Final Report - VHB.com

Sections 435-449). However, the river is not classified as a “Significant River” or
“Wild & Scenic River” under additional state and federal regulations.
2.3.3 Groundwater Resources
Information on groundwater resources in the form of substantial aquifers mapped by
the Maine Department of Conservation, Maine Geological Survey, was retrieved
from the MEGIS database. Substantial aquifers are defined as bodies of coarsegrained
glacial material with the potential to yield 10 or more gallons per minute
(gpm) to a properly constructed well. This analysis indicates that the Study Area is
underlain by substantial aquifers yielding 10 to 50 gpm (see Figure 2-7). Specifically,
substantial aquifers are located on both ends of transportation Strategy 1; the
southern portion of Strategy 2A from Village Drive to the Androscoggin River; the
portions of Strategy 2B from Church Road to Turner Street and Pleasant Street east of
Mill Street; the eastern end of Strategy 2C; and almost the entire rail Strategy 3.
GIS data from the Maine Department of Human Services, Drinking Water Program,
were reviewed to determine whether the Study Area is located within a designated
Well Head Protection Area or Source Water Protection Area, or if there are any
mapped public or private wells in the vicinity. The review identified a single
nontransient public water-supply system well and its associated Well Head
Protection Area. The well is located approximately 0.25 mile west of I-295 in
Topsham, within the northwest tip of Strategy 2A. A second well (i.e., community
public water-supply system), is located on Jordan Avenue in Brunswick,
approximately 500 feet southwest of Strategy 1. A Source Water Protection Area
associated with this well extends into the eastern portion of Strategy 2B and the
western portions of Strategies 1 and 3.
2.3.4 Floodplains
Information on floodplains and floodways for the transportation strategies was
obtained by reviewing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Q3 Flood
Data files for Cumberland County 1996, Sagadahoc County 1997, which were
derived from FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) (i.e., Community Panels
2300420010B, 2300420015B, 2301220012B, 2301220016B, and 2301220017B). The Q3
flood dataset provides users with automated flood-risk data that can be used to
locate Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA); the risk zones are depicted on hardcopy
FIRM. According to the Q3 mapping, portions of the Study Area are partially located
in a SFHA zone (Figure 2-8).
SFHA Zone A
Zone A is the 1-percent-annual-chance floodplains that are determined in the Flood
Insurance Study by approximate methodologies. No hydraulic analyses or Base
Flood Elevations have been determined for this zone. A small area of Zone A
Existing Conditions 48