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Harpswell previews Stantec-based interactive flood-risk maps to help plan for sea-level rise and storms
Summary
Officials showed an interactive mapping tool based on Stantec modeling that will let residents compare local results with current FEMA maps, explore multiple storm and sea-level-rise scenarios, and view transect data when the tool is released after quality checks.
Town staff and project presenters described an interactive, web-based flood-risk tool built from Stantec models that will let residents search an address, place a pin and slide between the town's FEMA maps and Stantec scenarios to compare modeled flood extents for combinations of storm severity and sea-level rise.
Presenters said the Stantec maps include more recent lidar and greater transect density than older maps and will illustrate scenarios such as a 100-year storm combined with higher sea-level-rise projections. The mapping interface will offer layers and a legend that explain the modeled feet of inundation and list transect-level data for several modeled scenarios.
Staff cautioned that the maps were undergoing final quality control and that uploaded files could appear lower resolution during intermediate testing; they aimed to release the tool publicly (subject to QC) by a July 30 support meeting.
Officials stressed the tool is a local planning resource rather than a replacement for FEMA; presenters referenced planning baselines used for infrastructure design (planning for roughly 1.5 feet of sea-level rise by 2050 and about 3.9 feet by 2100) and said the tool helps evaluate when roads or infrastructure might need different design criteria.
