| Hancock Brook | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 9 miles (14 km) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Hiram, Maine |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Saco River |
Hancock Brook is an east-bank tributary to the Saco River at Hiram, Maine. The brook originates in eastern Denmark and flows through a chain of ponds along the border between Hiram and Sebago. [1] The narrow-gauge Bridgton and Saco River Railroad was built along the brook in 1882, and operated until 1941. [2]
| Sand Pond | |
|---|---|
  Sand Pond | |
| Location | Denmark, Maine |
| Coordinates | 43°56′N70°45′W / 43.933°N 70.750°W Coordinates: 43°56′N70°45′W / 43.933°N 70.750°W [3] |
| Max. length | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) [1] |
| Surface area | 248 acres (100 ha) [4] |
| Max. depth | 44 feet (13 m) [5] |
| Water volume | 3,733 acre⋅ft (4,605,000 m3) [4] |
| Surface elevation | 502 ft (153 m) [3] |
The Hancock Brook headwaters flow into Sand Pond (or Walden Pond). The pond is entirely in Denmark. [1] Shoreline development with residences and seasonal cabins has increased algae growth in the pond. The pond supports native populations of rainbow smelt, chain pickerel and smallmouth bass; and has been stocked with largemouth bass, brown trout, and land-locked alewife. A short, narrow thoroughfare connects the south end of Sand Pond to Hancock Pond.
| Hancock Pond | |
|---|---|
| Hancock Pond | |
| Location | Maine |
| Coordinates | 43°56′N70°45′W / 43.933°N 70.750°W [6] |
| Max. length | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) [1] |
| Surface area | 761 acres (308 ha) [4] |
| Max. depth | 59 feet (18 m) [7] |
| Water volume | 14,069 acre⋅ft (17,354,000 m3) [4] |
| Surface elevation | 502 ft (153 m) [6] |
Hancock Pond is the largest pond of the Hancock Brook chain. The narrow-gauge railroad followed the east shore of the pond through West Sebago. [8] The remainder of the pond is in Denmark. [1] The railroad maintained a water tank adjacent to the pond which was a favored stop during summer excursions when passengers would swim in the pond. [9] Subsequent shoreline development with residences and seasonal cabins has caused increased algal blooms in the pond. The pond supports the same fish species found in Sand Pond, since the thoroughfare between the two ponds allows easy passage at similar pond elevations. Hancock Brook overflows a dam at the southwest corner of Hancock Pond into a boggy area including small Mud Pond and crosses the town line from Denmark into Hiram before reaching 34-acre (14 ha) Middle Pond [4] approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream. Hancock Brook downstream of Middle Pond forms the town line between Hiram to the west and Sebago to the east. [1]
| Barker Pond | |
|---|---|
| Barker Pond | |
| Location | Maine |
| Coordinates | 43°54′N70°45′W / 43.900°N 70.750°W [10] |
| Max. length | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) [1] |
| Surface area | 260 acres (110 ha) [4] |
| Max. depth | 44 feet (13 m) [11] |
| Water volume | 4,043 acre⋅ft (4,987,000 m3) [4] |
| Surface elevation | 492 ft (150 m) [10] |
The railroad crossed Hancock Brook at the north end of Barker Pond 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream of Middle Pond, to follow the west shore of Barker Pond. The old railroad grade has been converted to an automobile road known as the Narrow Gauge Trail. [8] Fish swim downstream from Hancock Pond into Barker Pond, but nutrient enrichment causes dissolved oxygen deficiency below the summer thermocline limiting suitability of the pond for trout. Hancock Brook is entirely within the town of Hiram after overflowing a dam at the southwest corner of Barker Pond. Sebago Road and Wards Hill Road cross the brook at Rankins Mill 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream of Barker Pond. [1] A granite masonry arch railroad bridge crossed the brook 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream of Rankins Mill. [12] The last crossing of the brook is by Maine State Route 5 in Hiram just above the confluence with the Saco River. [1]
| Southeast Pond | |
|---|---|
| Southeast Pond | |
| Location | Baldwin, Maine |
| Coordinates | 43°53′N70°45′W / 43.883°N 70.750°W [13] |
| Max. length | 1 mi (1.6 km) [1] |
| Surface area | 162 acres (66 ha) [4] |
| Water volume | 1,126 acre⋅ft (1,389,000 m3) [4] |
| Surface elevation | 495 ft (151 m) [13] |
Sucker Brook drains 79-acre (32 ha) Perley Pond and 40-acre (16 ha) Pickerel Pond into the north end of Hancock Pond. [1] With depths of 27 feet (8.2 m) and 18 feet (5.5 m), respectively, these ponds support native populations of chain pickerel and have been stocked with largemouth bass. [14] The Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife has stocked Perley Pond with legal size brook trout for cool weather angling, but these trout are not expected to survive warm summer temperatures. [15]
Harrison is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,447 at the 2020 census. A historic resort area, Harrison straddles Long Lake and Crystal Lake. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.
