Capehart Brook

Capehart Brook is an urban impaired stream which begins at Finson Rd. and empties into Kenduskeag Stream less than a half mile away.   The land area that drains to Capehart Brook (watershed) is approximately 1.07 square miles and is comprised primarily of residential housing, forests, and some commercial properties. 

The water quality of Capehart 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 approximately 14% of impervious land cover within the watershed. 

Watershed Management Plan (WMP)

The City of Bangor developed a Watershed Management Plan in June 2015 to address this impairment.  The plan, when fully implemented will address much of the pollution from stormwater by “disconnecting” impervious surfaces from the stormwater system.  This disconnection is achieved by sending the stormwater through simple treatment structures which filter out pollutants, slow the water down, and cool the water. This treatment of stormwater helps maintain healthy streams and rivers. 

Watershed Management Plan Implementation Projects

2016 – The stormwater pond at Sunny Hollow Place was redesigned and rehabilitated.  The intent of the re-design was to provide better shading to reduce water temperatures, and to increase dissolved oxygen using a new outlet structure.

2017- One level spreader and 19 bioretention cells were installed in the Old Capehart neighborhood to treat stormwater from the streets in the area.

2020 – A bioretention cell was installed at Penobscot Christian School on Ohio Street.  This stormwater treatment area is designed to treat the waters from the parking and drop-off areas at this private school and was completed by the City in cooperation with the landowner and funded partially by a Section 319 Grant administered by the Maine DEP.

2021 – A geomorphic stream restoration was completed on Reach A5 of Capehart Brook.  This included stream channel modifications designed to improve stream substrate, increase stream velocity at base flows, and provide floodplain space for high flows.  This project also included restorative plantings along the stream corridor.

For more details on Capehart Brook restoration, please see the Capehart Brook Watershed Management Plan.