Lowell, MA — December 10, 2025— The Northern Middlesex Stormwater Collaborative (NMSC), coordinated by the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), announces the selection of GEI Consultants to lead the hydrologic and hydralogic (H&H) modeling for Merrimack River Revive. This is a multi-phase regional initiative advancing watershed resilience, stormwater management, and climate preparedness across the Merrimack River Basin. The following communities are part of Merrimack River Revive: Andover, Bedford, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Littleton, Lowell, Littleton, Lowell, Pepperell, Tyngsborough, Tewksbury, Westford, and Wilmington.
GEI will develop a unified regional model to identify high-risk flood areas, assess critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and prioritize future green infrastructure and culvert upgrades. This work begins the next major phase of Merrimack River Revive and builds on the stormwater asset mapping, data standardization, and intermunicipal coordination completed earlier this year.
“Merrimack River Revive will give our communities the tools they need to prepare for more frequent storms, manage flooding, and protect drinking water resources,” said Jennifer Raitt, NMCOG Executive Director. “GEI brings deep technical expertise, a strong regional track record, and a clear commitment to building capacity across municipalities.”
The selection marks a significant milestone for the region. The initiative has drawn attention from state agencies, watershed organizations, and regional partners because it demonstrates how coordinated, data-driven planning can strengthen climate resilience at a watershed scale. The project is supported by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program, with matching support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and technical collaboration with the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC), and the Lowell Parks and Land Trust (LPLT)
TNC’s Resilient Land Mapping and climate datasets informed early analyses and helped shape the regional modeling approach. MRWC will train local volunteers and students to conduct field culvert assessments throughout 2026, ensuring real-world data directly supports the model’s accuracy and prioritization.
The modeling effort will run through FY27 and yield a regional prioritization strategy to guide future investments in green infrastructure, stormwater retrofits, and climate-resilient public works projects. Future phases of Merrimack River Revive will explore coordinated capital planning, nature-based solutions, and workforce development opportunities.
For more information about Merrimack River Revive, contact Meghan Tenhoff, Principal Planner – Sustainability.