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The following is the original proposal from the Fish River Septage Disposal Board regarding the New Canada septage site:
Summary of proposal: The applicant (Fish River Septage Disposal Board) proposes to utilize 4.5 acres of a 21 acre parcel of land to provide a septage disposal facility for the towns of New Canada and Fort Kent. The towns have organized pursuant to 30- A M M.R.S.A, Chapter 115, the Maine Interlocal Cooperation Act, as the Fish River Septage Disposal Board. The total proposed annual capacity of the site is 268,150 gallons per year. The applicant proposes to store septage in two steel storage tanks with a total capacity of approximately 30,000 gallons. The tanks will be located at the old Fort Kent airport in Fort Kent. The tanks are to be used for septage storage when landspreading is not permitted due to frozen, snow-covered or water saturated ground conditions. The storage facility at the Fort Kent site are needed to avoid costs from keeping 1 mile of access road plowed during winter.
The property to be used for septage disposal is owned by Fish River Septage Disposal Board. The property to be used for storage is owned by the town of Fort Kent. The septage disposal and storage facilities are estimated to cost $11,154.50. Costs will be covered by municipal appropriations and user fees.
The DEP received comments from two abutters to the proposed septage storage area which expressed concern for the impact to the scenic character of the area. Fish River Falls, traditional recreational site for area residents is located approximately 1,500 feet west of the proposed storage site. Access to the Falls is via the Airport road and the proposed area for septage storage is visible to persons traveling to and from the river. The proposed storage site is not visible from the recreation area.
Odors from handling septage generally persists for a short time after disposal. Odors dissipate at different rates subject to prevailing climate conditions. The F.R.S.D.B will rely on setback distances to the disposal site in excess of 3,800 feet to mitigate any potential odor nuisance problems.
The proposed septage and storage facilities are not located over a mapped sand and gravel or aquifer. Also, a seeding and mulching plan, and an erosion control plan have been submitted by the F.R.S.D.B. The proposed disposal and storage areas are not located within a 100 year flood zone.
For storage facilities, the F.R.S.D.B. proposes to install 3 steel tanks with a total storage capacity of 30,000 gallons at the Fort Kent site. The F.R.S.D.B. has submitted certification that the tanks are clean and in good condition. The F.R.S.D.B. proposes to place the tanks on an existing concrete pad which is located on Howland soils. No leak detection has been proposed for the storage tanks.
On December 6, 1993 ten test pits were evaluated on a parcel of land located in New Canada on an unimproved parcel of land located in New Canada on the Lamarre Road Extension. The parcel was found to be suitable for land spreading of septage.
The purpose of the test pits and soils maps was to determine whether the site could be used by several towns in the St. John Valley to dispose of their septage. The gallons per acre that could be spread according to soil type was also determined.
Soil samples collected for chemical analysis consisted of a composite of a minimum of 15 subsamples on each of the two halves of the proposed site. The subsamples were collected from random areas of each one-half by transversing in a criss-cross manner. An adjoining site further up the slope was evaluated for the same purpose in 1992.
SOIL PROFILE DESCRIPTIONS
Soils were identified as a course-loamy, mixed, frigid Aquic Fragiorthod (Howland), coarse loamy, mixed, frigid Typic Fragiorthod (Plaisted), a coarse loamy over sandy or sandy skeletal, frigid, typic, Haplorthod (Monadnock); and a loamy skeletal, mixed, frigid, Lithic Haplorthord (Thorndike).
The entire site is cleared and in old sod. Fringe areas on the West and North sides of the parcel are wooded. Topographically, the site is located on a break in the slope about mid-way down a long strongly sloping side hill. The site is well drained and moderately well drained. Thorndike soil areas are somewhat excessively drained.
DEP's DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS FROM SOIL SAMPLING
No seasonal watertable as indicated by mottling is evident in any of the Plaisted or Thorndike soils investigated. The Howland soils possess a watertable in the deeper horizons for only a short period of time in the spring (no observed watertable was present in the profile of the test pit even though the profile was evaluated on 12/6/93).
Howland soils may be spread at a rate of 37,000 gallons per acre per year. A small percentage of the Howland soils are excluded from spreading by the required 25' setback from the unimproved roadway.
The Plaisted soils are rated as being suitable for 62,000 gallons per acre per year. A small percentage of the Plaisted soils are excluded from spreading due to the required setback from the unimproved roadway and from the south property line. In addition a berm (situated on the neighboring property) about 4 feet high is located upslope of the field road. This berm effectively intercepts any runoff. Therefore, at the option of the towns involved, a variance may be requested to spread on slopes exceeding 8%.
Thorndike soils are upslope of and abut a portion of the Plaisted soils. Thorndike soils generally are not suitable for landspreading, however, landspreading is allowed on Thorndike soils at reduced rates if the septage is treated with a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens. Due to PSRP requirements, and to the reduced spread rate requirement, and because there are sufficient areas of suitable soils without the Thorndike soils, the Thorndike soil areas were not recommended for spreading.
