Nequasset Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nequasset Lake |
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Sunset on Nequasset Lake
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 Nequasset Lake
Location in Maine
Nequasset Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°57′07″N 69°46′28″W / 43.9518743°N 69.7744270°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 392 acres (159 ha) |
| Max. depth | 63 ft (19 m) |
| Surface elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
Nequasset Lake, also known as Nequasset Pond, is a beautiful lake in Woolwich, Maine. It covers about 392 acres and is mostly untouched by buildings. This makes it a great place to explore nature!
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Exploring Nequasset Lake's Geography
Nequasset Lake is a "warm-water" lake located near the coast. Its shores are mostly rocky, but you can find several sandy beaches tucked away in little coves. The biggest sandy beach is on the north side, and locals often call it "Sandy Beach."
The lake also has many rocky points along its edge. There's even a small rock island on the eastern side. While the lake's deepest spot is 63 feet, most of it isn't that deep. The southern part of the lake is usually 40 to 50 feet deep. The northern part is much shallower, with most areas being less than 30 feet deep.
The bottom of the lake is mostly sand and gravel. However, it's often covered with a thick layer of branches and leaves. This is because there aren't many buildings or homes along the shore. The water at the surface is usually around 72°F, but it gets much colder at 60 feet deep, dropping to about 56°F.
The Alewife Fish Ladder: A Journey for Fish
Nequasset Lake is an important home for a type of fish called the alewife. There's even a special "fish ladder" on Nequasset Brook that helps these fish.
The first fish ladder was built in 1955. It allowed alewives to swim from the brook into the lake to lay their eggs (this is called spawning). It also helped people harvest some of the fish. By 2011, the old fish ladder was getting worn out. So, in 2014, a brand new fish ladder was built in the same spot. This new ladder makes it even easier for the fish to travel. In 2015, it's estimated that over 300,000 alewives swam into Nequasset Lake!
Fishing Fun at Nequasset Lake
Nequasset Lake is a great spot for fishing! It's home to many fish that like warm water. Some of the fish you might catch include:
- largemouth bass
- smallmouth bass
- chain pickerel
- white perch
- yellow perch
- pumpkinseed sunfish
- redbreast sunfish
- hornpout
- eel
- And many different kinds of smaller baitfish!
Anglers (people who fish) often catch largemouth bass weighing between 2 and 4 pounds. Sometimes, they even catch bigger ones, weighing 5 pounds or more! The best time to fish for bass in Nequasset Lake is from late spring to early fall, with the busiest time being in the middle of summer.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife adds brown trout to the lake every year. This is so people who enjoy ice-fishing in winter have a cold-water fish to catch. However, these trout usually don't survive into the summer because the lake's deepest parts have low oxygen, and the shallow water gets too warm. But if you go fishing right after the ice melts, you might still catch some trout!
Accessing Nequasset Lake
You can get to Nequasset Lake from a few different spots. One way is off Old Stage Road at the northern end of the lake. Another popular spot is Nequasset Park, off George Wright Road, at the southern end.
If you have a motorized boat, be aware that access on the north end can be tricky because of a bridge. If the water level is high, it might be hard for your boat to pass. Also, there's a rule: motorboats with more than 10 horsepower are not allowed on Nequasset Lake. This is because the lake is used for public drinking water.
If you like to fish from the shore, you're in luck! There are trails leading to rocky points around the lake, which are perfect for bank fishing.
Nequasset Lake: A Source of Drinking Water
Nequasset Lake is very important because it's the main source of drinking water for the Bath Water District. This district provides water to the city of Bath and the southern part of Woolwich. About 15,000 people in 3,000 homes and buildings get their water from Nequasset Lake!
The Bath Water District's pump station is a large brick building located on the southwest side of the lake. This is the only big structure you'll see right on the lake itself.
