological integrity of the land and contributing to climate resilience.  
  • Additionally, the project supports climate vulnerability mitigation for over 21% of adults aged 65 and over. By securing a reliable water source, we enhance the resilience of these vulnerable populations to drought conditions.

Results and Deliverables

• Describe, and quantify (where possible) project results (e.g. square footage of habitat restored or created, increase in tree canopy coverage, etc.).  Report out on the metrics outlined in your application.
  • Engaged with over 50 residents at the 225th Town Anniversary Event  
  • Purchased 2.6-acre parcel  
  • Provided updates at 7 public meetings  
  • Provided direct mailer to 40 households in the water district

Lessons Learned

• What lessons were learned as a result of the project?
  • In a small town, outreach and public events are limited and sometimes scarce. We initially believed that public outreach could be incorporated with another MVP project, “Four Corners” focused on flooding at the Town Field. However, given the complexity of the Four Corners project, there was not enough time and space at events to give the Briggsville Water District Land Acquisition project full attention, diluting the focus and impact of outreach efforts. The water district only serves a subset of the town (10%), which made maximizing outreach at existing events challenging, as the information did not directly apply to a large portion of attendees. In the future, direct mailers will be a more effective method for targeted outreach.
  • We also faced capacity challenges typical of small towns, where members often serve on multiple boards and committees. This multi-role engagement limited the time and resources available to meet all deliverables as anticipated. While we successfully managed the project and achieved our primary goal of land acquisition, these capacity constraints highlighted the need for an equitable approach to grants and projects for small rural towns, which do not have resources similar to those of large municipalities. These capacity constraints highlighted the need for tailored support and resources for small towns or committees to help them effectively meet their project goals.
• What is the best way for other communities to learn from your project/process?
  • Contact Carl McKinney, Chair of the Briggsville Water District Board at [e-mail]. 

Partners and Other Support

• Berkshire Regional Planning Commission assisted the Briggsville Water District in grant administration and outreach.