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\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f1\fs27\insrsid15077759 Maine Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management}{\insrsid15077759  
\par }\pard\plain \s17\qc \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f1\insrsid15077759 State House Station 72 Augusta, Maine 04333}{
\insrsid15077759  \line }{\b\f308\fs72\insrsid15077759 NEWS RELEASE}{\insrsid15077759 
\par }\pard \s17\qr \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1 {\b\f1\insrsid15077759 DATE: }{\insrsid15077759 March 3, 2000}{\b\f1\insrsid15077759  APPROVED: }{\b\insrsid15077759 AWC}{
\insrsid15077759  
\par }{\b\f1\insrsid15077759 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:}{\insrsid15077759  \line }{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\insrsid15077759  HYPERLINK "mailto:rmlent@usgs.gov" }}{\fldrslt {\cs15\ul\cf2\insrsid15077759 Bob Lent}}}{\insrsid15077759 
, U.S. Geological Survey \line 207-622-8202 \line }{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\insrsid15077759  HYPERLINK "thomas.hawley@noaa.gov" }}{\fldrslt {\cs15\ul\cf2\insrsid15077759 Tom Hawley}}}{\insrsid15077759 , National Weather Service \line 207-688-3216 
\line }{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\insrsid15077759  HYPERLINK "mailto:marc.c.loiselle@state.me.us" }}{\fldrslt {\cs15\ul\cf2\insrsid15077759 Marc Loiselle}}}{\insrsid15077759 , Maine Department of Conservation \line 207-287-2801 \line }
{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\insrsid15077759  HYPERLINK "mailto:art.w.cleaves@state.me.us" }}{\fldrslt {\cs15\ul\cf2\insrsid15077759 Art Cleaves}}}{\insrsid15077759 , Maine Department of Defense,Veterans and Emergency Management \line 207-626-4503
\par }\pard\plain \qr \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\b\insrsid15077759  HYPERLINK "http://homepage.htm" \\t "_top" }}{\fldrslt {
\cs15\b\ul\cf2\insrsid15077759 www.state.me.us/rfac}}}{\insrsid15077759 
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1 {\f1\insrsid15077759 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE}{\insrsid15077759  
\par }\pard\plain \s17\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid15077759 AUGUSTA:. This winter's weather has res
ulted in normal river flows throughout the State. Even after recent snow melt, snowpack levels are normal throughout Maine with the exception of southwest coastal sections, where levels are below normal for this time of year. "We want to remind Maine citi
z
ens and local officials that spring conditions can change rapidly. Rainfall is the single most important factor in determining the timing and magnitude of significant floods in Maine," said Bob Lent, District Chief, US Geological Survey and co-chairman of
 
the Maine Riverflow Advisory Commission, following the Commission's meeting yesterday in Augusta. Snowpack is an important secondary factor which can add to flooding problems, as occurred in the April 1987 floods. Ice jams can produce locally severe flood
ing. 
\par At the meeting held on March 2nd, the Commission reviewed statewide hydrologic conditions and determined that river flows were normal statewide. River basin managers report headwater storage levels are normal to slightly above their normal pre-spring 
drawdown. 
\par The ice in mainstem rivers in central and southern Maine appears to be eroding normally. Tributaries and rivers in northern Maine remain ice-covered. Ice thicknesses in Northern Maine are slightly below normal. Despite the seemingly natural eros
ion of ice on many rivers, the potential for flooding associated with ice jams still exists with the start of spring runoff, as ice is carried down from the headwaters. 
\par On February 28th through March 1, snow depths ranged from several inches near the coas
t to up to 3 feet in western and northern Maine. Snowpack water equivalents generally ranged from 5-6 inches in the St. John River Basin, 2-5 inches in the St. Croix, 3-9 inches in the Penobscot River Basin, 3-9 inches in the Kennebec River Basin, 2-10 in
c
hes in the Androscoggin River Basin, and 1-6 inches in the Saco Basin and 1-4 inches in the Presumpscot River Basin. Average snowpack water equivalents are near normal in northern, western and eastern Maine, and below normal in southern coastal Maine and 
the lower Penobscot River Basin. 
