Mare Brook Watershed Management Plan

The Department of Planning and Development received a watershed planning grant from the State of Maine in 2019. The project began in October 2019. The final report was delivered by the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District on January 5, 2022.  At the February 7, 2022 Town Council regular meeting, Council voted to adopt the final draft of the Mare Brook Watershed Management Plan. The plan identifies a multitude of stressors that contribute to Mare Brook’s Urban Impaired Stream status including, but not limited to, stormwater runoff from developed land, altered riparian zones, loss of floodplains, temperature increase, altered channels, loss of wetlands, road salt, nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) loading, and improperly placed and sized culverts. Additionally, the plan includes a robust implementation program featuring objectives and action items to be completed by the Town in conjunction with a variety of organizations and stakeholders and broken down into three phases of work, spanning 2022 to 2037.

For questions pertaining to the Mare Brook Watershed Management Plan, please call or email :

The Mare Brook Watershed Steering Committee is an ad-hoc committee formed formed July 7, 2022. The Committee is tasked with assisting staff with the implementation of the recommendations of the Mare Brook Watershed Plan. The Plan shall be implemented in phases and the Committee’s initial scope shall be limited to Phase 1 of the Plan to oversee the Hydrologic and Hydraulic (H&H) study as well as culvert improvements identified. Click here to view the committee's page and learn about their work or visit the Town Calendar to view upcoming meetings, agendas, and materials!

Important Documents & Studies:

Curious to read more? Check out Conservation Commission Chair, Sandy Stott’s latest writings on Mare Brook in the Press Herald and Times Record:

Please explore the Interactive Mare Brook Watershed Planning Map.

The map will be updated as the planning process moves forward!  If you have questions about the map content, please contact the Department of Planning and Development.

Documents

  1. DEP Service Contract.pdf
  2. Field Geology Services Agreement.pdf
  3. Interlocal Agreement.pdf
  4. Mare Brook Catchments.pdf
  5. Mare Brook QAPP Appendices.pdf
  1. Mare Brook QAPP.pdf
  2. Stressors and Action Items 9-22-21
  3. Summary of Reach Characteristics and Restoration Options
  4. Mare Brook Tributaries.pdf
  5. Public Meeting: Impairment & Stressors 9-23-21