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Northampton’s landform consists of flat floodplains mainly in the east; gentle rises throughout the municipality; and hills in the west. Flatter areas in the center and east of Northampton are easier to build on and have attracted the most development. Hills in the west are no more than 300 feet tall, with slopes over 8%.

Implications

• Hilly topography in the west has discouraged both agriculture and development. Clear-cutting slopes steeper than 5% for till agriculture in the future is not advised.

• Tree-cover on slopes over 15% in the west should be preserved, and could be used for animal forage; if tree-cover is lacking on slopes over 15%, nut and fruit trees could be planted to increase food production and help prevent erosion and damage to waterways.

• The current practice of till agriculture is appropriate in the flat Meadows and Mill River floodplains, which have slopes less than 3% slope.

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