From Peter Newkirk, Maine DOT, December 2004:

Mr. Barton,

My name is Peter Newkirk and I head up the Surface Water Resources Unit At MDOT. It is my unit's responsibility to minimize the impacts of MDOT projects on the water resources of the state.  Jessie Mae forwarded your email to me and I am glad to respond to your concern.  I did some research and discussed the crossing with the engineer that did the hydrologic calculations for this crossing. She reviewed the design with me discussing the history of the design decision. She did comment the reason for the larger opening was that the lake association wanted the larger opening for canoe passage to the stream.  I had looked at the project a couple of years ago regarding site stabilization but couldn't remember the specifics of the site.  By coincidence I was in the general area yesterday and made a side trip to the site to refresh my memory.  The following are my comments.

The new concrete box culvert is being installed to replace two 6 foot culverts and the box will actually be 7' x 13'.  The floor of the box is to be placed at the same elevation as the existing culverts and doing so will assure that the elevation of the pond will remain the same.  The dimensions have no impact on establishing pool elevation on the upstream side of a structure (the pond) - it is the bottom of the pipe or box that does.  The pool elevation of Brettuns Pond will not change due to the installation Of this structure.

Regarding your concern that there will be bi-directional flow, again if the structure invert (box bottom) is placed at the same elevation as the original pipe the hydraulics will be effectively the same. The larger box will pass more water at a given elevation, but the hydraulics of this system are controlled by the downstream dam spillway elevation and width. If there never has been reverse flow through the culverts, there will not be reverse flow through the box. Theoretically, if the time to peak runoffs from larger storms are offset and the stream flood elevation rises above the pond flood elevation, there could be reverse flow, but with a cursory review of the watersheds, I don't see the potential for that to occur.

It is much easier to explain hydraulics with sketches and a little hand waving.  I hope this description is clear. If not, give me a call at any time.  In addition, I have a staff person assigned to this project.  Her name is Christa Boucher (christa.boucher@maine.gov) 624-3098.  Her job is to assist the MDOT Resident ensure the Contractors erosion and sedimentation control plan is implemented and to address any concerns regarding water resources.  We are both at your disposal.

Peter Newkirk, P.E.
Supervisor, Surface Water Resources Unit
Environmental Office, Maine DOT
16 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0016
P: 207-624-3072  F: 207-624-3101
Pager: 851-3482 or 281-5368
Cell Phone: 207- 592-1804
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So I typed back this response to him:

From: Brettuns Village [mailto:brettunsvillage@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 10:14 AM
To: Newkirk, Peter
Subject: Re: FW: A concern about DOT causeway on Brettuns Pond

Hi Peter:
Thanks very much for taking the time to put that information together for me.  I truly appreciate it.  I was Pres. of BPA for a few years and had attended one of the public meetings that DOT held in Livermore to explain the project.  That was a few years ago, can't remember exactly when.  I met Heath Cowan and the project engineer (I can't remember his name either!).  These guys really put on a great presentation that evening, explained things very well.  As you can imagine, most of the questions were from property owners who were concerned about losing land to the project.  BPA representatives asked some questions about the culvert and the boat ramp, but the answers we were given that evening weren't specific.  We certainly understood that it was early in the project planning process, but we felt comfortable that things would progress in a well-thought out manner.

Following that meeting we had submitted some written comments to DOT, and we received an answer back stating that 'rules and regulations would be followed.'  This left us a little concerned, so that's why I had brought this up again recently.  BPA has agreed that this is the most important issue facing our pond this year, and the members have voiced concerns about the drainage/culvert issue as well as potential impacts to the boat launch (you probably saw the sandy ramp near Route 4).  Members are concerned that if the elevation of Route 4 is increased (we were told it would be raised by 18 inches from current elev.) this will make the boat ramp steeper, which would lead to increased storm water flow velocity down the ramp, thus carrying more road sand/CaCO3 into the pond.  I don't know how this could be avoided, but perhaps DOT has encountered similar situations that may provide some alternatives.

We had also been told that storm water basins (manholes or inverts) may also be installed adjacent to Route 4, either on the pond side or the bog side, or perhaps both; this was another item that got BPA's attention.

Lastly, we understand that the shoulders along the 'causeway' are to be paved out closer to the pond shoreline (and the bog shoreline) which is understandable.  We're concerned that the banks along this section of road may erode even more quickly than they are already eroding when this happens.  I'm sure there must be some stabilization measures that could be employed to avoid this problem.

You can probably get the general idea from these concerns that we're a pretty typical bunch of locals, concerned about our own backyard, with a grand total of zilch road building experience between us.  If you can provide information to me and the current BPA President (Bob Deshaies) we can get it into a newsletter to our group.  I know they'd all appreciate being informed.  I also want to make it clear that we've never believed that DOT would do anything that may be detrimental to the pond - we're just an
uninformed group of folks with nothing to do but worry!  Well, actually some of us still work full time, but many of the members are retired, and many are year-round residents these days.  We could get a meeting together pretty much anytime if you felt it would be helpful.

