Windham's Water

Watershed Fun Facts

Chaffin Pond

• 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.

Watershed Fun Facts

• Also known as Goose Pond.
• A 210-acre lake with a 3-square mile watershed located in the Towns of Windham, Gray, and Cumberland.
• Over 4 miles of shoreline; mean depth 12 feet, max depth is 38 feet.
• Flows into the Piscataqua River which flows into Presumpscot River which outlets into Casco Bay.
• On Maine DEP’s list of “Lakes Most at Risk from Development” and “Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed” due to water quality sensitivity.
• Since 2002 Forest Lake Association, CCSWCD, and Maine DEP have collaborated to address the watershed's nonpoint sources of pollution through a series of federal grant funds and local cash and in-kind match. To date, nearly 40 high-priority sites have been addressed resulting in over 80 tons of sediment from continuing to enter Forest Lake each year.
• Current efforts are underway to continue remediation and stewardship efforts following the guidance of the lake’s 2018-2028 watershed protection plan.
• Biggest goal for the watershed is to reduce the amount of phosphorus (typically carried by erosion/sediment) from washing into the lake.

Watershed Update

The Town shares Forest Lake with the towns of Gray and Cumberland. Forest Lake is listed by the State as a waterbody “Most at Risk from New Development” and as a high priority with its water quality being considered threatened. The Town is currently working with Forest Lake Association, Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the towns of Gray and Cumberland, and residents to protect the lake’s water quality in implementing the 2018-2028 Forest Lake Watershed Protection Plan.

Watershed Fun Facts

• A 623-acre lake with an average depth of 22 feet and a maximum depth of 67 feet, originally known as Duck Pond. Little Duck Pond is a 34-acre waterbody with an average depth of 9 feet located to the north of Highland Lake that drains into the lake through McIntosh Brook.
• Watershed is 8.5 square miles, located primarily within Windham and Falmouth.
• Watershed contains state-listed habitat for the endangered Eastern Box turtle and a habitat suitable to support the endangered long-eared bat and small whorled pogonia.
• Have established a self-sustaining alewife population in the past 5 years. 
• Fed by springs and streams with approximately 12 major tributaries flowing into the lake.
• Flows into Mill Brook in Westbrook which flows into Presumpscot River which outlets into Casco Bay.
• Heavily developed along its 7 miles of shoreline.
• On Maine DEP’s list of “Lakes at Risk of Having an Algal Bloom”, “Lakes Most at Risk from Development”, and “Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed” due to water quality sensitivity.
• Public hand-carry boat launch with a parking lot in Falmouth off of Lowell Farm Road.
• Class GPA waterbody that was impaired from 1990-2010 for Secchi disk readings; Picocyanobacteria blooms in recent years have caused increased water quality concerns and protection efforts.
• Has one of the most extensive water quality data sets in the State with thousands of Secchi disc readings and hundreds of lab assays having been taken since the 1970s. Data collected has shown declining water quality over the past 40 years with overall phosphorus levels gradually increasing. 
• Extensive efforts have been conducted over the past 25 years primarily to document and improve water quality problem sites through federal grant projects, lake association dedication, and municipal contributions of funding and in-kind support. These programs have provided technical assistance to over 300 parcels and installed 179 practices at 45 private and public roads and 51 residential property sites reducing pollutant load by nearly 300 tons of sediment each year.
• Current efforts have included creating an updated 2022-2032 Watershed Management Plan and implementing it under the direction of the Highland Lake Leadership Team formed in 2017 and comprised of the Towns of Falmouth and Windham, and Highland Lake Association, with support from CCSWCD, Maine DEP, and local community members. 
• Biggest goal for the watershed is to reduce the amount of phosphorus (typically carried by erosion/sediment) from washing into the lake.

Watershed Update

Highland Lake is shared between the towns of Windham and Falmouth and outlets into Mill Brook in Westbrook. Highland Lake is listed by the State as a waterbody “Most at Risk from New Development” and is a high-priority threatened lake having been previously impaired from 1990-2010 for decreasing water clarity. The Highland Lake Leadership Team has been formed with appointed members from the towns of Windham and Falmouth and the Highland Lake Association to help improve and protect the lake’s water quality. This Team is currently working to implement the 2020-2030 Highland Lake Watershed Management Plan to meet these goals. 

Watershed Fun Facts

• Little Sebago Lake empties into Mill Pond which flows under Route 115 into Collins Pond. Collins Pond empties into Ditch Brook which flows into Pleasant River. Pleasant River flows into Presumpscot River which outlets into Casco Bay.
• Little Sebago Lake is historically connected to Sebago Lake via Outlet Brook.
• Approximately a 2,000-acre lake (3 square miles) with nearly 31 miles of shorefront (1,200 seasonal camps and year-round homes along the shoreline)
• 13 square mile watershed; Located in Windham, Gray, and Raymond
• The mean depth is 16 feet with a max depth of 52 feet.
• Confirmed variable-leaf milfoil.
• State public boat launch down Angler’s Road off of Mount Hunger Shore Road.
• A popular bass fishing lake and is also stocked with around 1,000 brown trout each fall.
• Three distinct basins: Upper, Middle, and Hunger Bay.
• On Maine DEP’s list of 'Lakes at Risk of Having an Algal Bloom', 'Lakes Most at Risk from Development', and 'Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed' due to an increase in watershed development and water quality data that indicate it is sensitive to pollution.
• NPS lake protection efforts by LSLA, CCSWCD, and MDEP since 2002 starting with a watershed survey. Today, have conducted 4 phases of 319 implementation grant projects and have a 2013 watershed protection plan slated to expire in 2023. Over 150 NPS sites have been addressed resulting in over an estimated 100 tons of sediment from entering Little Sebago Lake each year.
• Biggest concern: Reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lake.

Watershed Update

Little Sebago Lake lies within the Towns of Windham, Gray, and Raymond. It is listed by the State as a waterbody “Most at Risk from New Development” and is a high-priority threatened lake. The waterbody’s three towns, Little Sebago Lake Association, Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection have identified and implemented numerous water quality protection and improvements over the past two decades and these entities are available to provide property owner recommendations and assistance.

Watershed Fun Facts

• State’s second largest lake with a total watershed including over a dozen lakes and numerous streams and rivers within 24 towns.
• The drinking water source for greater Portland, which is over 1/5 of the State’s population.
• Crooked River is its most significant tributary covering 60 miles and contributing nearly 40% of the lake’s surface water input. 
• Sebago Lake has a maximum depth of 316 feet, an average depth of 107 feet, a residence time of 5.1 years, and is comprised of three bays (Jordan, Big, and Lower).
• 171 square miles of direct watershed, which includes Crooked River and the predominantly land drainage area just around Sebago Lake. 
• 4 public beaches and 3 public boat launches within the direct watershed
• Biggest concern: Protecting forested land in the upper watershed supports the lake’s high-water quality yet is predominantly privately owned.

Watershed Update

Over 360 square miles of land drains into Sebago Lake, with Windham being one of 7 towns the lake resides in. Sebago Lake’s clean waters, development pressures, and use as drinking water for nearly one-fifth of the State’s population are reasons it is listed by the State as a priority waterbody “Most at Risk from New Development”. Portland Water District actively works to protect Sebago Lake’s water quality with inspections and assistance being offered by their water resources staff. Many other partners are involved in this lake’s protection including the towns, Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Lakes Environmental Association, and partners of Sebago Clean Waters. A 2020-2030 Sebago Lake Watershed Protection Plan is currently being followed to improve water quality impacts.