The Bridgton and Saco River Railroad (B&SR) was a 2 ft narrow gauge railroad that operated in the vicinity of Bridgton and Harrison, Maine. It connected with the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad from Portland, Maine, to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, near the town of Hiram on the Saco River.
Trickey Pond is a water body in the U.S. state of Maine. Its maximum depth is 55 feet (17 m). The lack of serious pollution in the area contributes to the pond's remarkably good water clarity. At most points in the pond, the entire depth can be seen.
The Presumpscot River is a 25.8-mile-long (41.5 km) river located in Cumberland County, Maine. It is the main outlet of Sebago Lake. The river provided an early transportation corridor with reliable water power for industrial development of the city of Westbrook and the village of South Windham.
The Moose River is an 83-mile-long (134 km) river in Maine. Its source is in Beattie, on the Canada–United States border, which runs along the height of land between the watersheds of the Kennebec River in Maine and the Chaudière River in Quebec. From there, the river runs east through Attean Pond and Wood Pond, past the town of Moose River, then through Long Pond and Brassua Lake. The Moose River empties into Moosehead Lake, the source of the Kennebec River, in Rockwood Strip. The International Railway of Maine was built along Moose River in 1889.
The Pleasant River is a 13.1-mile-long (21.1 km) tributary of the Presumpscot River in the U.S. state of Maine.
The Roach River is a river in Piscataquis County, Maine. From the outlet of Third Roach Pond in Shawtown, the river runs 19.1 miles (30.7 km) west, through a chain of ponds. The Flow sequence through the ponds is from the Fourth Roach Pond through the Third Roach Pond, Second Roach Pond, and First Roach Pond to empty into Moosehead Lake, the source of the Kennebec River, in Spencer Bay. The Seventh Roach Pond drains through the Sixth Roach Pond in a separate tributary to the Third Roach Pond. No fifth Roach Pond is shown on modern maps.
Bridgton is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,418 at the 2020 census. A resort area in Maine's Lakes Region, Bridgton is home to Bridgton Academy, a private preparatory school, and the Four on the Fourth Road Race.
Upper Lead Mountain Pond is a lake in Hancock County, Maine, United States. It is located less than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the Lead Mountain and 0.25 mi (0.40 km) north of Maine State Route 9 near the town of Beddington. The inflow to Bear Pond comes from several small stream, and it drains via a small 500 feet (150 m) stream to Middle/Lower Lead Mountain Pond. Several unpaved roads provide access to the lake and private residences surrounding it. The Lake is surrounded by forest and supports several fish, including landlocked Atlantic salmon, brook trout, white perch, yellow perch, and chain pickerel.
Range Ponds State Park is a public recreation area wrapping around the eastern end of Lower Range Pond in the town of Poland in Androscoggin County, Maine. The state park offers a sandy beach with lifeguard-supervised swimming, kayaking, limited motorized boating, hiking trails, and fishing. Mountain biking trails, built with the help of local volunteers, provide intermediate level, single-track loops off a central double-track trail that winds through mature pine and hardwood forests.
Nicatous Lake is a body of water in Hancock County, Maine. Covering 5,165 acres (2,090 ha), it is the second largest lake in Hancock County and one of the largest in the state of Maine. The lake is very long and narrow with many islands scattered throughout. It is also a very shallow lake with low oxygen. The maximum depth is 56 feet (17 m) in the south basin area. The principal fisheries include landlocked salmon, brown trout, smallmouth bass, white perch and chain pickerel.
Seboeis Lake extends from Lake View Plantation, Maine, north into Maine township 4, range 9. The lake is enclosed by rocky headlands and sandy beaches and contains several pine-covered islands. The inlet at the north end receives several tributaries from Long A township including Dean Brook, Jordan Brook, and West Seboeis Stream. Bear Brook flows into the northwest corner of the lake, and Northwest Pond overflows into the west side of the Lake. West Branch Sebois Stream overflows the east side of the lake through Dudley Rips into Endless Lake; and Endless Lake overflow reaches the Piscataquis River 15 miles (24 km) downstream, just 3 miles (4.8 km) upstream of the Piscataquis and Penobscot River confluence at Howland.
