Prepared For: F.E. Everett Turnpike Widening Project Nashua, Merrimack and Bedford, NH DRAFT Environmental Study Prepared By: State Project No. 13761 53 Regional Drive Concord, NH 03301 August 2018 Nashua-Merrimack-Bedford 13761 Environmental Study Contents 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Project Background .................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Lead Federal Agency ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.3 Purpose and Need Statement .................................................................................................. 1-2 2 Alternatives ....................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Mainline Turnpike ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Pennichuck Brook ..................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.3 F.E.E.T. over Greeley Street ...................................................................................................... 2-9 2.4 Naticook Brook ....................................................................................................................... 2-10 2.5 F.E.E.T. over Souhegan River .................................................................................................. 2-15 2.6 Baboosic Lake Road over the F.E.E.T. ..................................................................................... 2-15 2.7 Wire Road over the F.E.E.T. .................................................................................................... 2-18 2.8 Baboosic Brook ....................................................................................................................... 2-21 2.9 Stormwater Treatment ........................................................................................................... 2-25 2.10 Recommended Alternative ..................................................................................................... 2-26 2.11 Overall Project Cost Estimate ................................................................................................. 2-27 3 Affected Environment ....................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Traffic and Transportation ........................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2.1 Roadway Network Overview ................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2.2 Traffic Volumes and Levels of Service .................................................................................. 3-2 3.2.3 Crashes ................................................................................................................................. 3-3 3.2.4 Infrastructure Deficiencies ................................................................................................... 3-4 i Nashua-Merrimack-Bedford 13761 Environmental Study 3.2.5 Local and Regional Planning ................................................................................................. 3-5 3.2.6 Transportation Demand Management ................................................................................ 3-6 3.2.7 Transportation Systems Management ................................................................................. 3-7 3.3 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................. 3-9 3.4 Noise ....................................................................................................................................... 3-10 3.4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3-10 3.4.2 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 3-11 3.5 Water Resources .................................................................................................................... 3-17 3.5.1 Groundwater ...................................................................................................................... 3-17 3.5.2 Surface Waters ................................................................................................................... 3-23 3.5.3 Floodplains ......................................................................................................................... 3-29 3.5.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................ 3-31 3.6 Land Resources ....................................................................................................................... 3-44 3.6.1 Geology and Soils ............................................................................................................... 3-44 3.6.2 Farmlands ........................................................................................................................... 3-44 3.6.3 Conservation Lands ............................................................................................................ 3-45 3.6.4 Section 6(f) Properties ....................................................................................................... 3-47 3.7 Fish and Wildlife ..................................................................................................................... 3-47 3.7.1 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 3-47 3.7.2 Fisheries ............................................................................................................................. 3-50 3.7.3 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................. 3-51 3.7.4 Invasive Species .................................................................................................................. 3-56 3.8 Cultural Resources .................................................................................................................. 3-57 3.8.1 Regulatory Overview .......................................................................................................... 3-57 3.8.2 Historic Architectural Resources ........................................................................................ 3-58 ii Nashua-Merrimack-Bedford 13761 Environmental Study 3.8.3 Archaeological Resources .................................................................................................. 3-60 3.9 Socio-Economic Resources ..................................................................................................... 3-63 3.9.1 Demographics .................................................................................................................... 3-63 3.9.2 Population .......................................................................................................................... 3-63 3.9.3 Racial Composition ............................................................................................................. 3-64 3.9.4 Housing ............................................................................................................................... 3-68 3.9.5 Employment ....................................................................................................................... 3-69 3.9.6 Median Household Income ................................................................................................ 3-73 3.10 Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 3-73 3.11 Visual Resources ..................................................................................................................... 3-78 3.12 Contaminated Properties and Structures ............................................................................... 3-80 4 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Traffic and Transportation ........................................................................................................ 4-1 4.2.1 Traffic Volumes and Levels of Service .................................................................................. 4-1 4.2.2 Infrastructure Deficiencies ................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.3 Consistency with Local and Regional Planning .................................................................... 4-2 4.3 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................