Flood of October 1996 in Southern Maine by Glenn Hodgkins and Gregory J
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Flood of October 1996 in Southern Maine by Glenn Hodgkins and Gregory J. Stewart U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4189 Prepared in cooperation with the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY uses Augusta, Maine science for a changing world 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bruce Babbitt, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Mark Schaefer, Acting Director For additional information Copies of this report can contact: be purchased from: Chief, Maine District USGS Information Services U.S. Geological Survey Box 25286 26 Ganneston Drive Denver, CO 80225 Augusta, Me 04330 Telephone: (303) 202-4200 Telephone: (207) 622-8201 CONTENTS Abstract 1 Introduction 1 Purpose and Scope 1 Acknowledgments 2 Antecedent Hydrologic Conditions 2 Streamflows 2 Rainfall 2 Storm Characteristics 2 Rainfall Amounts 4 Rainfall Frequency 5 Description of Flood 6 Peak Water-Surface Elevations 6 Peak Flows 6 Peak-Flow Frequency 20 Extrapolation of Peak-Flow Frequency 21 Reservoir Storage 22 Flood Damages 23 Historical Perspective on Flood 23 Historical Peak Flows 24 Historical Peak Water-Surface Elevations 25 Summary and Conclusions 26 References Cited 27 FIGURES 1. Map showing location of study area and selected points 3 2. Graph showing daily rainfall totals from September 1, 1996 to October 19, 1996 at Portland International Jetport 4 3. Graph showing cumulative rainfall from October 20-22, 1996 at Portland International Jetport 5 4. Photograph showing aerial view of Presumpscot River at Route 302 in Westbrook, Maine on October 22, 19967 5. Photograph showing Presumpscot River at Route 302 in Westbrook, Maine on October 22, 19967 6. Photograph showing flooding at Winona Avenue in the Ocean Park area of Old Orchard Beach, Maine on October 22, 1996 8 7. Photograph showing Stroudwater River at Saco Street in Westbrook, Maine on October 22, 19968 8. Photograph showing Cascade Brook (Stuart Brook) at Old Blue Point Road in Scarborough, Maine on October 22, 1996 9 9. Map showing total rainfall isolines and location of sites where peak water-surface elevations were determined for October 1996 southern Maine flood 10 Flood of October 1996 in Southern Maine USGS WRIR 97-4189 jjj 10. Map showing total rainfall isolines and location of sites where peak flows and recurrence intervals were determined for October 1996 southern Maine flood 19 11. Graph showing relation between recurrence interval of peak flows and basin-average rainfall for October 1996 southern Maine flood 22 12. Graph showing Crippen and Bue region 1 envelope curve with data from October 1996 southern Maine flood 25 TABLES 1. Peak water-surface elevations for October 1996 southern Maine flood 11 2. Peak-flow data for October 1996 flood and previous floods in southern Maine 18 3. Recurrence intervals, exceedance probabilities, and peak flows for the Presumpscot River at the S. D. Warren bridge in Westbrook, Maine 20 4. Elevation and usable storage data for Sebago Lake 23 5. Significant historical peak flows on the Presumpscot River in Westbrook, Maine 24 6. Flood flows that defined Crippen and Bue region 1 envelope curve 25 7. Historical peak water-surface elevations on the Presumpscot River in Maine 26 CONVERSION FACTORS Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in) 25.40 millimeter foot (ft) 0.3048 meter mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer Area square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer Volume cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter Flow cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second VERTICAL DATUM In this report, all elevations are referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada. It was formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929. jV Flood of October 1996 in Southern Maine USGS WRIR 97-4189 Flood of October 1996 in Southern Maine By Glenn Hodgkins and Gregory J. Stewart ABSTRACT Documented flood data are valuable to many people. Peak flows, recurrence intervals of peak flows, and Up to 19.19 inches of rain were recorded in southern peak water-surface elevations (associated with the peak Maine from October 20-22, 1996. This rainfall caused flows) are used to establish, assess, and verify the severe flooding that resulted in one death, damage to accuracy of Federal Emergency Management Agency more than 2,100 homes and businesses, and the (FEMA) flood insurance study 100-year and 500-year destruction of bridges and dams in 8 communities. floodplain limits and flood profiles. These flood Peak flows, with estimated recurrence intervals of insurance studies are used to promote sound flood plain greater than 500 years, were recorded on 3 streams. management by local, State, and Federal officials. The peak flow on the Presumpscot River in Westbrook, Flood information is also important in the design of Maine was 68 percent