Watersheds We Help Protect
Watersheds We Help Protect > Northeast > White Cedar Spring
White Cedar Spring, Maine
White Cedar Spring is located in Dallas Plantation in Franklin County, Maine, within the watershed of the Redington Stream. The spring site drainage basin is approximately 11,200 acres in size and includes the northern slope of Saddleback Mountain. The White Cedar Spring aquifer is a body of permeable sand and gravel that exists beneath the Redington Stream valley. The aquifer and associated sediments - all of which are mapped as significant sand and gravel aquifer materials by the Maine Geological Survey - are up to 80 feet thick. The valley became filled with sand and gravel sediments during the recession of the continental ice sheet that occurred between 11,000 and 13,200 years ago. As the ice sheet melted and receded to the north, active deposition of sediments occurred along the ice margin where meltwater flowed from the glacier. Today, the White Cedar Spring aquifer is comprised of these thick sand and gravel features.
QUICK FACTS*
Conserved Acres: 1,000
Total Acres: 1,010
2023 Withdrawals (Mgal): 43.6
% of Annual Watershed Precipitation: 1%
Water Stress: Very Low
Figure 1: Maine’s Water Cycle
The aquifer deposits that are formed along the east-west valley of Redington Stream exhibit springs, including White Cedar Spring. Rain and snow that fall in the watershed recharge the aquifer and groundwater resource throughout the year. This natural cycle of water occurs throughout Maine and includes precipitation, runoff, infiltration to groundwater and evaporation/transpiration, as illustrated in Figure 1.
DEFINITION OF A SPRING
A spring is defined as the location where groundwater (water that exists beneath the earth’s surface) naturally emerges from the ground. BlueTriton withdraws water from two boreholes located at White Cedar Spring, intercepting a portion of the spring water that would otherwise naturally flow to the ground surface. The spring water here eventually flows into Redington Stream, which then flows into the South Branch of the Dead River further downstream.
WATER WITHDRAWALS AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) regulates spring water withdrawal at White Cedar Spring through the issuance of permits. In addition, BlueTriton has an agreement with the Rangeley Water District (RWD) that requires BlueTriton to operate its boreholes so that there are no unreasonable adverse effects on the quality and quantity of water available at the District’s water supply wells. The RWD wells are located along the South Branch approximately two and a half miles to the west of the spring site. In addition to requiring extensive scientific investigations of the site, LUPC established a series of permit conditions in connection with issuing a water extraction permit. These performance standards protect the aquifer and other natural resources for long term sustainability.
Hydrologic analyses were used by regulators to establish an extraction volume from the White Cedar spring sources of 184 million gallons (MG) of water in any given 365-day period. While this may seem like a large number, it is important to note that this amount represents only 7.5 percent of the average annual precipitation falling in the watershed. Since water withdrawals began in July 2005 at White Cedar Spring, the average utilization has been approximately 1 percent of the average annual precipitation falling in the watershed.1
SITE MONITORING
Water Supply
Independent scientists contracted by BlueTriton regularly and thoroughly monitor the groundwater system, springs, wetlands and surface water bodies located in and around the White Cedar Spring aquifer. BlueTriton continuously monitors extraction rates at the spring water boreholes and monitors stream flows at Redington Stream and the South Branch near the RWD supply wells. These considerable monitoring efforts ensure that BlueTriton’s operations are sustainable and do not adversely affect the groundwater, surface water, or natural environments in the valley. These independent scientists submit monthly monitoring data to the RWD and annual reports to the Dallas Plantation Town Office, RWD and LUPC, where they are available to the public for review.
Wetland Health
BlueTriton also assesses wetland health of nearby wetlands through wetland monitoring. The independent scientists who conduct these assessments submit the monitoring data in the monthly and annual monitoring reports. These reports show that there have been no adverse effects on wetlands.
RECENT MONITORING RESULTS
The graphs below summarize important measures of the health of the natural groundwater and surface water systems. The graph in Figure 2 depicts water levels observed in the White Cedar Spring aquifer dating back approximately 18 years. The water levels in the aquifer naturally fluctuate by a few feet, depending on the season. Spring snow melt and fall rains typically increase recharge resulting in rising groundwater levels in the aquifer, while growth and uptake of water by plants in the summer usually decreases aquifer water levels, as does the lack of recharge during winter months when the ground is frozen. During 2023, the White Cedar Spring area experienced a significantly higher-than normal amount of precipitation, totaling more than 10 inches above the long-term normal annual precipitation. The monitoring data in 2023 show groundwater levels rising in the spring as expected with snow melt and aquifer recharge but remaining elevated through the summer months and well into the fall in response to continued higher-than-normal amounts of rainfall.
Surface water bodies respond similarly to the natural hydrologic cycles, as shown in Figure 3. Melting snow and spring rains lead to increased surface water flows. Hotter, drier summer weather, combined with the uptake of moisture by plants, reduces available surface water flows. However, throughout 2023, the site experienced increasing stream flows in response to continued precipitation at higher-than-normal levels.
Figure 2: Groundwater Monitoring Data
Figure 3: Surface Water Monitoring Data
FUTURE MONITORING
BlueTriton takes its environmental stewardship responsibilities seriously and is committed to sustainable management of natural resources. Monitoring the groundwater, surface water, habitat and precipitation will continue for as long as BlueTriton withdraws spring water from White Cedar Spring.
SUMMARY
Water withdrawals by BlueTriton at White Cedar Spring in Dallas Plantation, Maine are overseen by its independent hydrogeologists, the Rangeley Water District and the LUPC. BlueTriton manages for sustainability through proactive monitoring and responsible use. Water withdrawal activity has not resulted in adverse impacts to groundwater, surface water, wetlands, or other natural resources.
RESOURCES & INFORMATION
BlueTriton is committed to increasing the transparency of our operations and water stewardship practices through our Reading Room.
Questions about White Cedar Spring or the information contained in this summary can be directed to:
Water withdrawals at White Cedar Spring are regulated by:
• Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC)
• Maine Dept. of Health & Human Services
(Maine Drinking Water Program)
*Footnotes:
The percent withdrawal is derived by taking the annual withdrawal divided by the total rainfall within the watershed that year. A watershed is an area of land and its streams and rivers that drain to a single body of water, such as a larger river, a lake or the ocean.
