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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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