MONTAGUE, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — In order to mitigate the effects of erosion and road washouts in “The Hill” neighborhood of Turners Falls, which impacts properties, roads, and the Connecticut River, the town is utilizing a $458,750 grant award to plan and design protective measures.

“‘The Hill’ neighborhood of Turners Falls houses a significant portion of the Town’s residents and is increasingly threatened by erosion and road washouts due to changes in precipitation patterns brought on by climate change, and flooding and sedimentation impacts also reach beyond the neighborhood, threatening roads and properties below the hill, as well as the Connecticut River itself,” according to Assistant Town Administrator Chris Nolan-Zeller.

The project is aiming to take proactive measures including shoring up areas with a threat of slope failure and addressing stormwater runoff across the neighborhood.