By Jose Perez    Winter 2006

Description of the project:
The Union River Watershed Coalition (URWC) is a non-profit organization that "spawns creative, collaborative solutions to the diverse civic and environmental issues found throughout the area."  Besides of water quality monitoring site program, the URWC carries out many activities to help people become aware of the need of preserving the Union River Watershed…trade;s natural resources.

As part of the GIS I project,  the current coordinator of the URWC was contacted in order to know what kind of GIS related activities needed to be addressed within the organization. He pointed out the following:

    * To update and label the roads within the URW map
    * To identify the locations of current and historical dams, as well as natural falls within the watershed.
    * To update existing and potential conservation areas in the watershed.
    * To edit the watershed…trade;s map boundaries for adapting it to Frenchman Bay and Blue Hill watersheds boundaries.
    * Create a 3D design of the watershed
    * Preparation of a map that shows all the modifications made.

The Union River Watershed Special Features Map
As the title of the map states, the focus was to portray special features contained whithin the watershed, such as existing and historic dams, waterfalls, existing and potential conservation areas, access points, and water quality monitoring sites.

Using a survey of water obstructions in the Union River Drainage made by Havey (1960), along with aerial pictures and general maps; more than 25 historical dams and waterfalls were located within the URW area. The former work made by Ezra Provost and Havey were used to add locations, references, and other attributes to the dams state layer, making it a layer of more than 40 dams; classified as dams, historical dams and natural falls. Besides that, Mark Honey, a knowledgeable Ellsworth historian, was interviewed to shed more light to the existing information.

By the other hand, current and potential preservation areas in and around the watershed were updated. The Nature Conservancy provided information regarding potential consevation areas. The areas were also classified as private, state and federal conservation areas.

The map was created using these and other updates made throughout the project. It will be used as promotional means for the Union River Watershed.

Double-Click Image to Open PDF Map. (pdf - 7.3 megabytes)

Sources for the project:
Union River Watershed Coalition  http://www.unionriver.org
The Nature Conservancy
College of the Atlantic GIS Lab
Maine Office of GIS
 
Special thanks to:
Travis Hussey
Gordon Longsworth
Kate Dempsey
Dan Coker
Mark Honey
Jodi Jacobs

GIS Lab Contact:
Gordon Longsworth, glongsworth@coa.edu, 207-288-2944, extension 277