Cochichewick Brook Area Flood Study and Management Plan

Background

In 2024, the Town of North Andover was awarded a grant from the Commonwealth's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant Program.  The award, coupled with in-kind and cash matches from the Town, enabled the Town to hire engineering firm Apex to develop a study of the Cochichewick River area, in order to better understand its vulnerability to flooding and how to better prepare for future major rainfall events.

CLICK HERE to view the final Floodplain Management Study and related appedices.

Management Study Cover

Why Did the Town Undertake this Study?

In August of 2023, the Town experienced two major rainfall events - six inches of rain in six hours and three inches of rain in two hours - which led to major flooding in the Davis and Furber Mill Complex area, and nearly $30 million in damages to area homes and businesses. Climate change has led to more frequent and more intense rain events such as this. In order to better prepare for such future events, the Town wanted to better understand its vulnerability to flooding in this area with many dense residential neighborhoods and businesses, and how to best protect itself going forward.

Where is the Cochichewick River?

The Cochichewick River, also known as Cochichewick Brook, is a 1.6-mile-long (2.6 km) stream in North Andover, that drains water from Lake Cochichewick into the Merrimack River.  The path of the River, shown in the image below, runs from an outfall from Stevens Pond, to a series of ponds - East Mill Pond, Osgood Pond, and Sutton Pond - until it outflows into the Merrimack River.

Path of Cochichewick River

Cochichewick River Path
  1. 1 2yr 24hr Flood Extents

Project Timeline

Starting in September of 2024, the Town's project team, consisting of staff from the Community Development, Conservation, and Public Works Departments, began working with the team from Apex.  Since then, the following has occurred:

1.  The Town shared numerous documents and data with Apex to assist its team with an initial understanding of the project area.

2.  Apex conducted a series of field investigations and had installed data loggers along the path of River.  Click here to see initial field notes.  A map to the right shows where the data loggers were located during the study period.

3.  On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, the Town hosted a public forum to discuss this project, reveal initial findings, and provide an opportunity for public feedback and questions.  A video recording of the forum can be viewed to the right of this section →.

4.  Apex utilized the data it received from the loggers, field observations, and historical data, to develop hydrological models that inform how the River flows during storm events.  

5.  The final Floodplain Management Study was released in June of 2025.

Location of Data Loggers

Data Logger Locations
Questions?  Contact Andrew Shapiro: 978-688-9533 or ashapiro@northandoverma.gov