RamaSchneider/test huggingface dataset:
The CVRPC has been very active in the area of brownfield rehabilitation, having received over a half million dollars in EPA grants since 2004 to assist towns in assessing and reclaiming important properties. Williamstown should consider taking advantage of the Commission's expertise to identify and evaluate sites within the community for inclusion in the program. This year CVRPC received an additional grant of $80,000 from the EPA to conduct environmental assessments.
Williamstown should consider describing any particular areas of town that the community envisions for redevelopment in the Town Plan. Identification of these areas and a description of the community's vision for them would strengthen an application for Brownfields funding, should the town pursue it.
CVRPC is currently in the process of assembling our Brownfields steering committee and developing the program application criteria. Please stay tuned for the announcement that the program is open for applications.
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 21
Any undesired loud and/or continuous sound can be considered "noise." Noise pollution is defined as "continuous and unrelenting sounds at all levels or episodic and excessively loud sounds." Higher noise levels may be appropriate and unavoidable within designated industrial, commercial, and mixed use areas. While it must be recognized that noise necessarily accompanies certain business and transportation operations, new development should make all reasonable efforts to minimize noise impacts and shall not exceed acceptable standards in residential areas. Among the strategies for the town to consider are: restricting hours of operation or construction, using vegetated buffer zones to filter sound, taking advantage of topography in designing projects to provide sound barriers, the use of structural barriers (i.e. earth berms and sound walls), and architectural design and material.
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 22
Chapter 3.A: Flood Resiliency
In 2012, the Vermont Legislature adopted Act 138 establishing the Flood Resilient Communities Program and establishing incentives for municipalities to join the NFIP, adopt an HMP, and avoid new encroachments into river corridors.
A. Introduction
A Flood Resilience section is to be included in any Town Plan written or substantially rewritten after July 1, 2014, as mandated by the state of Vermont (Act No. 16).
(14) To encourage flood resilient communities.
(A) New development in identified flood hazard, fluvial erosion, and river corridor protection areas should be avoided. If new development is to be built in such areas, it should not exacerbate flooding and fluvial erosion.
(B) The protection and restoration of floodplains and upland forested areas that attenuate and moderate flooding and fluvial erosion should be encouraged.
(C) Flood emergency preparedness and response planning should be encouraged.
To support the overarching goal of flood resilience, Act 16 added subdivision (12)(A) to the plan for a municipality as effective July 1, 2014. §4382
(12)(A) A flood resilience plan that:
(i) identifies flood hazard and fluvial erosion hazard areas, based on river corridor maps provided by the Secretary of Natural Resources pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 1428(a) or maps recommended by the Secretary, and designates those areas to be protected, including floodplains, river corridors, land adjacent to streams, wetlands, and upland forests, to reduce the risk of flood damage to infrastructure and improved property; and
(ii) recommends policies and strategies to protect the areas identified and designated under subdivision (12)(A)(i) of this subsection and to mitigate risks to public safety, critical infrastructure, historic structures, and municipal investments.
(B) A flood resilience plan may reference an existing local hazard mitigation plan approved under 44 C.F.R. § 201.6
The impact of expected, but unpredictable natural and human caused flooding can be reduced through community planning. For the purpose of this chapter, Flood Resilience, refers to Williamstown's ability to withstand a flooding event, minimize damage and rapidly recover from disruptions to the town and its residents. Addressing local flood risks now and creating a prioritized list of actionable tasks is the smartest way to prevent a crisis. Any action is a smart budgetary investment, that can help to protect public safety and avoid the astronomical costs of fixing damage from natural disasters after they occur.
Williamstown strives to be in accordance with the strategies, goals and objectives of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan with an emphasis on proactive pre- disaster flood resiliency planning1.
