Concord Gully Brook - Cumberland County
Working in partnership with CCSWCD.
The main stem of Concord Gully Brook is approximately 1.5 miles in length and
the watershed covers approximately 600 acres. The brook has three tributaries
which ultimately drain into Allen Pond before entering the larger Harraseeket
River Watershed at Porterís Landing. The upper reaches of the brook watershed
are relatively undeveloped but development does intensify along Lower Main
Street (U.S. Route 1) and is expected to continue.
Town of Freeport is taking a proactive approach in determining the causes of
impairment of the Concord Gully Brook Watershed. In collaboration with the
Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District, the Concord Gully Brook
Watershed Survey project will identify, document and prioritize any soil erosion
sites in the watershed and recommend conservation practices that can be
installed to fix problems at these sites. In addition, a Stream Corridor Survey
will also be conducted to identify potential areas that negatively impact
aquatic life with issues such as lack of riparian buffers, lack of flood plain,
potential sources of bacteria and opportunities for stormwater treatment.
Concord Gully Brook does not meet its Class B state water quality standards and
is listed as an Urban Impaired Stream. Concord Gully is specifically listed as
impaired because it does not provide for aquatic life due to degraded stream
habitat conditions. Bacteria have also been an issue in the past with known
According to the Maine DEPís Impervious cover Total Maximum Daily Load (ICTMDL)
December 2011 draft report, Concord Gullyís watershed has an impervious surface
area of 24% compared to the 9% level that MDEP estimates is needed to support
Class B aquatic life use. Pollutants in stormwater, excessive stormwater flow
are the primary cause of impaired water quality.
Impervious cover or surface is any area that prevents rain/stormwater to
infiltrate into the ground. Common impervious surfaces include parking lots,
roads, driveway and rooftops. The amount of polluted runoff increases in
relation to the extent of impervious surface that could result in water quality
Concord Gully Brook has been listed as an urban impaired stream by the Maine
Department of Environmental Protection because it is not meeting State water
quality classifications due to polluted runoff and increased storm flow volume
from impervious surfaces such as rooftops, parking lots and roads.