Title:

Tidal Culvert Analysis in Georgetown, ME

The primary objectives of the Tidal Analysis in Georgetown, ME project were to survey two culverts carrying tidal channels under marsh-top roads in Georgetown, determine if each culvert restricted tidal flow, investigate vegetation differences within each marsh, and speculate how to prevent road flooding at each site. Students surveyed one culvert on Flying Point Road and one culvert on Williams Road, collected two months of water level data upstream and downstream of each culvert, and surveyed vegetation elevation in the surrounding marshes. Water level analyses determined that the Williams Road culvert does not restrict tidal flow and the Flying Point Road culvert restricts tidal flow during ebb tide. Intraspecies vegetation elevation differences upstream and downstream of each crossing were mostly insignificant and were not determined to be the result of tidal restriction. Increasing the crossing area and lowering the invert at Flying Point Road could eliminate the restriction, but road inundation would still occur as the water level data showed that the incoming tide controls when the road floods. At the Williams Road crossing, students recommended a minimum road height to prevent inundation in 1.7’ sea level rise and 100-year storm conditions, determined material needed to raise the road to that elevation, and calculated the added load on the marsh. Students also continued the volunteer culvert monitoring program with volunteers in Georgetown to take photos of select culverts at 2-year rain events to validate models of culvert performance calculated by prior student groups.

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