Musquacook Stream

Last updated
Musquacook Stream
Physical characteristics
Length25 miles (40 km) [1]
Discharge 
  locationMusquacook Deadwater
Basin features
Progression Allagash River
River system Saint John River
Tributaries 
  rightLittle Musquacook Stream
Robbins Brook [1]
First Musquacook Lake
USA Maine location map.svg
Red pog.svg
First Musquacook Lake
Coordinates 46°40′N69°11′W / 46.667°N 69.183°W / 46.667; -69.183 [2]
Max. length3 mi (4.8 km) [1]
Surface area644 acres (261 ha) [3]
Max. depth48 feet (15 m) [4]
Water volume12,160  acre⋅ft (15,000,000 m3) [3]
Surface elevation1,066 ft (325 m) [2]
Second Musquacook Lake
USA Maine location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Second Musquacook Lake
Coordinates 46°38′N69°10′W / 46.633°N 69.167°W / 46.633; -69.167 [5]
Max. length3 mi (4.8 km) [1]
Surface area758 acres (307 ha) [3]
Max. depth62 feet (19 m) [6]
Water volume21,391  acre⋅ft (26,385,000 m3) [3]
Surface elevation1,066 ft (325 m) [5]
Third Musquacook Lake
USA Maine location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Third Musquacook Lake
Coordinates 46°36′N69°09′W / 46.600°N 69.150°W / 46.600; -69.150 [7]
Max. length1.4 mi (2.3 km) [1]
Surface area390 acres (160 ha) [3]
Max. depth64 feet (20 m) [8]
Water volume8,735  acre⋅ft (10,774,000 m3) [3]
Surface elevation1,096 ft (334 m) [7]
Fourth Musquacook Lake
USA Maine location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Fourth Musquacook Lake
Coordinates 46°34′N69°09′W / 46.567°N 69.150°W / 46.567; -69.150 [9]
Max. length3 mi (4.8 km) [1]
Surface area729 acres (295 ha) [3]
Max. depth40 feet (12 m) [10]
Water volume12,114  acre⋅ft (14,942,000 m3) [3]
Surface elevation1,119 ft (341 m) [9]
Fifth Musquacook Lake
USA Maine location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Fifth Musquacook Lake
Coordinates 46°33′N69°06′W / 46.550°N 69.100°W / 46.550; -69.100 [11]
Max. length2 mi (3.2 km) [1]
Surface area436 acres (176 ha) [3]
Max. depth5 feet (1.5 m) [12]
Water volume921  acre⋅ft (1,136,000 m3) [3]
Surface elevation1,135 ft (346 m) [11]
Clear Lake
USA Maine location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Clear Lake
Coordinates 46°31′N69°08′W / 46.517°N 69.133°W / 46.517; -69.133 [13]
Max. length1.8 mi (2.9 km) [1]
Max. width1.5 mi (2.4 km) [1]
Surface area626 acres (253 ha) [3]
Max. depth86 feet (26 m) [14]
Water volume16,205  acre⋅ft (19,989,000 m3) [3]
Surface elevation1,194 ft (364 m) [13]

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. [1]

Contents

First Musquacook Lake

First Musquacook Lake is connected to Second Musquacook Lake by a short, broad thoroughfare which keeps both lakes at the same elevation. The first lake extends north from the thoroughfare to overflow into Musquacook Stream upstream of Horse Race Rapids. Searway Brook enters the east shore of the first lake. [1] Summer dissolved oxygen concentrations are marginal below the 7 metres (23 ft) thermocline, but lake trout and brook trout reach the first lake through the thoroughfare during cool weather. [4]

Second Musquacook Lake

Second Musquacook Lake is the largest of the chain, and supports populations of lake trout and brook trout. [6] Drainage from the third lake enters from the south while Squirrel Brook carries drainage from Squirrel Pond into the east end of the second lake, and Conner Brook and Hesse Brook enter the north end of the lake east of the thoroughfare which overflows to the first lake. [1]

