Waterville Climate Resilience Survey

The Town of Waterville is adding a Climate Resilience Element into its Comprehensive Plan (planning document) in response to a state law passed in 2023. The new element will include goals and policies that help guide the community with climate intensified natural hazards.

WHAT IS CLIMATE RESILIENCY

Climate resilience “is the ongoing process of anticipating, preparing for, and adapting to changes in climate and minimizing negative impacts to our natural systems, infrastructure, and communities.” Increasing climate resilience means enhancing communities ability to understand, prevent, adapt, and recover from climate impacts to people and infrastructure.

The climate resilience goals and policies will focus on preparing Waterville to adapt to rising temperatures, smoke from wildfires, more intense storms, and flooding, which are all natural hazards that are becoming more frequent and intense due to a changing climate and changing weather patterns.

PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK

1.What zip code did you live in?

2.What is your primary mode of transportation?

3.What language(s) do you speak?

4.What community do you work in?

6.How concerned are you about extreme weather and climate change impacts in Waterville?

Not concerned

Slightly concerned

Somewhat concerned

Moderately concerned

Extremely concerned

8.When do you think extreme weather and climate change impacts will be a major problem here in Waterville?

It is a problem now

It will be a problem soon (next 5 years)

It will be a problem in the future (5 to 20 years)

It will be a problem for the next generation

Never

12.What types of resources or support would help you prepare for and respond to climate hazards?

Financial assistance

Emergency preparedness training

Community support networks

Access to real-time information and alerts

Improved Town policies and procedures

Other

13.What barriers prevent you from preparing your home or business for extreme weather? (for example: lack of financial resources, lack of information, confusing permitting processes)

14.Do you feel you have adequate access to resources (for example: cooling centers, emergency alerts, backup power) during severe weather events?

Yes

No

15.Which community assets do you feel are most at risk during extreme weather events? (for example: local hospitals, public transit, roads, small businesses)

16.Are there specific populations or neighborhoods in our community that you believe are disproportionately affected by climate impacts?

17.Please elaborate on any answers above, including providing your personal stories and lived experiences.

18.What is the most important action our community can take to become more resilient to climate change?

19.What types of improvements or policies would you support to increase resilience to climate impacts?

Preparing for climate hazards and extreme weather impacts (example – emergency response actions)

Protecting and enhancing ecosystems (example – parks, open spaces, trees, stream restoration

Conserving natural resources (example – protect agriculture, forests, water resources, wildlife

Sustainable land use planning to enable fair and equal access to goods, services, and employment and account for climate risks (example – access to public transit, medical services, parks, zoning restrictions

Environmental justice and social equity initiatives (example – access to affordable heating and cooling, air filters, water filters)

Investing in transportation and infrastructure upgrades (example – shaded bus stations, shaded parks, stormwater infrastructure)

Other

Waterville Climate Resilience Survey

Waterville Community SurveyClimate Resilience Element

Waterville Community Survey

Climate Resilience Element