Windham's Water

Welcome to Windham's Water World!

Our Town is a beautiful place to visit and live and most would agree that this is due to the area’s crystal-clear streams, rivers, and lakes. Windham has over 30 significant waterbodies that provide immeasurable benefits including recreation opportunities (boating, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, fishing, ice skating), high property values, and tourism funding. Our clean waters help support wildlife, agriculture, and forestry and for many are a source of tranquility and relaxation. However, keeping Windham's waters clean takes a village or more specifically, a watershed

A watershed is a drainage area on the landscape where all the waters within that system flow to a single body of water. 

Therefore, when rainwater, also referred to asWatershed Diagram stormwater, hits the earth, it either soaks into the ground or runs over its surface until it reaches the surface water in that drainage area. If the stormwater stayed clean, there would be little concern for Windham's water. However, in many cases, where the water crosses agricultural and developed areas, it picks up pollutants (soil particles, nutrients from fertilizers, bacteria from feces, etc.). These pollutants can be carried all the way to a waterbody no matter where it originates in the watershed.

Use the dropdown menus below to learn about the waterbodies within Windham's watersheds, including fun facts and what is being done to protect these resources.Windham Watersheds Labeled

Map Legend
Blue linesRiver, Streams & Tributaries
Blue areasLakes & Ponds
Red boundaries with different fill colorsWatersheds
Black dashed boundaryTown Line
Gray linesRoads


Lake & Pond Watersheds

Watershed Fun Facts

Chaffin PondChaffin Pond Labeled

  • Considered part of Outlet Brook, which flows under Route 302 into Sebago Lake Basin. Sebago Lake Basin flows into Presumpscot River which outlets into Casco Bay.
  • 13-acre pond with 0.6 miles of shoreline, but the exact depth is unknown.
  • Listed by Maine DEP as a 'Lake Most at Risk from Development'.
  • Can be accessed within the Donnabeth Lipman Park off Route 302 next to the Sherwin Williams paint store.
  • Popular ice fishing spot stocked with brook trout each fall.

Pettingill Pond

  • Located across from Seacoast Adventure on Route 302 in North Windham.
  • Flows under Anglers Road into Chaffin Pond which then flows under Route 302 via Outlet Brook into Sebago Lake Basin. Sebago Lake Basin flows into Presumpscot River which outlets into Casco Bay.
  • 43-acre pond with 1.9 miles of shoreline.
  • Heavily developed shoreline and area.
  • Mean depth of 12 feet (max depth 29 feet).
  • Moderately productive lake with an average Secchi disk reading around 6 meters.
  • Evidence of internal phosphorus loading occurring.
  • Listed by Maine DEP as a 'Lake Most at Risk from Development'.
  • Unmarked public access off Anglers Road yet no parking available.
  • Heavily stocked with brown trout.

Watershed Update

Chaffin Pond, which flows into Sebago Lake’s Basin, is on the State of Maine’s list as being a waterbody 'Most at Risk from New Development'. Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District and Portland Water District both provide water quality protection assistance to landowners upon request.

River Watersheds

Watershed Fun FactsPleasant River Labeled

  • Includes Thayer Brook which originates from Gray Meadows in Gray with many smaller tributaries and wetlands feeding the river including Wiggins Brook Allen Bog, Baker Brook, and Ditch Brook. Pleasant River flows into Presumpscot River which outlets into Casco Bay.
  • Over 52 stream miles (including tributaries).
  • 29 square mile watershed; Encompasses Windham and Gray.
  • Has native brook trout and is a highly prized fly-fishing river in southern Maine.
  • Watershed includes several known significant vernal pools, deer winter areas, and inland wading bird and waterfowl habitats. Mainstem is listed as the only habitat for the Brook Floater freshwater mussel in southern Maine. The Brook Floater is a State Threatened Species and Federal Species of Concern whose number have declined drastically in the Pleasant River over the last decade from an unknown cause.
  • Pleasant River and Thayer Brook are Class B streams impaired for high E. coli numbers and low dissolved oxygen readings.
  • Past remediation efforts have included an NPS watershed survey conducted in 2008 followed by the creation of the Watershed Management Plan (needing to be updated in 2023) and two phases of 319 grant projects.
  • Access at various public stream crossings.
  • Stocked with over 2,000 brook trout and brown trout every year.
  • Concern about increased siltation and bank erosion occurring throughout the river’s corridor.

Watershed Updates

Pleasant River originates in the Town of Gray and flows through Windham and into Presumpscot River. Pleasant River is one of Windham’s five impaired waterbodies listed by the State as having impaired water quality due to low dissolved oxygen readings and high bacteria counts. The Town is working with various stakeholders, including Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, the Town of Gray, Trout UnlimitedCasco Bay Estuary Partnership, and others to identify and address the sources of this River’s impairments. The Town will be seeking to work with partners to update the 2011-2021 Pleasant River Watershed Management Plan which will prioritize needed actions to improve Pleasant River’s impairments.

Stream Watersheds

Watershed Fun FactsBlack Brook Labeled

  • Headwaters originate just north of Route 302 and the brook outlets into Presumpscot River after crossing Main Street (Route 202) in South Windham. Presumpscot River outlets into Casco Bay.
  • 6 miles in length.
  • Nearly 4 square mile watershed
  • The watershed is mostly forested with 27% being agriculture located in the center of the watershed along Swett Road, Town Farm Road, and Pope Road.
  • Can access Black Brook at public stream crossings and within the Black Brook Preserve, a 105-acre preserve off of Windham Center Road open year-round for multiple public recreational activities.
  • Class B stream impaired for high E. coli numbers and low dissolved oxygen readings.
  • The town of Windham is currently partnering with CCSWCD, Maine DEP, PRLT / Black Brook Preserve, and other local stakeholders to create a 10-year watershed management plan to improve the brook’s water quality in 2022.

Watershed Update

Black Brook, which flows into the Presumpscot River, lies solely in the Town of Windham. Black Brook is listed by the State as impaired due to low dissolved oxygen readings and high bacteria counts. The Town is currently working with Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, and residents to create a 10-year watershed management with steps needed to improve its waters.