Third Musquacook Lake

Third Musquacook Lake is the smallest of the chain. The third lake supports populations of lake trout and brook trout despite dissolved oxygen deficiencies below the late summer thermocline. [8] Drainage from the fourth lake enters the west end of the Third Musquacook Lake from the south; and the northwest corner of the third lake overflows into the second lake 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to the north. Drainage from Long Pond enters the east end of the third lake, and Halfway Brook discharges into Musquacook Stream halfway between the second and third lakes. [1]

Fourth Musquacook Lake

Drainage from the fifth lake enters the east end of Fourth Musquacook Lake; and the northwest end of the fourth lake overflows into the third lake 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north. [1] Hornpout and fallfish thrive in the fourth lake, and brook trout find refuge from warm summer temperatures where cool springs emerge into the lake. [10]

Fifth Musquacook Lake

Fifth Musquacook Lake is the shallowest of the chain. White sucker thrive in the lake. [12] Clear Lake drains into the south end of the 5th lake, and the north end of the 5th lake overflows into the 4th lake 600 yards (0.55 km) to the west. [1]

Clear Lake

Clear Lake is the deepest lake of the chain and provides good habitat for lake trout, brook trout, and lake whitefish. [14] The north end of Clear Lake overflows into Fifth Musquacook Lake 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north. [1]

Sources

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (Thirteenth ed.). Freeport, Maine: DeLorme Mapping Company. 1988. pp. 56&62. ISBN   0-89933-035-5.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: First Musquacook Lake
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Maine Depts. of Environmental Protection and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (2005-08-04). "Maine Lakes: Morphometry and Geographic Information". Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, The University of Maine. Archived from the original on 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  4. 1 2 "First Musquacook Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. State of Maine. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Second Musquacook Lake
  6. 1 2 "Second Musquacook Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. State of Maine. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  7. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Third Musquacook Lake
  8. 1 2 "Third Musquacook Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. State of Maine. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  9. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fourth Musquacook Lake
  10. 1 2 "Fourth Musquacook Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  11. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fifth Musquacook Lake
  12. 1 2 "Fifth Musquacook Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. State of Maine. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  13. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clear Lake
  14. 1 2 "Clear Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 21 May 2016.

Related Research Articles

Sebasticook River

The Sebasticook River is a 76-mile-long (122 km) river in the central part of Maine, in the United States. From its source in Dexter, the upper "Main Stream" section flows generally west and south 30 miles (48 km) to Great Moose Lake. From the outlet of the lake in Hartland, the Sebasticook flows 41 miles (66 km) south to the Kennebec River in Winslow.

Moose River (Maine)

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.

Pleasant River (Presumpscot River tributary)

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.

Range Ponds State Park

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.

Eagle Lake (Maine)

Eagle Lake is the first, largest, and deepest lake of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in the North Maine Woods. The lake covers the eastern side of Eagle Lake township. The southern end of the lake extends into Maine township 7, range 12, where it receives overflow from Indian Pond, and into Soper Mountain township where it receives overflow from Haymock Lake via Smith Brook. Other ponds in the Eagle Lake watershed include Woodman Pond via Woodman Brook, Pillsbury Pond and Little Pillsbury Pond via Smith Brook, Soper Pond and Upper Soper Pond via Soper Brook, and the Russell Ponds via Russell Brook. Eagle Lake originally received overflow from Chamberlain Lake, but Lock Dam has diverted most Chamberlain Lake overflow through Telos Cut to the Penobscot River since the 1850s.

Chamberlain Lake

Chamberlain Lake is one of the largest and deepest lakes in the North Maine Woods. The lake originally drained north through Eagle Lake and Churchill Lake into the Allagash River tributary to the Saint John River. Nineteenth-century logging operations diverted the lake into the Penobscot River before designation of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in 1966.

Seboeis Lake

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.

