This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Powers Lake at 100-meter resolution, combining road, aviation, and rail sources. Green areas measure below 45 dBA. Orange and red exceed the EPA's 55 dBA outdoor threshold linked to long-term health effects. Use the layer toggles to view each source on its own or all together.
What the numbers sound like
- 30 dBAWhisper
- 40 dBASoft rainfall
- 45 dBAQuiet suburban street at night
- 50 dBAQuiet office
- 55 dBAEPA outdoor threshold: light traffic 100 ft away
- 60 dBANormal conversation an arm's length away
- 65 dBABusy restaurant
- 70 dBAHighway traffic 50 ft away
- 80 dBACity bus interior
Population Above the EPA Outdoor Threshold
The EPA's 55 dBA outdoor reference level is a common benchmark for residential noise exposure, especially for activity interference, annoyance, and long-term community noise concerns. About 26 Powers Lake residents, or 5.0%, live above that level. By land area, 11.7% of Powers Lake is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Powers Lake compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Powers Lake
Average noise levels for Powers Lake residents, grouped by direction from the center of Powers Lake. Western Powers Lake carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Powers Lake carries the lowest. Just 1% of residents in Northern Powers Lake live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western Powers Lake.
Northern Powers Lake
1% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Powers Lake
2% of people above 55 dBA
Western Powers Lake
30% of people above 55 dBA
Western Powers Lake sounds about 195% louder than Northern Powers Lake to the human ear, a 15.6 dBA gap. Every 10 dBA roughly doubles perceived loudness. Within any of these directions, two homes a quarter mile apart can still differ by 10 or more dBA depending on how close they sit to a major highway.
How far back from do you need to be?
produces an estimated 74 dBA at its loudest centerline points. Noise drops logarithmically with distance, with the exact rate depending on what's between you and the road. Tree cover, walls, terrain, and pavement type all matter. At roughly a quarter mile back, traffic fades into the noise level of a soft rainfall.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 4% of Powers Lake sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 1% is impervious surface like pavement and rooftops. Both are folded into the per-place decay rate above. Heavier canopy pulls noise down faster with distance; impervious surfaces slow the drop.