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| The Saco River Basin takes up an area of 1,700 square miles. It has a maximum length of 75 miles and at it's widest extends 44 miles. |
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| The lands along the three rivers, in addition to the Little Ossipee Flowage and Balch Pond, which are both man created lakes within the Little Ossipee River, have been designated the Saco River Corridor. The Corridor includes all lands within 500 feet of the riverbank on each side. If the 100-year floodplain extends beyond the 500 foot setback, the Corridor follows the flood line up to 1,000 feet from the riverbank. Anyone who wishes to develop within this designated corridor must first obtain a permit from the Saco River Corridor Commission. Please visit the Regulatory section of our website for more information on how to apply for a permit.
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| The Saco River serves as a water supply for the citizens and industry of Saco, Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach and part of Scarborough. It is also used to supplement local supplies in the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Wells Water District. Area citizens consider the river an important aspect of valley life, recognizing its natural beauty and respecting its vulnerability. However, because the river is clean and flows close to metropolitan areas, the valley has seen a dramatic increase in recreational use, especially by campers and canoeists, and attracted the speculative eye of developers, who, perhaps unknowingly, have threatened the core of valley existence. It was in order to protect and preserve the natural attractions of the rivers and valley and to prevent the encroachment of unplanned development that the Saco River Corridor Commission was created. |
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| The flood plain acts as a storage reserve area for billions of cubic feet of flood-waters during storm events. This storage capacity acts to save millions of dollars to communities through the prevention of flood related damage. Areas included in the 100-year floodplain, and as defined in the Saco River Corridor Act, include those lands adjacent to a river or waterbody that is of lower elevation than the profiles of the 100-year flood established for that location by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or by other state or federal agency, or which was actually covered by flood waters in the flood of March, 1936. The Saco River Corridor Commission reviews projects closely to ensure that any floodplain activities are appropriate. |
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