Final Problem Statement

The Aberjona River was once the center of attention within the town of Winchester and provided sustenance for its people. Today the rivers watershed area has been taken over by urbanization and become contaminated by urban runoff and surrounding industrial areas. The over urbanization of the Aberjona has also lead to a lack of open space and forest area surrounding the river, preventing habitation of native species. Many native plant species have been forced out of the area due to the invasion of exotic species like purple loosestrife, phragmites and glossy buckthorn. The overall moving, straightening and channeling of the river have lead to unnatural banks not suited for denning or burrowing sites for mammals, reptiles of amphibians. Residential development and urban parks that have maintained lawns that run to the edge of the river have limited the inhabitants to warm water species because of the lack of shade cover. These aspects will be the focus of the flood mitigation projects along the Aberjona River. The flooding issues will be apprehended using sustainable approaches such as flood water collection and reuse strategies. In the end the Aberjona will become the center of attention once again in the town of Winchester, and become a viable riparian habitat connecting to surrounding wildlife areas.