The Belgrade Lakes are a chain of lakes around Belgrade, Maine. The flow sequence is from East Pond to North Pond to Great Pond to Long Pond to Messalonskee Lake and thence via Messalonskee Stream to the Kennebec River at Waterville. The lakes have long been an important resort area for fishing, boating, and swimming; and shoreline development includes residences for individuals employed in the cities of Waterville and Augusta.
A chain of three Jo-Mary Lakes along the border of Penobscot County and Piscataquis County drain into the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes in the North Maine Woods. The flow sequence is from Upper Jo-Mary Lake into Middle Jo-Mary Lake and then through Lower Jo-Mary Lake into Pemadumcook Lake.
The chain of Debsconeag Lakes in the North Maine Woods is a tributary to the West Branch Penobscot River. The flow sequence is from the Sixth Debsconeag Lake through the Fifth, Fourth, Third, Second, and First into the Debsconeag Deadwater on the West Branch.
Highland Lake is a lake in the U.S. state of Maine. Formerly known as Duck Pond, the lake extends from the northern tip of Westbrook through the western edge of Falmouth into east Windham, Maine. The south end of the lake overflows via Mill Brook 4 miles (6.4 km) through Westbrook to the Presumpscot River at Riverton. The shoreline of the lake is heavily developed with residences, seasonal cabins, and a state-owned parking area off Mast Road in Falmouth for the launch of canoes and car-top boats. The deeper northern basin of the lake in Windham has been stocked with brown trout, splake, alewife, and occasionally brook trout and land-locked Atlantic salmon. Highland Lake's shallow southern basin is favorable habitat for white perch and chain pickerel, and has been stocked with largemouth bass.
Peabody Pond extends from the southern tip of Bridgton into northern Sebago forming the western boundary of Naples, Maine. The eastern tip of the lake receives drainage from Cold Rain Pond in Naples. The southern tip of the lake overflows as the Northwest River through 5 miles (8.0 km) of boggy land to the western shore of Sebago Lake at East Sebago. The pond has a native population of rainbow smelt, and has been stocked with smallmouth bass, lake trout, and land-locked Atlantic salmon. A boat-launching area near the outlet of the lake is accessible from Tiger Hill Road off Maine State Route 107.
Thomas Pond is adjacent to U.S. Route 302 on the border of Raymond and Casco, Maine. The shoreline is heavily developed with residences and seasonal cabins, and there is a boat launching area near the highway where the pond overflows into Sebago Lake. White perch, chain pickerel, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass thrive in the shallow portions of the pond; and land-locked Atlantic salmon use the deeper parts of the pond preying on rainbow smelt.
The Saint John Ponds are a chain of shallow lakes at the headwaters of the Baker Branch Saint John River in the North Maine Woods. The flow sequence is from the Upper First Saint John Pond, through the Lower First Saint John Pond, Second Saint John Pond, Third Saint John Pond, and Fourth Saint John Pond to the Fifth Saint John Pond. Flow from one pond to the next is sometimes called Baker Stream rather than the Baker Branch Saint John River. Great Northern Paper Company dug a canal from Fifth Saint John Pond 2 miles (3.2 km) westward to the North Branch Penobscot River in 1939, and built a dam at the north end of Fifth Saint John Pond so pulpwood logs harvested in the upper Saint John River watershed could be floated down the Penobscot River to Millinocket, Maine. The canal and dam have fallen into disrepair so most drainage from the ponds again flows down the Saint John River. All upstream ponds with the exception of the first had dams to regulate discharge flow for log driving, but those dams have similarly fallen into disrepair. Moose use the ponds as summer refuge from heat and biting insects.
Musquacook Stream is a tributary to the Allagash River in the North Maine Woods. The stream originates in a chain of lakes in Maine range 11 townships 10, 11 and 12. The flow sequence is from Clear Lake through Fifth Musquacook Lake into Fourth Musquacook Lake in Piscataquis County; and from Fourth Musquacook Lake through Third Musquacook Lake, Second Musquacook Lake, and First Musquacook Lake into the Allagash River Musquacook Deadwater in Aroostook County.