State & Local Government

Experience Matters.

In the public sector, having the right partner makes a difference. With over 35 years of municipal and state projects, we are here to listen and collaborate. We believe in real partnerships with our clients and nature. From planning to peer review and training, we can meet your project requirements.

Projects may include Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) and resilience planning, emergency preparedness, coastal resilience and living shorelines design, dam management and analysis, tidal culvert replacements, comprehensive plans, and stormwater management.

MA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP)
MA Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) programs provide municipalities with support to plan and implement climate change resiliency projects. Clients include Newburyport, Newbury, Peabody, Brewster, Tisbury, Kingston, Taunton, Sudbury, Methuen, and Shrewsbury. Certified staff facilitate active discussions and offer expertise in natural hazard mitigation planning, emergency preparedness/response, floodplain management, ecosystem and water resources management, and municipal and environmental planning. We support project implementation and enhanced equity in the communities’ resilience activities through MVP Action Grants and MVP 2.0.
Emergency Preparedness Exercises
HW specializes in the design, development, and facilitation of customized emergency response exercises in accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program that strengthens utility preparedness and operational resilience. HW works with clients to develop realistic, scenario-based exercises that test emergency plans, command structures, communication processes, and decision-making under simulated pressure. We tailor each exercise to address utility-specific risks, regulatory requirements, and operational environments, which may include tabletop, drill, functional, or full-scale formats.
Ecological Restoration
HW works with state and federal agencies, towns, and cities to provide all aspects of ecological restoration work. Whether we are assisting the US EPA in a Wetland’s Protection Act Enforcement case under the Clean Water Act or assisting a town with a park preservation or coastal restoration project, we have qualified experts and years of experience to manage your project. Projects may include environmental mitigation, restoration of tidal flow to restricted salt marshes and salt ponds, culvert replacement, invasive species management, habitat assessment, coastal processes, and coastal restoration.
Comprehensive Planning
Our portfolio includes over a dozen plans in the New England region, as well as projects in Hawaii, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Maryland. HW’s approach begins with a comprehensive inventory of existing conditions that serves as the foundation for both analysis and public education. Our engagement process is then used to articulate a community’s values and priorities — which eventually structure the plan. Finally, an implementation plan is provided that speaks directly to the community’s priorities, incorporating best practices, science, and innovation.
Stormwater Compliance Code Audits and Stormwater Regulations
Municipal by-laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations dictate the form and density of development, which has an impact on the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff and receiving waters. Reviews of local codes can determine barriers and opportunities to implement nature-based solutions, like reducing impervious cover, installing GSI, and restoring resource areas. HW is well-versed in “green” code audits, as we have promoted these smart growth techniques for decades. Our staff not only help communities meet their permit requirements but explore meaningful code changes to enhance climate resiliency, social equity, and quality of life specific to their town or city.