Again, thanks for making contact.
Churchill

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And then he e-mailed back with the following:

Date:  Wed, 29 Dec 2004 10:51:15 -0500

Churchill,

Thank you for your kind words.  I am going to have Christa address your other comments.  It is her project to "watch over" and can answer provide you not only answers but a personal contact through the duration of this project.

We do our best not to impact the water resources but with construction - the contractors, the schedules, the materials the weather - there is always a potential that something can go wrong. Christa is good at her job, but I invite you and the BPA to help her. We appreciate your trust, but be vigilant. It is your duty as a citizen. We do the best we can to meet the multiple objectives of providing a safe and efficient transportation system. But we don't live there, you do!

Christa and she will be in touch with you.  Thanks for contacting us.  It helps us do a better job.

Peter
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We then received this e-mail from Christa with DOT:

Date:   Tue, 4 Jan 2005 11:23:58 -0500

Hello,
 My boss, Peter Newkirk, has forwarded your questions and concerns to me.  I am the erosion and sediment control inspector for this job.  I want to assure you that I have received a detailed erosion and sediment control plan for this job and that I will be on the job frequently during construction to ensure that the pond and other water resources such as stream crossings and wetlands are protected.

The work is completed for this year.  Construction will start up again in about April, perhaps earlier if conditions are dry.

Now to address your specific concerns.

1.  Increase in elevation of the causeway may steepen the boat ramp and result in the boat ramp contributing sand and salt to the lake.

 In order to minimize impacts to the sideslopes of the existing causeway and prevent further intrusion into the lake or into the bog, the Department limited changes in elevation in this section of the roadway.  The increase in elevation here is 0.2 meters, or about 8 inches.  Stormwater is going to be picked up in a new underdrain system (there will be a new catch basin just north of Keith Street and two others on the other side of the road).  Stormwater runoff will not be concentrated or directed toward
the boat launch.  The boat launch will probably receive less stormwater runoff than it has thus far.

2.  Storm water basins (catch basins) will be installed on the pond or bog side.

 This is correct.  I was involved during the design process and attempted to keep any outlets from these catch basins out of the lake, which I perceived to be more sensitive to inputs than the stream or bog side.  Ideally I wanted to have no outlets but it is important to get stormwater off the road surface as it can present a safety hazard.  So we ended up with one new outlet on the bog side, located directly across the road from the boat launch.

3.  Shoulders and banks of the causeway may be widened and be more erodable.
 

This was also my concern.  During design of the project I worked with the geotechnical engineer to determine the best stabilization for the slopes of the causeway.  I thought we had agreed to preserve as much vegetation as possible and use erosion control blanket and seed on the new fills on the upper portions of the slope adjacent to the lake.  However, I have since found that riprap has been added on the bottom of the slope all along the lake side.  I have asked the geotechnical engineer to take a look at this and see if it is possible to limit or eliminate the new riprap, which would limit the disturbance of this sensitive area.  My hope is that the existing vegetation can remain in place, along with the root systems which are helping to keep the slopes stable.  So at this time I am not sure how it will work out.  If we must place the riprap I will make sure that the work is done with plenty of erosion and sediment controls.

I would be happy to meet with you or others from the lake association sometime to discuss your concerns and I do welcome your input.  Feel free to call me at the phone numbers below.

CHRISTA M. BOUCHER
ENV Water Resources Consultant
645-4098 / 624-3098

Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 10:11 AM
To: Lycette, David
Subject: Brettuns Pond

Hi David:

Looks like the work on Rte 4 near Brettuns Pond has come a long way over the last few months.  I noticed that a lot of the silt fencing was down this past weekend, some in the water, some just flattened.  I�m sure it�s tough to keep it in place with the weather we�ve had recently, but we sure would appreciate it if you could have your contractor try to put it back together.  I take the water clarity readings in the pond and have watched the readings drop dramatically over the last several weeks.  This is attributable to excessive rainfall, but if the silt fence were maintained I think it would be helpful.

Thanks a lot for your help with this-

Churchill J. Barton
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From: "Lycette, David" <David.Lycette@maine.gov>  Add to Address Book  Add Mobile Alert
To: "'info@brettunsvillage.com'" <info@brettunsvillage.com>
CC: "Christa Boucher (cbdot@megalink.net)" <cbdot@megalink.net>, "Boucher, Christa" <Christa.Boucher@maine.gov>
Subject: RE: Brettuns Pond
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 10:40:05 -0500
 
I checked the erosion control measures by the pond to make sure that everything was in place. Bark has been placed on the slopes and will act as long term protection until the seed grows in. We still have some silt fence in place that will stay until next year.
 
The silt fence that you see down in the water was installed by the town when the fire department installed the stand pipe. It helped to contain the dirt that was stirred up when they laid the pipe in the bottom of the pond. Now the the pipe has been installed, it serves no useful purpose. I've contacted the assistant fire chief and he said that they would have it removed soon.
 
Please contact me if you have further questions.
 
Dave
 
David Lycette, P.E.
Resident Engineer
Urban and Arterial Highway Program
Maine Department of Transportation
16 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04330-9812

Pager (207) 851-1196
Cell (207) 592-1378
Scarborough MDOT Office (207) 885-7000
Livermore Rt 4 Field Office (207) 897-9444