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 23
B. History
"Date","Event","Location","Extent"
"8/28/2011","Flood/Tropical Storm","Statewide/Williamston","Montpelier flood gauge at 19.05' (flood stage is 15') DR 4002 (DR- Declarations #)"
"5/27/2011","Flash Flood","Williamstown","Montpelier flood gauge at 17.59', DR 4001"
"8/02/2008","Flash Flood","Williamstown","No extent data"
"7/11/2007","Flash Flood","Williamstown","3-6"" of rain in 2 hrs. DR 175"
"12/17/2000","Flood","County Wide","3"" inches of rain, $1 Million in damages"
"9/16/1999","Tropical storm Floyd","County Wide","Montpelier flood gauge at 9.30’, 5-7"" of rain county wide, DR 1307"
"6/27/1998","Flash Flood","County Wide","$5 Million in damages, 3-6” of rain county wide, DR 1228"
"1/19/1996","Flood/Ice Jam","County Wide","Montpelier flood gauge at 14.64'"
"8/4/1995","Flood","County Wide","Montpelier flood gauge at 6.94'"
"8/5/1976","Flood","County Wide","Montpelier flood gauge at 12.31' DR 518"
"6/30/1973","Flash Flood","Williamstown","Montpelier flood gauge at 17.55’. DR 397"
"9/22/1938","Floyd/Hurricane","County Wide","Montpelier flood gauge at 14.11'"
"11/03/1927","Flood","County Wide","Montpelier flood gauge at 27.10'"
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 24
Williamstown, like the rest of Vermont suffered in the great flood of 1927. Occurring November 2nd, 1927 through November 4th, 1927, the Great Flood is known as one of the most devastating natural disasters in Vermont's history. Between 4-9" of rain fell over a period of 3 days. An abnormally rainy October caused soils to be completely saturated prior to the Great Flood's arrival. Statewide, over 1,000 bridges and miles of roads and railroads were washed out, countless homes and businesses were destroyed, and 84 people were killed as a result of the flooding from the extreme rain that fell in early November.
The more recent flood events of July 11th, and 12th, 2007, July 21st through August 12th, 2008, were caused by steady, heavy rains and saturated water tables. The southern part of the town incurred extensive damage. South Hill, Graham Road, Winchester Hill, Baptist Street and Chelsea Road were damaged and impassable with a price tag of $480,000. A Presidential disaster area was declared July, 2011. As much as 3" of rain fell in a two hour time period causing flooding in Williamstown. Several roads were washed out and several homes flooded causing significant structural damage. In Central Vermont there was $1.5 million dollars in structural and property damages.
Tropical Storm Irene moved across New York and New England during the morning of August 28th, 2011 and headed north along the Connecticut River Valley in Vermont during the afternoon and evening. Strong, damaging winds in excess of 60 mph were observed within several miles of Lake Champlain and Northwestern Vermont, as well as exposed, higher elevation terrain in Southern Vermont. Wind gusts were approaching 50 mph in other parts of Vermont. There were nearly 2400 roads, 800 homes and businesses, 300 bridges and a half dozen railroad tracks destroyed or damaged from the flooding caused by Irene.
Flooding downed trees throughout the state by afternoon. A peak wind gust of 85 mph was measured at the summit of Mount Mansfield in Lamoille County. Approximately 100,000 customers were without power during the storm. The main impact from Irene was widespread, devastating flooding, especially in Central and Southern Vermont. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3-5" occurred across Vermont with 5-7" or more across much of Southern, Central Vermont and elevations above 1000 feet along the spine of Vermont's Green Mountains and the Worcester range. Flash flooding occurred across much of Central and Southern Vermont's mountain valleys with substantial and record-breaking flood stages on larger rivers. Williamstown felt Irene's fury. This flood event will likely rank second to the November 1927 flood in the scope of meteorological and hydrological conditions/impacts as well as loss of life (84 in 1927), but likely first in monetary damage (approximately $500 million statewide versus $350 million [1927 in 2010 dollars]).
Washington and Orange Counties were inundated with severe storms and flooding June 25th, 2013 through July 11th, 2013. Throughout the Central Vermont Region and Williamstown rainfall accumulation was 300% above normal for that time of year. It was the second wettest June on record. Soils were saturated. A Major Disaster Declaration was declared on August 2nd. Flash flooding on July 4th evolved into river flooding. Excessive runoff from heavy thunderstorm rainfall caused more flash flooding during the overnight hours of July 8th into July 9th. In Williamstown the Jail Branch flooded local homes and businesses, Routes 14 and 64, as well as other local roads. $4 million was provided in Public Assistance funds to address impacts statewide.
