DRAFT WATER/NATURAL RESOURCES POLICIES 8/23/11

State Goal for Water/Natural Resources: Protect the quantity and manage the quality of the States water resources and to protect the State’s other critical natural resources including wetlands, wildlife and fisheries habitats, shorelands, scenic vistas and unique natural areas. (Local policies and ordinances must be consistent with and may be more stringent than applicable state laws.)

Local Goal for Water/Critical Natural Resources: To protect water and critical natural resources in manner consistent with the minimum requirements of state law while continuing to evaluate and understand unique local conditions that may require higher standards for protection.

Summary: About the only thing that Fort Kent doesn’t have when it comes to water and critical natural resources is a “major” lake within its municipal boundaries. The town does include part of the watershed for Cross Lake and other lakes in the Fish River chain. Great ponds of 10 or more acres include, Basil, Black and Marcum Ponds. There are a multitude of wetlands, streams and riparian habitats that serve as valuable brook trout fisheries and nesting habitat for waterfowl and wading birds. The Town has four known locations of rare plant communities, many scenic vistas and thousands of acres that comprise large habitat blocks that serve priority trust species identified by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The entire St. John River is a focus area of statewide ecological significance and the Fish River is identified as a high value brook trout fishery. All of these resources are valuable to the entire local population, whether sportsman or recreationist. They are also important to the local economy.

Water Resources Policies

1. Protect the Town owned “public” drinking water supplies from the threat of contamination by land-uses within the well-head protection overlay zone.

Strategies

a. Pursue the development of a new industrial park away from water supplies and aquifer recharge areas.

b. Amend the zoning of the existing industrial park to transition the uses to “clean” manufacturing, service businesses, professional offices, and other uses that don’t create a risk of groundwater contamination.

c. Amend the Site Design Review section of the local zoning ordinance to include standards related to location, storage and use of hazardous substances and materials for existing and new commercial/industrial uses.

d. Use the building permit process to identify potential hazards associated with new commercial and industrial development at the industrial park.

e. Request 3-year updates of risks in the well-head protection zone by DHHS.

2. Protect privately owned “public” drinking water supplies from the threat of contamination from land uses within a 1000 ft. well head protection zone.

Strategies

a. Revise the building permit application process to include identification of potential hazardous substances on sites within 1000 feet of a well head.

b. Adopt standards in the Zoning Ordinance for the location, use and storage of hazardous materials for all uses within private well-head protection zones.

3. Help residents protect their private wells from contamination from faulty sewers and fuel tanks.

Strategies

a. Include a reminder about septic tank pumping at 3-year intervals with tax bills.

b. Amend zoning to require proof of septic system maintenance in the land-use permit application process.

c. Explore a property tax incentive for persons who demonstrate septic system maintenance. (Small reduction for a receipt from pumper)

d. Modify the land-use (building) permit application process to include information on the age and condition of fuel tanks.

4. Protect the water quality of our three Great Ponds (GP) from non-point source pollution from all land uses that generate erosion, sedimentation and/or phosphorus transport.

Strategies

a. Continue to update the local shoreland zoning ordinance to keep it current with the State minimum guidelines. (2009 updated)

b. Enforce the land use standards for all activities within the shoreland zone.

c. Monitor and annually report land use permit activities within the three GP water sheds and assess the need to apply sedimentation and erosion control and storm water runoff standards to activities that are not presently covered by site design review. (residential and other types)

d. Enforce these standards for those activities where required by the site design review process and state law.

e. Request that UMFK-Environmental Studies Program establish an on-going lake water quality monitoring program for Fort Kent’s great ponds.

f. Provide educational seminars and literature for property owners who do their own site development work.

Critical Natural Resources Policies

1. Identify, monitor and conserve the community’s significant natural resources including rare plant populations, moderate to high value nesting habitat for water fowl and wading birds, Fish River and tributary trout fisheries and waterfalls.

Strategies

a. Continue to maintain land use standards that are consistent with the State minimums for local shoreland zoning.

b. Amend town wide and shoreland zoning ordinances to require site inspection to identify resource concerns prior to issuance of a land use permit.

c. Include the identification of significant natural resources on land use permit application forms and verify the accuracy through site inspection, use of GPS and review of database.

d. Develop land use standards to conserve significant natural resources that are not presently protected by the minimum requirements of state laws.

e. Support and encourage local conservation organizations to participate in the protection of significant natural resources by acquiring land and easements and education property owners on resource conservation practices. Fish River Falls is a priority site.

2. Coordinate with the Town of Wallagrass, other neighboring communities and interested conservation organizations to conserve significant natural resources of shared interest.

Strategies

a. Work with the Wallagrass Planning Board to ensure consistent standards for the protection of the Spaulding Ponds watershed.

b. Cooperate with other local, regional and State entities in the conservation of natural resources of shared interest like the Fish River.

Focus Habitats Conservation Policies

Focus habitats, identified through the Beginning with Habitats Program, include riparian areas, high value plant and animal habitats, large habitat blocks and riparian and undeveloped habitat connections.

1. Maintain and improve water quality, brook trout fisheries, wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity through the conservation of all riparian habitats.

Strategies

a. Conduct Planning Board focus sessions (educational meetings) on the resource value of riparian habitats.

b. Consider the need for amending Shoreland and Town wide zoning to extend applicability and land use standards to specific activities within all riparian habitats.

2. Monitor and annually report land use (building) and subdivision activity occurring within large habitat blocks and habitats for priority trust species.

Strategies

a. Revise the land use permit application form to identify when new building construction is within a designated habitat block using GPS coordinates.

b. Identify through the building permit review process when any development occurs within a habitat connector.

c. Cooperate with State agencies to provide property owners with guidelines to voluntarily minimize impacts on habitat connectors.

Scenic Resource Conservation Policy

1. Protect the scenic qualities of the community as a means to promote tourism and encourage investment through monitoring potential adverse impacts.

Strategies

a. Implement existing provisions of the site design review process that pertain to scenic vistas and apply to areas identified in the Comprehensive Plan.

b. Amend site design review standards to include specific provisions for the size and reclamation of gravel pits.

c. Include data from the Fort Kent View Shed Study in the site design review process.

d. Study the implementation of a local “view tax” on new (and existing) development occurring on “high visibility” sites and designated scenic vistas