USGS sends crews to Maine to gauge flooding

Record snowfall, a few warm days, plus several inches of rain have resulted in high river flows on most of Maine’s rivers, which are expected to crest today. Five of the rivers monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey have exceeded the calculated 100-year peak flow.

Although roads are flooded, the USGS has sent three crews from its Maine Water Science Center in Augusta to northern Maine to check gauges that remain accessible. USGS hydrographers will work to keep station instruments operating and to verify stream flow data needed for National Weather Service flood forecasts, and to assist emergency managers, the media and the public with real-time information, according to a press release issued Thursday.

The USGS is maintaining a Web page that provides flood updates and includes webcam images of the Kennebec River at Augusta at http://me.water.usgs.gov.

The USGS operates a network of 70 stream gauges throughout Maine from which field personnel collect data, or the gauges relay it through telephones or satellites to offices where it is processed automatically in near real time. In many cases, the data are available online within minutes.

For information on USGS flood-related activities, visit http://water.usgs.gov/osw.

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state. They can provide more detailed information on stream conditions and on the USGS response to local events at http://water.usgs.gov/districtchief.html.