This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Reservoir-Whiskey Hill 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 2,562 Reservoir-Whiskey Hill residents, or 34.4%, live above that level. By land area, 61.9% of Reservoir-Whiskey Hill is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Reservoir-Whiskey Hill compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Reservoir-Whiskey Hill
Average noise levels for Reservoir-Whiskey Hill residents, grouped by direction from the center of Reservoir-Whiskey Hill. The highest population-weighted average is in southeastern Reservoir-Whiskey Hill; the lowest is in central Reservoir-Whiskey Hill, where just 15% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in the loudest section.
Southeastern Reservoir-Whiskey Hill
83% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Reservoir-Whiskey Hill
76% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Reservoir-Whiskey Hill
56% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Reservoir-Whiskey Hill
22% of people above 55 dBA
Central Reservoir-Whiskey Hill
15% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southeastern Reservoir-Whiskey Hill sounds about 236% louder than in central Reservoir-Whiskey Hill, a 17.5 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 Colonel Henry Mucci Hwy do you need to be?
Colonel Henry Mucci Hwy produces an estimated 77 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 34% of Reservoir-Whiskey Hill sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 43% 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.