larger than any other flow at that hydraulic structures (such as bridges, culverts, and location in the last 102 years. dams), helping to ensure the safety and cost effectiveness of the structures. This report provides a detailed description of the October 1996 flood in southern Maine. It presents peak streamflows for 13 sites, peak-flow recurrence intervals Extraordinary amounts of rain fell in southern Maine for 12 of these 13 sites, and peak water-surface from October 20-22, 1996. Record-breaking elevations for 74 sites; describes hydrologic conditions streamflows and consequent flooding caused one death, prior to the October 20-22 storm; provides a method damage to more than 2,100 homes and businesses, and for estimating the recurrence intervals of peak flows at destruction of bridges and dams in 8 communities. The sites where peak flows were not determined (for this U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with flood); and reports a significant amount of historical the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), flood data for the Presumpscot River. made observations and measurements to describe and document the October 1996 flood. INTRODUCTION Purpose And Scope Typically, the most important factor contributing to extreme flood flows on streams in Maine is rainfall. This report provides a detailed description of the Total rainfall amounts, rainfall intensity, and the spatial October 1996 .flood in southern Maine (fig. 1). The distribution of rainfall in a drainage basin are all meteorological characteristics of the October 20-22 important in determining the magnitude of flood flows. storm are summarized and the rainfall amounts from Other significant contributing factors include the the storm and their associated frequencies are given. antecedent hydrologic conditions (the conditions prior Hydrologic conditions (streamflow and rainfall) in the to a flood, such as soil moisture and streamflows) and area, prior to the storm, are described. This report gives the physical characteristics of the drainage basin in peak water-surface elevations for 74 sites, peak question (such as drainage area and stream slope). streamflows for 13 sites, and peak-flow recurrence Factors such as snowmelt and dam breaks, in certain intervals for 12 of these 13 sites from the October 1996 situations, can also be important. Extreme water- flood. This report also describes a method for surface elevations are typically caused by extreme estimating the recurrence intervals of peak flows at flood flows, but can be aggravated or caused by ice sites where peak flows were not determined (for this jams, debris jams, and other factors. flood). Reservoir storage data for Sebago Lake are given, flood damages in southern Maine are described, Flood of October 1996 in Southern Maine USGS WRIR 97-4189 1 and a significant amount of historical peak flow and The daily mean flow on October 19, 1996 at the Royal peak water-surface elevation data, mostly for the lower River gaging station was 52 cubic feet per second s) Presumpscot River, are presented. (ft /s) and was receding from a small peak on October 10, 1996. Eighteen percent of all the daily mean flows Acknowledgments at the Royal River gaging station from October 1, S. D. Warren Co. provided historical streamflow and 1949, to September 30, 1996, were less than 52 ft3/s o peak water-surface elevation data for the Presumpscot and 50 percent were less than 120 ft /s. Thirty nine River and provided information on the Presumpscot percent of all the October daily mean flows from River and Sebago Lake for the October 1996 southern October 1, 1949, to October 31, 1995, were less than o o Maine flood. Meteorological data were provided by the 52 ft /s and 50 percent were less than 61 ft /s. The National Weather Service. Central Maine Power Co. streamflow at the Royal River gaging station prior to provided streamflow data for the lower Saco River. the October 1996 southern Maine flood was a typical October flow. This report is the culmination of an intensive effort by dedicated personnel of the U.S. Geological Survey Rainfall (USGS). The following USGS employees provided significant help collecting the data, analyzing the data, The National Weather Service operates a recording rain preparing the final report, and/or reviewing the final gage at the Portland International Jetport (fig. 1). The report: William P. Bartlett, Jr., James M. Caldwell, daily rainfall totals at the Jetport from September 1, Andrew R. Cloutier, Gary D. Firda, Richard A. 1996 to October 19, 1996 are shown in figure 2. The Fontaine, William H. Kirby, Robert G. Lippert, Gloria total rainfall for September 1996 was 3.54 inches and L. Morrill, Joseph P. Nielsen, Scott A. Olson, Perry N. the total rainfall from October 1 through October 19, Silverman, and Chester Zenone. 1996, was 1.68 inches. Using data from 1961 to 1990, daily normal rainfall amounts were computed ANTECEDENT HYDROLOGIC (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1990).