AMHERST — Amherst and South Hadley are among six Massachusetts communities receiving technical assistance from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to improve stormwater management and advance environmental justice in the face of Earth’s changing climate.

“Stormwater management has become critical in the effort to prepare municipalities for the effects of climate change,” Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman said in a statement.

Over the next year, Amherst DPW staff will work with the EPA, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and consultant Horsely Witten to incorporate cost-effective green infrastructure into the town’s stormwater management planning.

According to its application, South Hadley is interested in learning about various cost-effective green infrastructure options that are easy to install, increase resilience and improve water quality in receiving waters. Among the work will be dealing with challenges related to nitrogen pollution from stormwater.

Beth Willson, environmental scientist with the Amherst DPW, said staff will learn about nature-based, or green, infrastructure options that will increase resiliency to flooding caused by climate change, and improve the town’s ability to treat stormwater to improve the water quality of rivers and streams.

Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Amy Rusiecki said the money will mean tangible solutions to build climate resilience.

The only other community in western Massachusetts getting technical assistance is Chicopee, with Milford, Somerville and Stoughton also advancing environmental justice for disadvantaged communities within the Connecticut River, Charles River, Mystic River and Neponset River watersheds.

“Communities, especially overburdened ones, should not worry that when a storm hits, flooding could fill their basement. They also should know that storm runoff won’t dump nutrients in their lakes, ponds, and rivers and cause unhealthy algal blooms.” EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash said in a statement, adding that everyone should have opportunity to safely play in the rivers and seas. “For environmentally overburdened and under-resourced communities, it is especially important to address stormwater runoff challenges to improve water quality.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.