Historic Flooding in Major Drainage Basins, Maine ENSR Corporation October 2007 Document No.: 12092-003-B Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Purpose............................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Study Area ....................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.1 Natural Hazards.................................................................................................................1-3 1.2.2 Flooding ............................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.3 Identifying Significant Historical Flood Events................................................................................ 1-6 2.0 St. John River Basin.............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Watershed Description .................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Dams and Reservoirs...................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.3 Precipitation ..................................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.4 Population ........................................................................................................................................ 2-3 2.5 Historic Flooding Events (1970 – 2007)..........................................................................................2-4 2.5.1 April 1973 ........................................................................................................................... 2-6 2.5.2 May 1974 ........................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.5.3 April 1976 ........................................................................................................................... 2-9 2.5.4 April 1979 ......................................................................................................................... 2-10 2.5.5 April 1983 ......................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.5.6 March/April 1987.............................................................................................................. 2-12 2.5.7 April 1991 ......................................................................................................................... 2-12 2.5.8 April 1993 ......................................................................................................................... 2-13 2.5.9 April 1994 ......................................................................................................................... 2-14 2.5.10 December 1994 ............................................................................................................... 2-15 3.0 Penobscot River Basin.......................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Watershed Description .................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Dams and Reservoirs...................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.3 Precipitation ..................................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.4 Population ........................................................................................................................................ 3-3 3.5 Historic Flooding Events (1970 – 2007)..........................................................................................3-3 3.5.1 April/May 1973................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.5.2 January 1978 ..................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.5.3 March/April 1987................................................................................................................3-6 3.5.4 April 1993 ........................................................................................................................... 3-7 3.5.5 January 1996 ..................................................................................................................... 3-7 3.5.6 April 2005 ........................................................................................................................... 3-8 3.5.7 October 2005 ..................................................................................................................... 3-8 ii October 2007 C:\Documents and Settings\swiding\Desktop\Maine River Basin Report _Final4.doc 4.0 Kennebec River Basin........................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Watershed Description .................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Dams and Reservoirs...................................................................................................................... 4-4 4.3 Precipitation ..................................................................................................................................... 4-4 4.4 Population ........................................................................................................................................ 4-5 4.5 Historic Flooding Events (1970 – 2007)..........................................................................................4-5 4.5.1 December 1973 ................................................................................................................. 4-7 4.5.2 April 1979 ........................................................................................................................... 4-8 4.5.3 April 1983 ........................................................................................................................... 4-9 4.5.4 May/June 1984 .................................................................................................................. 4-9 4.5.5 March/April 1987.............................................................................................................. 4-10 4.5.6 December 2003 ............................................................................................................... 4-13 4.5.7 March 2003 ......................................................................................................................4-15 4.5.8 April 2005 ......................................................................................................................... 4-16 4.5.9 February 2006.................................................................................................................. 4-20 5.0 Androscoggin River Basin ................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Watershed Description .................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Dams and Reservoirs...................................................................................................................... 5-2 5.3 Precipitation ..................................................................................................................................... 5-3 5.4 Population ........................................................................................................................................ 5-3 5.5 Historic Flooding Events (1970 – 2007)..........................................................................................5-3 5.5.1 Notable Historical Floods................................................................................................... 5-5 5.5.2 March/April 1987................................................................................................................5-6 5.5.3 December 2003 ............................................................................................................... 5-11 5.5.4 April 2005 ......................................................................................................................... 5-12 5.5.5 July 2007.......................................................................................................................... 5-15 6.0 Saco River Basin (Western Maine Coastal)........................................................................................6-1 6.1 Watershed Description .................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Dams and Reservoirs...................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.3 Precipitation ....................................................................................................................................