C. Hazard Identification
The following natural disasters were discussed in Town mitigation planning and the worst threats were identified based on the likelihood of the event and Williamstown's vulnerability to the event.
The Rouleau Pond Dam is privately owned and located outside the Village. The dam is 15' high, 3' thick concrete with a considerable amount of silt behind it. The dam has had a State performed engineering study. There are no known occurrences of the dam breaching. During the May, 2011 Spring storm water came over the top of the dam.
The Town is concerned if the dam was breached the library and approximately 12 private properties would be flooded.
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 25
The impoundment area of the dam (a dam is a barrier that impounds water, creating a body of water) and extent of flooding are not known due to lack of historical breeches. The Town shall work with the State to determine impoundment areas and depths, developing inundation models.
Flooding/flash-flooding and flash-flooding/fluvial erosion are Williamstown's most commonly recurring hazards. Specific data for flood levels in Williamstown is lacking. The closest flood gauge is located in Montpelier. During Storm Irene the Montpelier gauge was 4 feet above flood level stage as 3-5" of rain were dumped on the Town. Lesser but more regular flooding occurs in Williamstown with generally 1-2 feet of water in areas designated on the areas of concern map. The Town can expect to experience damages at flood depths of 3 feet. Flash flooding in nature is the cause of most of Williamstown's flooding. The main bodies of water in Town are: The Stevens Branch of the Winooski River, Martin Brook, Cold Springs Brook, Cutler Pond, Limehurst Lake, Staples Pond and Rood Pond. The Steven's Branch dominates the drainage pattern, flowing North to the Winooski River, while the southern section of Town drains into the White River watershed.
In May 2011, there was severe flash flooding in Williamstown and Orange County. One inch hail, 3-5" of rain fell, 50 knot winds and the Montpelier flood gauge peaked at 17.59 feet. Flood stage is at 15 feet. Declarations numbers (DR) were 4,001. Williamstown suffered the most damage in the May 2011 flood when 3-5" of rain fell causing severe flash flooding. The total damages to Williamstown were $150,000. The following roads sustained extensive damage and incurred substantial costs:
Falls Bridge Road - $23,054.20
South Hill Road - $11,304.78
Gilbert Road - $6,287.78
Winchester Hill Road - $4,122.20
Flint Road - $35,954.56
Rood Pond Road - $6,028.02
Baptist Street - $2.265.29
Robar Road - $7,997.82
Brockway Hill Road - $24,988.19
McGlynn Road - $8,179.91
Brush Hill Road - $2,214.32
During Tropical Storm Irene in August of 2011, 6" inches of rain fell. Montpelier flood gauge rose to 19.05 feet. DR was 4022. Flooding damage occurred on Flint Road ($6,733.09) and Stone Road ($1,890.60).
Williamstown is not immune to either of these hazards. Over the years the town has experienced several damaging floods and high water events. The most recent events, which included the spring flooding May 2011, Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 and the flood in July 2013 were devastating to the town, its residents and businesses.
The cost of flooding to the Town is significant. Updating the Flood Hazard Bylaws and securing funds to improve roads, repairing/ replacing culverts to make them more flood resilient is imperative for the safety of our residents and keeping costs of flooding events to a minimum. Updating current flood bylaws is a priority of the Town 's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan along with limiting development in inundation areas.
The Williamstown Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is updated annually at a January Selectboard meeting along with the review of the Basic Emergency Operations Plan. Updates and evaluation by the Selectboard will occur within three months after every disaster declaration and as updates to town plan/zoning and river corridor plans come into effect. The Selectboard, Town Officials and residents will review the updated plan(s). Currently, the Town Manager is responsible for enforcement of the bylaws.
