Arctic Brook

Arctic Brook is located in the City of Bangor, Maine. The stream begins in a forested wetland above Grandview Avenue. The stream flows south from Grandview Avenue, under the Broadway Shopping Center, under Route 15 (Broadway) and Interstate 95, and into Kenduskeag Stream just below Valley Avenue, a distance of 1.4 miles. The Arctic Brook watershed covers 1.2 square miles (768 acres) consisting of a mix of forest, medium and high-density residential development and commercially developed areas including the Broadway Shopping Center, Bangor High School, a City Recreational Forest (Prentiss Woods), several churches, and two private schools.

The water quality of Arctic Brook has been assessed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and determined not to meeting state water quality standards for aquatic life use. The stream was consequently listed on the State's 303(d) list of impaired waters in 2002.  The cause of impairment has been indicated by Maine DEP to be linked to the high amount of impervious cover in the watershed.

What is in the Watershed-based Plan?

The City of Bangor developed a Watershed-Based Management Plan for Arctic Brook in 2016. The project was funded in part by a United States Environmental Protection Agency under Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act.  The Watershed-based Plan for Arctic Brook was developed to aid the City in improving the water quality in Arctic Brook. The plan:

• Provides an overview of the watershed
• Discusses causes of impairment
• Identifies environmental stressors
• Provides management strategies
• Identifies locations for stormwater treatment retrofits
• Discusses key changes in behavior which could reduce pollution
• Provides suggestions for water quality monitoring
• Provides a plan to implement all of the elements in the watershed-based plan
• Estimates costs for implementation
• Provides a plan for measuring success of the plan

Stormwater runoff from the developed areas in the watershed (parking lots, buildings and roads) is likely the largest source of pollution to the Arctic Brook. Stormwater flows quickly off impervious surfaces, carrying pollutants, and sending high volumes of flow to the stream. An Impervious Cover Total Maximum Daily Load (ICTMDL) report was developed for Arctic Brook in 2011 which states the watershed is currently 23% impervious with a target goal of 8% effective impervious cover, a 65% reduction.

The purpose of the plan is to have a detailed, user-friendly watershed-based plan describing effective actions which will improve water quality and aquatic habitat conditions in Arctic Brook. The plan will build upon local support to help address polluted runoff problems in the watershed and provide the City with a road map for restoration.

What has been implemented in the watershed-based plan?

Both property owners and the City of Bangor have completed some of the actions listed in the watershed-based plan for Arctic Brook.

2022 – Fluvial Geomorphic improvements on reaches 1 and 2 both upstream and downstream of Grandview Avenue.  This work included floodplain restoration, floodplain wood additions, log walls, log constrictors, and restorative plantings.  These features will improve stream habitat and function in the upper watershed.

2022—Culvert Replacement on Arctic Brook at Grandview Avenue.  The failing 54-inch corrugated metal culvert was replaced with a 102-inch by 71-inch corrugated metal pipe arch.  This vastly increase the hydraulic capacity of the culvert and also improves the habitat connectivity in Arctic Brook and along its corridor for both aquatic and terrestrial animals.  This culvert replacement will also complement the floodplain restoration that was completed concurrently in the fluvial geomorphic improvements.

2022—685/699 Broadway redevelopment plans include a bioretention soil filter to treat stormwater onsite.  This site will also see a reduction in overall impervious through this redevelopment.

2019—711 Broadway property was retrofit with two new under-drained soil filters to treat existing impervious areas.  A third soil filter was installed to treat some new impervious area.

For More Information, Contact:

Richard May ~ (207) 992-4243 ~ richard.may@bangormaine.gov