NASHUA RIVER FLOODING: CAUSALITY, HAZARDS, AND EVACUATION ROUTES
Advanced GISSpring 2011
Jonathan Beesen, Kaitlin Fantasia, Yukino Noda
Inundated Wetland Swamp Lancaster, MA
Causes of flooding
• Flooding is normally caused by natural weather events
Nashua River
Causes of flooding
•Poor maintenance
•Development/ Planning Issues
Flooded Trail in Lancaster, MA
Impervious surfaces and flooding
• An impervious surface is a surface which cannot be penetrated by water
• Natural environment is designed to absorb water, even in heavy storms
• Increased percentages of impervious surfaces within a region leads to increased flooding
Route 117 Bridge over Nashua River
Flooding in Lancaster, MA• Local residents say that spring flooding is fairly
common in this area• Nashua River swells after heavy rainfall and snowmelt• Low lying areas along banks of river become inundated
Lancaster, MA
Making of Impervious Surfaces and Shaded Relief Map
Shaded Relief
Major Hydrography
Impervious Surfaces
IMPERVIOUS SURFACES AND SHADED RELIEF OF STUDY AREA WITHIN
NORTHERN CLINTON AND SOUTHERN LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS
Framingham State University,Framingham, Massachusetts
Drafted By: Kaitlin Fantasia Date: May 5, 2011
Source: MassGIS http://www.mass.gov/mgis/
Proj: NAD83 SP FIPS 2001
· 0 4,000 8,000 12,000 16,0002,000Feet
Legend
Study_area
Rivers and Streams
Lakes and Ponds
Impervious Surfaces0
1
Elevation_Shaded Relief (1:5,000)
Value
High : 255
Low : 83
Impervious Surfaces and Shaded Relief of Study Area
Making of Shoreline Change Map
USGS Color Ortho Imagery
FEMA Q3 Flood Zones
Collected Trimble Data from site
NASHUA RIVER SHORELINE CHANGES IN NORTHERN CLINTON AND SOUTHERN
LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS
Framingham State University,Framingham, Massachusetts
Drafted By: Jonathan Beesen and Kaitlin Fantasia
Date: May 5, 2011
Source: MassGIS http://www.mass.gov/mgis/
Proj: NAD83 SP FIPS 2001·
Legend
!A trees
!A trees2
River_line_low
River_line_high
Beaver_line_high
Beaver_line_low
A
AE
AH
AO
V
VE
ANI
X500
D
UNDES
0 100 200 300 40050Feet
!A!A!A
!A
!A!A !A!A
!A
!A!A!A!A
Inundated Wetland Swamp
Nashua River
Rt. 117
Trimble Data: Nashua River Shoreline Changes
FEMA Flood Zone Descriptions
X500Zone X (500-year)
An area inundated by 500-year flooding; an area inundated by 100-year flooding with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; or an area protected by levees from 100-year flooding.
AE Zone AE An area inundated by 100-year flooding, for which BFEs have been determined.
Orange
Blue
List of Data layers
File Type Name Last Modified
Raster Data Impervious Surface February 2007
Shaded Relief February 2005
USGS Color Ortho Imagery April 2005
Vector Data Polygon Community Boundaries (Towns) September 2009
Polygon FEMA Q3 Flood July 1997 Line/Polygon
Major Hydrography March 2010
Line Collected Trimble Data (Shorelines) May 2011
Point Collected Trimble Data (Trees) May 2011
Flooding in Lancaster, MA 2007• http://www.necn.com/03/08/11/Rain-stops-but-flooding-fears-contin
ue/landing.html?blockID=435512&feedID=4215
FLOODING HAZARD AREAS: TIER CLASSIFIED DEP 21E SITES
Framingham State University,Framingham, Massachusetts
Drafted By: Jonathan Beesen Date: May 5, 2011
Source: MassGIS http://www.mass.gov/mgis/
Proj: NAD83 SP FIPS 2001
INDEX MAP
ZONE Name SFHA DescriptionV Zone V In 100-year flooding with velocity hazard (wave action); no BFEs have been determined.VE Zone VE In 100-year flooding with velocity hazard (wave action); BFEs have been determined.A Zone A In 100-year flooding, for which no BFEs have been determined.AE Zone AE In 100-year flooding, for which BFEs have been determined.AO Zone AO In 100-year flooding (usually sheet flow on sloping terrain), for which average depths have been determined; flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet.AH Zone AH In 100-year flooding (usually an area of ponding), for which BFEs have been determined; flood depths range from 1 to 3 feet.A Zone D Out An area of undetermined but possible flood hazards.X500 Zone X (500-year) Out 500-year flooding; 100-year flooding with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; or an area protected by levees from 100-year flooding.ANI Area Not Included Out An area inundated by 500-year flooding; an area inundated by 100-year flooding with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; or an area protected by levees from 100-year flooding.UNDES Area of Undesignated Flood Hazard Out An area inundated by 500-year flooding; an area inundated by 100-year flooding with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage areas less than 1 square mile; or an area protected by levees from 100-year flooding.
