Gray Watershed Study
The purpose of this section of the Town’s website is to provide information about a study done on the Cole and Thayer Brook watersheds. This page includes the following sections:
- What is a Watershed?
- How Stormwater affects Watersheds
- Maps of the Thayer and Cole Brook Watersheds
- Clean Water Act and MS4
- The Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD)
- The Cole and Thayer Brook Watershed Study
- Informational Workshop
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land, where all of the water that falls in it, flows downhill to the same waterbody. This could be a stream, river, pond, lake, or ocean. Watersheds are named after the waterbody they drain into. Everyone lives in at least one watershed.
How Stormwater affects Watersheds
Stormwater runoff is precipitation (rain or melted snow) that flows over land. Stormwater can pick up pollutants as it runs off the land into lakes, streams, rivers, and the ocean; this is called polluted runoff. Storm drains collect runoff and carries it without treating, filtering, or cleaning it directly into our local water bodies. Polluted runoff affects drinking water, human health, wildlife, and property values. Pollutants include soil, road salt and sand, and other sediments, chemicals such as fertilizer and pesticides, pet waste, soap, and litter. The Federal government has a Clean Water Act in place to regulate and maintain water quality standards, so our water is safe to use and enjoy.
Maps of the Thayer and Cole Brook Watersheds
Pictured below are maps of the Thayer and Cole Brook watersheds. Click on the maps to zoom in.
Click on the image to view the map in detail and to be able to zoom in.
Click on the image to view the map in detail and to be able to zoom in.
Clean Water Act and MS4
The Federal Clean Water Act is a piece of national legislation that establishes minimum water quality standards for streams and brooks since they feed rivers. The objective is to minimize or prevent soil particles from becoming "suspended" in stormwater. In 1987, the Clean Water Act was amended to add this category of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (so-called "MS4"). This amendment is imposed on all municipalities with a population greater than 10,000. One of the likely implications of the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census is that Gray will be Federally required to meet MS4 regulations.
MS4 municipalities are required to perform testing to verify that applicable Clean Water Act standards are being maintained. MS4 municipalities that do not meet standards are required to take proactive steps towards meeting these standards which typically involves adopting specific stormwater regulations.
Due to the MS4 standards being imposed on the Town of Gray in the near future, the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Town of Gray are performing a study of the Thayer and Cole Brook watersheds in preparation of MS4 being imposed.
The Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District
(CCSWCD)
The Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) is one of several Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Maine. Each county has its own soil and water conservation district as established by State law (12 M.R.S. Section 12). The role of such soil and water conservation districts is to function as a non-profit quasi-governmental clearing house of information focusing on methods to minimize soil erosion and maximize water quality. Funding for soil and water conservation districts is from many sources including grants, donations, federal and state government, and contracted services. The Town of Gray entered into a contract with the CCSWCD in November of 2018 to undertake studies for both the Cole and Thayer Brook watersheds.
The Cole and Thayer Brook Watershed Study
Initial testing for both Thayer and Cole Brooks determined that Clean Water Act standards are either not currently being met or are very close to not meeting Federal water quality standards. In anticipation of having the MS4 standards imposed on the Town in the very near future, Gray's current budget includes funding for a study of the two watersheds. The Town contracted with Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) to perform the studies. For all properties in each of the two watersheds, the study involved inventorying existing conditions and identifying specific measures that could be taken to improve water quality.
One of the essential components of the two watershed studies is an accurate inventory of both publicly and privately-owned properties that have one or more acres of impervious surfaces. Based on reviewing aerial photographs, there are approximately 25 properties in the watersheds that appear to meet this greater than 1 acre impervious cover threshold. CCSWCD and/or Town staff confirmed via on-site visits, where and how stormwater flows to ensure the accuracy of information to be included in the watershed studies for both Cole and Thayer Brook watersheds. Most field visits occurred between mid-April and mid-May.
The two watershed studies are focusing on compiling accurate information regarding how stormwater flows within the two watersheds. These studies will help us prepare to adopt MS4 standards to properties in anticipation these regulations being imposed on the town of Gray.
Timeline:
July 2018: Town approves FY 2019 Budget including watershed study funding
November 2018: Town signs contract with CCSWCD for two watershed studies
Winter 2018-2019: CCSWCD performs "desktop" review of all properties in watersheds
May 2019: Town reviews information on file regarding age and size of septic systems
April-June 2019: CCSWCD performs field inspections to verify accuracy of data for 25+/- parcels that have > 1 acre of impervious cover
June 24, 2019: Informational Workshop held for property owners at 7:00 P.M. @ Town Hall
July 2019: CCSWCD incorporates all data and input from 6/24/19 workshop into draft final report and sends to Town for review and comment
Aug./Sept 2019: CCSWCD presentation of final report to Gray Town Council
Informational Workshop
All 750 +/- owners of property in the Cole and Thayer Brook watersheds were sent a postcard with information about an informal public informational workshop regarding these watershed studies. Town and CCSWCD staff will be hosting this workshop on Monday, June 24th at Gray Town Hall, Pennell, 24 Main Street in Gray from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. The workshop will include relevant background, key findings, and possible next steps. There will be an opportunity at the end of the workshop to ask questions.
The workshop will be streamed live and can be viewed after the meeting via the “Meeting Portal” of the Town’s website. If you have any questions, contact the Town’s Community Development Department at 207-657-3112.
We hope to see you at 7:00 P.M. on Monday the 24th at the informational workshop!