Water-Wise Whately Winter 2023
This plan was developed as the oscillation between extreme precipitation and drought in recent years has begun to palpably affect the town and its stakeholders, and water resources are once again brought to the forefront of the collective mind. While specifically addressing the expressed interest in ecological effects by the Whately Climate Resilience Plan Committee, this plan also considers the possible social factors that may affect Whately in the future, and the interconnected implications that lie at the confluence of climate change and development for the human and nonhuman communities of Whately, its watersheds, and beyond.
Ervin, Ozawa, Neukirch
A small town known for its fertile agricultural soil and beautiful rocky, brook-laden hills, Whately is the very essence of pastoral Massachusetts. Being a small, rural town can result in vulnerabilities, however; incidents like contamination of the aquifer source for private wells in East Whately in 1984 continue to inform the concerns and values of residents to this day. Whately adapted quickly in response to this emergency and has directed much attention in the years since to plan for and mitigate the impacts of other hazards on residents, workers, and infrastructure.