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 26
3. Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms are violent rain storms with strong winds with large amounts of rainfall. Winds can reach a speed of 200 m.p.h. The impact of Hurricanes and Tropical Storms is usually flooding and high winds, hail, rain, trees and tree limbs causing roads to be impassable, loss of power and water damage. The worst anticipated wind event predicted for Williamstown is a Class 1 hurricane with wind speeds 75-95 m.p.h.
D. Understanding Risks of Flooding
Between 1996 and 2006, the National Climatic Data Center reported 267 major storm events in the Central Vermont Region, all of which resulted in the loss of life or property. In total, these storm events cost Central Vermont $21,083 million in property damage and resulted in 5 deaths. Based on this data, it is evident that Central Vermont is vulnerable to major storms and the damage resulting from them. Flash floods can occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall, a dam or levee failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water carrying rocks, mud and other debris.
Overland flooding, the most common type of flooding event typically occurs when waterways such as rivers or streams overflow their banks as a result of rainwater or a possible levee breach and cause flooding in surrounding areas. It can also occur when rainfall or snowmelt exceeds the capacity of underground pipes, or the capacity of streets and drains designed to carry flood water away.
Floodplains are low lying areas of land adjacent to a stream and rivers that are frequently inundated by water. While floodplains serve important ecological functions, including floodwater storage, sediment trapping, nutrient filtering and aquifer recharge, they can be hazardous locations for people and property. Flooding (and flood related events) arising from a variety of causes, including heavy rain, melting snow, ice jams, poor drainage and dam breaks, is the most frequent, damaging and costly type of natural disaster experienced in the state, region and Williamstown.
High water causes damage in two distinct, but related, ways. Inundation can fill structures with water and cause property damage and drowning. It is a great concern for those living in or near Flood Hazard Zones (the area inundated by water during a flood with a statistical probability of occurring once every 100 years - i.e., the "One Hundred Year Flood").
Fluvial erosion (i.e. flash flooding) actually causes greater damage. Within the area of a stream or river's active channel movement, known as the Fluvial Erosion Hazard Zone (or FEH), bank failures and changes in river channel courses during floods can undermine buildings, roads, farm fields, and utility infrastructure.
Flooding is the overflow of rivers, streams, drains, and lakes due to excessive rain, rapid snow melt or ice jams. Flash flooding is a rapidly occurring event usually from excessive rain. Fluvial erosion, the process of natural stream channel adjustments, causes erosion of sediment in some areas while causing aggradation of sediment in others. Fluvial erosion processes occur more quickly and severely during flooding events.
Fluvial erosion is erosion caused by rivers and streams, and can range from gradual bank erosion to catastrophic changes in river channel location and dimension during flood events.
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 27
E. Identify Vulnerable Areas & Determine Consequences
We all know people whose lives were turned upside down after Irene. Homes washed away. Bridges and roads were decimated. The costs for a small state were immense - about $63 million in insurance claims, $153 million in state and local costs, and a staggering $603 million in federal outlays - all from one storm, Irene.
While the FEMA Flood Hazard Zones are important maps for town planning and for mortgage lenders in deciding which properties need flood insurance protection, they do not address fluvial erosion hazards. Unfortunately, the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) maps are elevation-based, delineating inundation hazards only. The NFIP maps also represent a static impression of a dynamic system. The maps do not consider fluvial erosion hazards or the dynamic nature of river systems due to the physical channel adjustment processes, providing little guidance to a town or landowner assessing fluvial erosion-related flood risks.
Communities only need to adopt FEMA's minimum standards for flood hazard area regulation in order for their residents to be eligible to purchase flood insurance.(2)
To assume that the Fluvial Erosion Hazard (FEH) area is mostly captured by the FEMA regulated inundation floodplain area may be dangerous and costly. The NFIP minimum standards allow for new development into mapped flood hazard areas without regard for the FEH potential. This disregard for potential FEH exacerbates flood loss, degrades river conditions, and increases costs associated with flood recovery. During 2008, one-third of all flood insurance claims nationwide were from areas outside of the 100-year floodplain. FEMA's regulations recognize that the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) standards offer minimal protection against inundation and erosion hazards, and they explicitly encourage communities to adopt more protective standards.
