Rain Fall

5/9/2006 0.52
5/10/2006 0.63
5/11/2006 0.03
5/12/2006 0.22
5/13/2006 4.02
5/14/2006 3.4
5/15/2006 0.42
5/16/2006 0.38
5/17/2006 0.01
5/18/2006 0.52

(Click images to magnify)

What will always be known as the Mother's Day Flood of 2006 devastated the Martins Pond neighborhood. Over a dozen families had to be evacuated from their homes. Countless others suffered tens of thousands of dollars in damage to first floor living space, loss of boilers and hot water heaters, and basement furnishings. No injuries have been reported.

Burroughs Road was impassable, along with the intersection of Lakeside Boulevard and Burroughs, and also the section of Lakeside Boulevard at the Pumping Station. The emergency access road to Route 125 was opened for the first time since 2001. The North Reading Fire Department patrolled the neighborhood in high water vehicles, helped residents evacuate and shut off dangerous electric power lines with Reading Light. DPW barricaded roadways and graded the emergency access road.

FEMA and MEMA toured the neighborhood on 5/19/06 with Fire Chief David Harlow, the Town Administrator and Assessor. Water levels crested on 5/16 early morning at 79.2 feet above sea level. This is a record flood. Previous high water mark was 78.6 feet above sea level. Readings for Martins Pond are done at the USGS gauge attached to the Burroughs Road bridge. Previous flood record was 78.6 feet which we believe was 1996 or 2001.

Water is receding slowly, about 4 inches per day due in part to the major constriction of flow at the undersized culvert under the Route 62 bridge in Wilmington. In four days since the crest at 79.2, water in Martins Pond has only dropped 1.12 feet. The crest of 79.2 feet represents a flood of 4.7 feet over our normal pond elevation of about 74.5.

The impact of this flood has brought attention to the flow constrictions at the State level. Our DPW Director Dave Hanlon, met with the Governor, FEMA and MEMA on 5/21/06 to discuss our problems and actions needed. State Rep. Brad Jones has been also working on this issue, meeting with representatives at the State to further promote resolution.

There are many stories to share, many wonderful experiences of neighbor helping neighbor, of our great town officials and workers, and stories of heartache and loss. We look forward to recovering and returning to enjoying the usual pleasures of life at the Pond. Please look to the blog for further updates. On behalf of the Martins Pond Reclamation Study Committee, we will continue to dedicate time and effort to improving the situation.

Sincerely,
Janet Nicosia
Co-Chair
Martins Pond Association
Martins Pond Reclamation Study Committee