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UMass Study Recommends Better Preparation For Inevitable New England River Floods

by: Henry Epp

Rivers and streams in New England will inevitably flood, and there are some low-cost steps that federal and state governments can take to help communities be better prepared. That’s the message from a recent UMass Amherst report.

Geography Professor Eve Vogel led the study, and will present the findings Friday in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Five years ago, Shelburne Falls was one of the towns hardest hit by Tropical Storm Irene. Vogel said the nature of New England rivers poses some challenges for local planning officials, and too often, washed out infrastructure is rebuilt in exactly the same place after it’s destroyed by floods.

Click the audio player above to hear Eve Vogel discuss her study with New England Public Radio’s Henry Epp.

Will A Snow Record-Shattering Winter Turn Into Spring Ice Jams?

by: Carrie Healy

This winter will eventually end — the calendar turns the page to Spring on March 19th — but the spring thaw may come even sooner. Michael Rawlins is head of the Climate System Research Center at UMass Amherst. He says when New England’s record-setting snowfall this winter melts, it may bring a host of problems.

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