The area that was proposed for spreading is bounded on the North by the upslope grassed diversion ditch, on the East of the Thorndike mapping unit, an on the West by a 25' setback from the property line. The total acreage of the entire parcel (excluding wooded areas near the Northwest corner) from the unimproved field road to the upslope diversion ditch and Thorndike mapping unit and from the South property line to the diversion ditch is 6.4 acres. 0.2 of which consists of Howland soil, 1.2 of which consists of Thorndike soil and 5 acres of which is composed of Plaisted soils. Once setbacks from the unimproved roadway, the South property line, and non-spread areas due to soils which are to shallow are discounted, spreading may occur on the following soil types with their corresponding acreage: Howland- 0.16 acres, Plaisted- 4.5 acres, and Thorndike- WILL NOT BE SPREAD. Total acreage spread is 4.56 acres.
The total gallons of septage which can be spread for the entire parcel in any one year when lost acreage due to setbacks from the unimproved road and from property lines are excluded equals 268,150 gallons per year. There are no perennial or intermittent drainage located on or within 300' of the proposed site. An upslope diversion ditch shunts overland flow around the spread site.
The following soil samples were taken on February 3, 1994.
- Laboratory Results: East Sample
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- Laboratory Results: West Sample
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- Relative Soil Nutrient Levels: East Sample
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- Relative Soil Nutrient Levels: West Sample
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Water Quality
Daigle Pond, in New Canada, is listed on the DEP's 1996 list of impaired lakes. The evaluation of impaired status is based on occurence of repeated alga blooms, evidence of hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen depletion, increasing trophic trend, or habitual alteration.
New Canada has appointed a Daigle Pond Restoration Committee composed of six residents of New Canada: Thomas Clavette, Donald Raymond, John Babin, Michael Masse, Conrad Daigle, Carey Daigle and Tim Daigle.
Thomas Clavette, the individual spearheading the restoration project, explained that the lake has been polluted in many ways. A damn at the East end of the pond has deteriorated and the restoration committee has received grant money to rebuild it in the spring. The pollution is being caused by excessive alga bloom. This apparantly has been partly brought on by runoff from a livestock farm just up the road. The farm has taken steps to reduce runoff into the pond by installing absorption pads. The committee also plans to plant trees in the drainage area in an attempt to curb the runoff.
For more information on the fish tissue contamination project click here:The fish River Water Shed (External Link)
Forest land makes up approximately 70% of the land in New Canada. Tillable agricultural land is the second major use estimated at 20%. Other uses are relatively minor and are estimated in the table below.
| Land Use In New Canada (Estimated) | Acres |
| Forest Land | |
| Consolidated Rambler Mines | 9,800 |
| Macwahoc Co. | 800 |
| Public Lots (State) | 1,200 |
| Other Forest Land | 4,200 |
| Total Forest Land Acreage | 16,000 |
| Agricultural Land (Tillable) | 4,600 |
| Other Land | |
| House Lots | 100 |
| Highways & Other Public Use | 150 |
| Maine Public Service Right Of Way | 75 |
| Wetlands | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 1.227 |
| Land Area | 22,252 |
| Water Area | 442 |
| Total Acreage | 22,694 |
 The soils map prepared by the Soil Conservation Service shows that almost all of New Canada is "irregular sloping soils on tillderived chiefly from acid rocks: Thorndike-Howland Association". This is the same association that prevails in the St. John Valley above Grand Isle. The southeast corner of the town around California Pond is "nearly level to gently sloping, poorly drained and very poorly drained soils on firm till: Easton- Monarda-Burnham Association". The soil survey provides more detailed information as to the suitability of areas of the town for various purposes. This and additional help from the local soil scientists should be taken advantage of when all site plans are considered. The agricultural land in town is used almost entirely for potato production or in rotation for that purpose. New Canada is recognized as an area of seed potato production. About 75% of the potatoes are grown for seed. one reason that this is specialty was developed has been its relative isolation from other growing areas. The potato soils are primarily Thorndike shaly silt loam and Plaisted gravely loam. |
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| The main ponds in New Canada are three Sly Brook Lakes: First (90 acres), Second (15 acres), and Third (130 acres); California Pond (128 acres): and Daigle Pond (36 acres). There is also a three acre pond at the head of Dimmock Brook. The Fish River flow along the west boundary of the town for about 1/2 mile and covers about 15 acres. The only development is around Daigle Pond. There is little need or demand for development of the other ponds and they should be protected from any development at this time. The Federal Insurance Administration maps show the area adjacent to the Fish River, Sly Brook, and Sly Brook Lakes as a "special flood hazard area". LURC has identified on the basis of soils, information, a flood plain around California Pond and it's outlet stream.
In addition to the ponds and Fish River, there are many brooks and streams throughout the town. LURC regulations require protection of all water bodies by placing the land within 250 feet of major streams (those draining at least 50 square miles) and great ponds (those over 10 acres) and within 75 feet of all other streams and ponds in districts with special protective regulations. Land within 75 feet of all wetlands should be similarly protected. There are no areas of steep slope requiring special protection At present, there are no significant deer wintering areas. The planning board will expect to work with the game biologist in the future in proposing changes in district boundaries if there are changing conditions that require areas to be protected for this purpose. |