The Department of Environmental Conservation, and many Regional Planning Commissions, have been busy conducting fluvial erosion hazard assessments for many river and stream segments statewide. Towns can use erosion hazard mapping information to help avoid future life and property damage by allowing rivers and streams the area they need to maintain or re-establish their natural "equilibrium" (or stability). These actions decrease the need for costly, and potentially environmentally damaging stream channelization and bank stabilization measures. While Flood Hazard and Fluvial Erosion Hazard Zones (FEH) typically have large areas of coincidence, they are seldom, if ever, identical.
(2) EPA 231-R-14-003 July 2014 www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 28
The "current" FEMA maps, provided to the town almost 40 years ago, depict 100 year flood levels, primarily identifying areas subject to the threat of inundation along the valley that parallels Route 14, the Steven's Branch and a few other areas scattered within the town. At this time roughly half the state does not have access to Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs) this includes most of Addison, Grand Isle, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans, Essex, Caledonia and Orange Counties. Most of the FEMA maps are over 30 years old. FEMA currently has no plans for mapping in Vermont. When funding does become available for mapping in Vermont it will be through the process and standards of Risk MAP. Through Risk MAP new flood hazard maps need to have high quality topography (i.e. the equivalent of two foot contour intervals) and a model-based delineation of flood hazards. The Risk map work will focus on watersheds, weather patterns and other factors to reduce (mitigate) flood risk.
Williamstown's Flood Hazard Area Bylaws restrict development in flood hazard and FEH zones in order to prevent water pollution and damage to life and property. Agriculture, recreation, forestry, and other similar low intensity activities are permitted. This does not solve every problem the Town has with flooding.
Historically, the town has also witnessed damage from upland streams that have not been mapped by either of the above programs. Mountainous or hilly areas tend to have narrow, confined channels through which flood waters move rapidly and travel downstream more quickly than in flat areas.
Even though a building is not located in a valley where a rising river could overflow its banks and inundate the structure, it is not necessarily safe from flood damage. Williamstown can prevent people from building structures too close to rivers by enforcing established development setbacks.
Finally, it is important to consider how land use within a watershed impacts flooding. Vermont's erosion hazard problems are also due to pervasive, human-caused alteration of our waterways and landscapes they drain during the past 150 to 200 years.
By the end of the 19th century, forests had been cleared from many watersheds, resulting in major changes in watershed hydrology and sediment production. Towns and villages grew on the banks of rivers, whose role in power generation and transportation outweighed flood risks. In addition, many rivers were moved and channelized to accommodate development, agriculture, log drives, roads and railways.
The largest single source of flood losses, both in terms of cost and number of people affected, is damage to transportation infrastructure. Infrastructure damage also represents the greatest public safety hazard. All three flood-related fatalities in Vermont since 1995 were associated with washed out culverts on town highways. Over 75% of damages in Vermont caused by the five major floods of the 1990s were due to fluvial erosion. Public health and safety is also at risk when access to homes and businesses is unavailable.
WILLIAMSTOWN TOWN PLAN JANUARY, 2016 PAGE 29
The legacy of this landscape manipulation is rivers and streams which are unstable and prone to fluvial erosion. (See General Constructions Conditions in the Barre-Montpelier Region map at the end of this chapter)
Land in the Stevens Branch basin is primarily forested. Any disturbance of the soil or any change in topography may increase erosion potential. Building development and soil tillage are two primary causes of soil disturbance in Williamstown. Two more factors , agriculture and beavers, have contributed to the presence of a relatively narrow forested riparian buffer along much of the main- stem between Barre and Williamstown. A wider forested buffer would have multiple benefits including: water quality, habitat for fish and reduction of property damage from erosion during floods.(3)
Excessive logging, logging roads, can leave hillsides open to erosion, removing the forest canopy that would have absorbed and retained much of the water. Improperly constructed logging roads may lead to increased erosion, particularly on poorly drained soils. (Refer to Surficial Materials in the Barre-Montpelier Area map at the end of this chapter)