Understanding Maine's Lakes
Lake Water Quality
Maine is fortunate to have some of the nation's cleanest lakes with most lakes averaging over 4 meters of Secchi Disk transparency.
Overview of Lake Water Quality - How is lake water quality measured in Maine?
Secchi Disk Transparency -A Secchi Disk measures water transparency (how clear the water is). This simple test can characterize lake water quality and identify changes over time.
Dissolved Oxygen & Temperature - An adequate supply of dissolved oxygen (DO) in lake water is essential to fish and other aquatic life forms. DO is a sensitive indicator of lake water quality.
More about Dissolved Oxygen & Temperature. (Water on the Web)
More about Dissolved Oxygen & Temperature. (Water on the Web)
Phosphorus - Phosphorus is the nutrient that most influences the growth of algae in lakes.
Chlorophyll-α - Chlorophyll-α, a pigment found in algae and other plants, can be used to estimate the population of algae in a lake.
Color - Natural water color is important to consider when assessing water quality.
Specific Conductance - Monitoring conductivity can help determine if pollutants are entering a lake.
pH (Acidity) - Among other effects, pH helps determine which plant and animal species can live in a lake.
Alkalinity - Alkalinity of the lake determines the capacity of the water to buffer from changes in pH.
Monitoring of Lake Water Quality
Preserving exceptional water quality requires ongoing monitoring, understanding, care, and stewardship.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Aquatic invasive species spread easily but are difficult and costly to control. They can do irreparable damage to Maine's lakes.
Clean. Drain. Dry. Every time.
Lake Life
Living Communities (Water on the Web)
Lake Food Webs (Water on the Web)
Maine Fish (Maine IF&W)
Maine Audubon The Maine Loon Project - Information on and monitoring of one of Maine's most iconic lake animals.
Monitoring of Aquatic Invasive Species
Early detection is key to protecting Maine's lakes from aquatic invasive species. Through regular monitoring, volunteer invasive plant patrollers help identify potential threats and guide rapid response efforts.
Maine Department of Environmental Protection Aquatic Invasive Plants - Includes laws, reports, signs, publications, and information about the Preserve Maine Waters boat sickers.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Information about aquatic invasive animals including fish, mussels, and the spiny water flea.
Maine Natural Areas Program - Invasive and rare plant monitoring.
Algae Blooms - Although not neccessarily non-native, with unchecked nutrients in a lake cyanobacteria or other algae can grow to the point where they a hazard to people, other animals, and the ecology of the lake.
Watersheds
Maine's lakes are connected to the forests, fields, and communities around them. Caring for lake watersheds helps protect the clean, clear waters that make our state so special.
Lake Stewards of Maine Watershed Assessment - Lakes and watersheds are strongly connected. What happens not only along the shorelines of a lake but throughout the watershed has an impact on the lake's health.
Watershed Overview (Water on the Web)
Watershed Academy - Training and resources for watershed management. (EPA)
LakeSmart - Living lightly on the land for the sake of our lake. (Maine Lakes)
Camp Roads - Roads play a major role in the hydrology and how runnoff behaves. All types of roads have much higher rates of runnoff and can carry pollutants than a forested or meadow area. Learn how to best maintain the roads and limit their negative impact to lakes. (DEP)