Allagash Lake

Allagash Lake is in the North Maine Woods on the boundary of Maine range 14 townships 7 and 8. Allagash Stream flows into the northwest corner of the lake from Allagash Pond, Crescent Pond, and Mud Pond in township 9 range 15. Allagash Stream overflows the northeast corner of the lake and flows 5 miles (8.0 km) through Little Round Pond into Chamberlain Lake. Chamberlain Lake originally overflowed through Eagle Lake and Churchill Lake to the Allagash River; but was diverted through Telos Cut to the Penobscot River in the 1850s. Allagash Lake provides good habitat for togue and squaretail.

Fish River chain of lakes

The Fish River chain of lakes is a series of five lakes in the North Maine Woods region of northern Maine, in a tributary stream to the Fish River. The lakes are an important northern Maine recreation area providing habitat for wildlife including rainbow smelt, brook trout, lake trout, and land-locked Atlantic salmon.

Belgrade Lakes

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.

Rainbow Lake (Maine)

Rainbow Lake is the source of Rainbow Stream in Rainbow township in the North Maine Woods. Rainbow Stream discharges over a dam at the west end of the lake and flows 4 miles (6.4 km) south to Nahmakanta Lake. Nahmakanta Lake overflows through Nahmakanta Stream and Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes to the Penobscot River. The Appalachian Trail follows Rainbow Stream and the south shore of the lake; but the old logging road to the dam has deteriorated with boggy areas no longer passable by four-wheel drive vehicles. The lake has a small catchment basin and is surrounded by large granite boulders. The low nutrient input in this setting produces unusually clear water. The lake has a native population of brook trout.

Spencer Lake

Spencer Lake extends southward from Fish Pond in Hobbstown township into Maine township 3, range 5. The north end of the lake receives drainage from Whipple Bog, Whipple Pond, Hall Pond, Toby Pond, and Chub Pond through Fish Pond. The south end of the lake overflows through Little Spencer Stream and thence Spencer Stream 6 miles (9.7 km) to the Dead River 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the confluence with the Kennebec River at The Forks. The lake supports a native population of lake trout and brook trout, and has been stocked with land-locked Atlantic salmon. There is a boat launch area at the north end of the lake accessible from a 2-mile (3.2 km) gravel road 11 miles (18 km) west off U.S. Route 201 at Parlin Pond.

Jo-Mary Lakes

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.

Debsconeag Lakes

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.

Nahmakanta Lake

Nahmakanta Lake is the source of Nahmakanta Stream in the North Maine Woods. Nahmakanta Stream flows 4 miles (6.4 km) from the southeast end of the lake in Maine township 1, range 11, to the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes in township 1, range 10. The Appalachian Trail follows Nahmakanta Stream and the southwest shore of Nahmakanta Lake. The northwest end of the lake in township 2, range 11, receives drainage from Rainbow Lake via Rainbow Stream, from Gould Pond via Gould Brook, from the Bean Ponds via Bean Brook, and from Female Pond, Wadleigh Pond, the Musquash Ponds, and Pollywog Pond via Pollywog Brook. These streams provide spawning habitat for brook trout and land-locked Atlantic salmon, while lake trout spawn in the shoals of the lake.

Highland Lake (Presumpscot River)

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.

Crescent Lake (Rattlesnake Pond)

Crescent Lake receives drainage from Coffee Pond and Dumpling Pond in northern Casco, Maine, and extends south into Raymond. The south end of the lake overflows through Tenny River to Panther Pond 1 mile (1.6 km) south. The town of Raymond maintains a boat ramp on Maine State Route 85 at the south end of Crescent Lake. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and white perch thrive in the lake. Dissolved oxygen deficiency below the 11-metre (36 ft) summer thermocline limits suitability for cold-water fish; but the lake supports populations of cusk and rainbow smelt.

Hancock Brook

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. The narrow-gauge Bridgton and Saco River Railroad was built along the brook in 1882, and operated until 1941.

Saint John Ponds

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) eastward 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.