Waterford Goes High Tech
By Colin Holme
Lakes Environmental Association Field Services Director
Chairman, Waterford Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee

     With the help of a matching grant from Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG), Waterford now has a computer mapping and database system that can serve a variety of functions at the municipal level. 

      Currently, the town relies on paper maps, property cards and a landowner database that is difficult to use and maintained by an outside company. One of the program's key features is that it would allow for features on a map to be connected to information about that feature in a database. This could permit numerous related items to be linked together efficiently. It also makes overlaying different map layers such as flood zones and property parcels easy. This can be extremely useful for town road maintenance, infrastructure planning, natural resources inventories, fire protection, historical archives, accurate property valuations and assessing developmental constraints.

     Although Waterford is still in the early stages of developing this system, nearby towns like Norway and Paris are already running similar programs. You can view interactive maps at AVCOG. Harrison and Bridgton have also allocated funds for the same thing. Waterford, however, is getting the mapping program, computer, and town database at half cost thanks to a matching grant from AVCOG. 

     LEA has been using this type of mapping program for more than 10 years for assessing land use changes and evaluating potential impacts to natural resources from development. Although we produce dozens of different types of maps and have run several modeling programs over the years, we still use only a small portion of the system’s capabilities because of our (relatively) narrow focus on water quality. Because of the varied and numerous services that are associated with any municipality, towns that use the system can benefit from it in many more ways.

     This system is a huge and exciting step forward and one that will surely save the town money down the road. As with any tool, however, the town will need interested and capable people to derive the most benefit.