Hancock Brook facts for kids

Hancock Brook is a stream in Maine that flows into the Saco River in Hiram, Maine. This brook starts in eastern Denmark. It then flows through a series of ponds. These ponds are located along the border between Hiram and Sebago.

A long time ago, a special narrow-gauge train track was built along the brook. This train line was called the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad. It was built in 1882 and ran until 1941.

Discovering Sand Pond

Sand Pond
Sand Pond Location in Maine
Location	Denmark, Maine
Coordinates	43°56′N 70°45′W / 43.933°N 70.750°W / 43.933; -70.750
Max. length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Surface area	248 acres (100 ha)
Max. depth	44 feet (13 m)
Water volume	3,733 acre⋅ft (4,605,000 m3)
Surface elevation	502 ft (153 m)

The water that forms Hancock Brook first flows into Sand Pond. This pond is sometimes called Walden Pond. Sand Pond is completely located within Denmark.

Over time, more houses and cabins have been built along the pond's edge. This building has led to more algae growing in the pond. Algae are tiny plant-like organisms that can make the water look green and cloudy.

Sand Pond is home to several types of fish. These include native fish like rainbow smelt, chain pickerel, and smallmouth bass. Other fish, such as largemouth bass, brown trout, and land-locked alewife, have been added to the pond. A short, narrow channel connects the south end of Sand Pond to Hancock Pond.

Exploring Hancock Pond

Hancock Pond
Hancock Pond Location in Maine
Location	Maine
Coordinates	43°56′N 70°45′W / 43.933°N 70.750°W / 43.933; -70.750
Max. length	1.8 mi (2.9 km)
Surface area	761 acres (308 ha)
Max. depth	59 feet (18 m)
Water volume	14,069 acre⋅ft (17,354,000 m3)
Surface elevation	502 ft (153 m)

Hancock Pond is the largest pond in the Hancock Brook system. The old narrow-gauge train track followed the eastern side of this pond. The train company even had a water tank near the pond. This was a popular stop in the summer, and passengers would often swim in the pond.

Just like Sand Pond, more homes and cabins have been built around Hancock Pond. This has caused an increase in algae blooms. Algae blooms are when a lot of algae grow very quickly, making the water look thick and green.

Since the two ponds are connected by a channel, Hancock Pond has the same types of fish as Sand Pond. Hancock Brook flows out of Hancock Pond from a dam at its southwest corner. It then goes through a marshy area, including a small pond called Mud Pond. About 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream, it reaches Middle Pond. After Middle Pond, Hancock Brook forms the boundary between the towns of Hiram and Sebago.

Journey to Barker Pond

Barker Pond
Barker Pond Location in Maine
Location	Maine
Coordinates	43°54′N 70°45′W / 43.900°N 70.750°W / 43.900; -70.750
Max. length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Surface area	260 acres (110 ha)
Max. depth	44 feet (13 m)
Water volume	4,043 acre⋅ft (4,987,000 m3)
Surface elevation	492 ft (150 m)

About 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream from Middle Pond, the old train track crossed Hancock Brook at the north end of Barker Pond. The train then followed the western shore of Barker Pond. Today, this old train path has been turned into a road called the Narrow Gauge Trail.

Fish can swim from Hancock Pond into Barker Pond. However, too many nutrients in Barker Pond can cause low levels of oxygen in the deeper water during summer. This makes it harder for fish like trout to live there.

After flowing over a dam at the southwest corner of Barker Pond, Hancock Brook is entirely within the town of Hiram. Sebago Road and Wards Hill Road cross the brook at Rankins Mill, about 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream from Barker Pond. An old stone arch bridge, built for the railroad, also crossed the brook about 1 mile (1.6 km) further downstream. The last road to cross Hancock Brook is Maine State Route 5 in Hiram, just before the brook joins the Saco River.

Hancock Brook's Tributaries

Southeast Pond
Southeast Pond Location in Maine
Location	Baldwin, Maine
Coordinates	43°53′N 70°45′W / 43.883°N 70.750°W / 43.883; -70.750
Max. length	1 mi (1.6 km)
Surface area	162 acres (66 ha)
Water volume	1,126 acre⋅ft (1,389,000 m3)
Surface elevation	495 ft (151 m)

Several smaller streams and ponds feed into the Hancock Brook system. Sucker Brook, for example, carries water from Perley Pond and Pickerel Pond into the north end of Hancock Pond.

Perley Pond is about 27 feet (8.2 m) deep, and Pickerel Pond is about 18 feet (5.5 m) deep. Both of these ponds have native populations of chain pickerel fish. They have also been stocked with largemouth bass. The Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife has added brook trout to Perley Pond for fishing during cooler weather. However, these trout usually do not survive the warm summer temperatures.

Another pond, Southeast Pond, flows into Barker Pond. Southeast Pond is located in Baldwin, Maine.