\par Tom Hawley of the National Weather Service office in Gray reports that 2.0 to 2.9 inches of combined rainfall and snowmelt over a 12-hour period would be sufficient to cause flooding in small streams and adjacent lowlands i
n Maine. Hawley also indicated that above-normal temperatures and normal precipitation are predicted for the next 10 days. For the remainder of March, normal temperatures and normal precipitation are expected. 
\par According to Art Cleaves, Emergency Managemen
t Director in the Maine Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management and co-chair of the Commission, citizens should stay aware of National Weather Service forecasts as the spring progresses, and talk to their local officials and County Emerge
ncy Management Agencies if they have questions about flood preparedness in their communities. Members of the Maine River Flow Advisory Commission monitor conditions on an ongoing basis. The Commission has launched an Internet site, }
{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\b\insrsid15077759  HYPERLINK "http://homepage.htm" \\t "_top" }}{\fldrslt {\cs15\b\ul\cf2\insrsid15077759 www.state.me.us/rfac}}}{\insrsid15077759 
, linking to many sources of current information on streamflow and snow survey maps and data, weather forecasts, preparedness, flood insurance and risk reduction measures. In addition, The National Weather Service F
orecast Offices in Gray and Caribou are planning a Flood Awareness Day on March 16. NWS will use many avenues of public information to focus attention on flood preparedness and safety. 
\par The Maine Department of Transportation reminds Maine motorists that du
ring a flood they should not drive on submerged roads, as the stability of the road may have been severely damaged by flood waters. Highway crews will place signs and barricades to warn of flooded sections of road. Motorists who ignore these warnings and 
d
rive through flooded areas are gambling with their own safety and that of their passengers. Motorists should always seek an alternate route around flooded areas and avoid taking unnecessary chances by driving through flooded areas. A flooded road may be d
amaged to the point that it will not support a vehicle. 
\par }{\b\insrsid15077759 Important factors for springtime floods in order of relative importance are as follows:}{\insrsid15077759  
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs20 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard\plain \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\ipgp1 
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid15077759 RAINFALL:}{\insrsid15077759  This is the most important factor in determining the magnitude of significant floods in Maine. If pre
cipitation during April and May are normal and evenly distributed, then streamflow will be in the normal range. However, if significant rainfall occurs over a short period of time, flooding could result.
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs20 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}\pard \ql \fi-360\li720\ri0\sb100\sa100\sbauto1\saauto1\widctlpar\jclisttab\tx720\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ls1\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\ipgp1 {\b\insrsid15077759 SNOW COVER:}{
\insrsid15077759  This is a secondary factor and can add to rainfall events. As the snow pack becomes more "ripe" (nearly saturated), it can melt quickly and significantly add to a flood peak. Snow melt alone should not produce major floods.
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs20 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}{\b\insrsid15077759 RIVER ICE:}{\insrsid15077759  Ice jams can cause increased damage by temporarily blocking r
ivers and streams and causing higher water levels behind the jam. Peak flows downstream increase when jams break up and quickly release stored water.
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs20 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}{\b\insrsid15077759 TEMPERATURE:}{\insrsid15077759  Warm days with freezing night temperatures allow a gradual melting and runoff of the snowpack.
\par {\listtext\pard\plain\f3\fs20 \loch\af3\dbch\af0\hich\f3 \'b7\tab}}{\b\insrsid15077759 RESERVOIR STORAGE: }{\insrsid15077759 
Maine's headwater storage reservoirs typically reach their annual low water levels in March. These reservoirs can moderate downstream flood peaks if rainfall occurs above the storage dams while the reservoir's water levels are down. Th
e reservoir systems have limited ability to moderate flood peaks in the lower parts of the river basins if large amounts of rain fall or if heavy rains fall downstream of the storage dams.
\par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\ipgp1 {\insrsid15077759 The Maine River Flow Advisory Commission is composed of representat
ives from eight major river basin management operations, seven state agencies, two federal agencies and the University of Maine. The Commission was originally formed after the spring floods of 1983 to improve the exchange of hydrologic information collect
ed by the members, to review the data, and to provide information to emergency action agencies and the public. It was created in }{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\insrsid15077759  HYPERLINK "http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/37-B/title37-Bsec1080.html" 
}}{\fldrslt {\cs15\ul\cf2\insrsid15077759 statute}}}{\insrsid15077759  by the Legislature in 1997. 
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