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Gregory J. Stewart

Publications and source records attributed to Gregory J. Stewart.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Flood of May 2006 in York County, Maine

A stalled low-pressure system over coastal New England on Mother's Day weekend, May 13-15, 2006, released rainfall in excess of 15 inches. This flood (sometimes referred to as the 'Mother's Day flood') caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, roads, and structures in southern Maine. The damage to public property in York County was estimated to be $7.5 million. As a result of these damages, a presidential disaster declaration was enacted on May 25, 2006, for York County, Maine. Peak-flow recurrence intervals for eight of the nine streams studied were calculated to be greater than 500 years. The peak-flow recurrence interval of the remaining stream was calculated to be between a 100-year and a 500-year interval. This report provides a detailed description of the May 2006 flood in York County, Maine. Information is presented on peak streamflows and peak-flow recurrence intervals on nine streams, peak water-surface elevations for 80 high-water marks at 25 sites, hydrologic conditions before and after the flood, comparisons with published Flood Insurance Studies, and places the May 2006 flood in context with historical floods in York County. At sites on several streams, differences were observed between peak flows published in the Flood Insurance Studies and those calculated for this study. The differences in the peak flows from the published Flood Insurance Studies and the flows calculated for this report are within an acceptable range for flows calculated at ungaged locations, with the exception of those for the Great Works River and Merriland River. For sites on the Mousam River, Blacksmith Brook, Ogunquit River, and Cape Neddick River, water-surface elevations from Flood Insurance Studies differed with documented water-surface elevations from the 2006 flood.

Scientific Investigations Report

Estimated Magnitudes and Recurrence Intervals of Peak Flows on the Mousam and Little Ossipee Rivers for the Flood of April 2007 in Southern Maine

Large amounts of rain fell on southern Maine from the afternoon of April 15, 2007, to the afternoon of April 16, 2007, causing substantial damage to houses, roads, and culverts. This report provides an estimate of the peak flows on two rivers in southern Maine--the Mousam River and the Little Ossipee River--because of their severe flooding. The April 2007 estimated peak flow of 9,230 ft3/s at the Mousam River near West Kennebunk had a recurrence interval between 100 and 500 years; 95-percent confidence limits for this flow ranged from 25 years to greater than 500 years. The April 2007 estimated peak flow of 8,220 ft3/s at the Little Ossipee River near South Limington had a recurrence interval between 100 and 500 years; 95-percent confidence limits for this flow ranged from 50 years to greater than 500 years.

Open-File Report

Estimated Effects of Ground-Water Withdrawals on Streamwater Levels of the Pleasant River near Crebo Flats, Maine, July 1 to September 30, 2005

Surface-water data collected at two streamflow-gaging stations on the Pleasant River were analyzed to determine whether ground-water withdrawals from an irrigation well near the Pleasant River have affected streamflows. The relation between the stream-stage data from the two stations shows that stream stage on days when the well was pumped differs from stream stage on days with no pumping, indicating that short-term streamflow depletion occurred. The linear relation defining the relation of stage at the two gaging stations during periods of pumping is significantly different from the linear relation defining the relation of stage at the same two stations during periods of no pumping. The difference between the two linear relations was used to estimate how much short-term streamflow depletion is coincident with ground-water withdrawals. Estimated short-term streamflow depletion varies with stage and ranges from approximately 0.3 to 0.8 cubic feet per second; the relative short-term streamflow depletion ranges from approximately 1.7 to 10 percent.

Scientific Investigations Report