TIER CLASSIFICATIED 21E SITES
ò TIER1A
ò TIER1B
ò TIER1C
ò TIER1D
ò TIERII
FEMA Q3 FLOOD ZONES
A
AE
AH
AO
V
VE
ANI
X500
D
UNDES
0 2,750 5,500 8,250 11,0001,375Meters
Hazard Sites in Flood Zones
Mass DEP 21E Site Classification TIER IA Any site receiving a total NRS score equal to or greater than 550 is a Tier IA.
Tier IA sites require a permit and any person undertaking response actions must do so under direct Departmental supervision.
TIER IB Any site receiving a total NRS score of less than 550 and equal to or greater than 450 is a Tier IB. These sites also require a permit but any person undertaking response actions may do so without the Department’s approval after a Tier I Permit is issued.
TIER IC Any site receiving a total NRS score of less than 450 and equal to or greater than 350 is a Tier IC. In addition, any release/site receiving a total NRS score of less than 350 and that meets any of the Tier I Inclusionary Criteria specified in 310 CMR 40.0520(2)(a) shall also be classified as Tier IC. These sites also require a permit but any person undertaking response actions may do so without the Department’s approval after a Tier I Permit is issued.
TIER II Any site receiving a total NRS score of less than 350 is a Tier 2, unless the release/site meets any of the Tier I Inclusionary Criteria specified in 310 CMR 40.0520(2). Permits are not required at Tier 2 sites and response action may be performed under the supervision of a Licensed Site Professional, without prior Departmental approval.
RTN Lookup Site for Reisner Corp.
• http://db.state.ma.us/dep/cleanup/sites/Site_Info.asp?textfield_RTN=2-0016849
FLOOD EVACUATION MAP OF NORTHERN CLINTON AND SOUTHERN LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS
Yukino Noda
http://www.wickedlocal.com/clinton/news/x1664759047/Rains-bring-flooding-to-Clinton-and-Lancaster?img=4#axzz1LK0ojHAZ
ClintonMarch, 2010
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0 0.5 1 1.5 20.25
Miles
Northern Clinton and southern Lancaster (9.4 square miles)
Schools
Study Area
Impervious Land Surface Image of the Study AreaPotential Flooding Area
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BC
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FG
H
Zones Assigned to Each Evacuation Sites
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MassDOT Road
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Potential Impassable Roads
Potential Impassable Roads and Area Potentially Blocked by Impassable Roads
Area Potentially Blocked byImpassable Roads
Potential Flooding
Area
Zones assigned to each evacuation site
- Potential impassable roads
- Area potentially blocked by impassable roads
- Medical and town facilities
- Potential hazardous area
- Roads
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The Structure of the Map
- Altitudes- Land surfaces
Levels of Dangerous Area ^̀
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1. Potential Flooding Area2. Area Potentially
Blocked by Impassable Roads
The List of Data layers
File Type Name Last Modified
Raster Data Impervious Surface February 2007
USGS Topographic Quadrangle Images
June 2001
Vector Data Point Acute Care Hospitals August 2009
Point Colleges and Universities July 2007
Polygon Community Boundaries (Towns) September 2009
Point Community Health Centers August 2007
Polygon FEMA Q3 Flood July 1997
Point Fire Stations February 2007
Polygon Land Use (2005) June 2009
Line Major Ponds and Major Streams July 1998
LineMassachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Roads
October 2009
Point Police Stations February 2007
Point Schools November 2010
Point Town Halls February 2007
Thank you for paying attention. Are there any questions or
comments?
Beaver Dam within wetland swamp