Climate Resilience

Nature-based Solutions for Drought

Municipal Officials & Professionals

Backyard & Neighborhoods

Land Managers or Stewards

Youth, Parents & Teachers

A successful plan to reduce drought conditions in your community should involve both the implementation of shovel in the ground projects as well as long range planning for water conservation, land protection, bylaws and zoning regulations, and education/advocacy. This is true in planning for long-term droughts, as well as “flash” droughts that occur in a short period of time when very high temperatures combine with lack of precipitation. There are two main strategies that will help with the reduction of drought conditions, and each has associated Nature-based Solutions. Note that many NbS for drought also help to reduce flooding.

View current drought status in MA and current drought status in NH. Also see these two sites for action recommendations based on drought status:

Commonwealth of MA Drought Status and Action Recommendations

State of NH Drought Status and Action Guidance

Nature-Based Strategy 1:

Infiltrate Stormwater

Allow stormwater to soak into the ground where it has fallen rather than running off the landscape.

Nature-based Solutions

Maintain moisture in topsoil
Store groundwater (absorbs into surrounding soils during droughts)
Raise water levels for tree root access
Rain gardens
Porous pavements
De-paving
Soil restoration
Amend soils in lawns

Nature-Based Strategy 2:

Plant Resilient Landscapes

se plantings to reduce soil moisture loss and select plants that are tolerant of periods of low precipitation.

Nature-based Solutions

Plant deep rooted grasses
Use drought tolerant plants/turf varieties
Convert lawns/turf to meadows
Use low groundcovers to prevent loss of water to evaporation
Use “no dig” planting methods to reduce soil moisture loss

Site Studies: Drought

Drought tends to be a less visible issue in our communities as the onset does not involve a sudden impactful event, like flooding, rather it builds over time and tends to draw attention only once it has moved to a serious status level. This collection of case studies identifies specific sites in each focus community that are prone to drought. Each Site Study includes a map with site-specific NbS recommendations, a link to the site on an interactive DataViewer, and Nature-based Solutions Project Templates for the recommended NbS. Maps in our Nashua River Watershed-wide Map Atlas can also be useful in looking at topics like land cover that may increase the risk of drought-related issues. We encourage you to further explore additional sites and solutions through each town-specific NbS Recommendations Report (links below).

Ashburnham

Site Study: High Street/Cushing Street

Fitchburg

Site Study: Greene’s Pond

Groton

Leominster

Pepperell

We would also encourage you to look at the 2025 MVP project being conducted by Townsend, “Climate Resilience Drainage Masterplan”, in which NRWA is a supporting partner.

Long range efforts to address reducing the impacts of drought

Protect, plan, educate, and advocate

Develop water conservation restrictions
Restore and protect wetlands
Plant resilient landscapes using drought tolerate plants
Facilitate stormwater infiltration with rain gardens, porous pavement, soil restoration to increase groundwater reserves
Educate about water conservation
Publicize drought status including action recommendations