Debsconeag Lakes

The chain of Debsconeag Lakes in the North Maine Woods is a tributary to the West Branch Penobscot River. The flow sequence is from the Sixth Debsconeag Lake through the Fifth, Fourth, Third, Second, and First into the Debsconeag Deadwater on the West Branch.

First Debsconeag Lake
First Debsconeag Lake
Coordinates45°47′N 68°59′W[1]
Max. length2 mi (3.2 km)[2]
Surface area361 acres (146 ha)[3]
Max. depth140 feet (43 m)[4]
Water volume19,744 acre⋅ft (24,354,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation502 ft (153 m)[1]
Second Debsconeag Lake
Second Debsconeag Lake
Coordinates45°47′N 69°02′W[5]
Max. length1.7 mi (2.7 km)[2]
Surface area172 acres (70 ha)[3]
Max. depth28 feet (8.5 m)[6]
Water volume2,733 acre⋅ft (3,371,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation531 ft (162 m)[5]
Third Debsconeag Lake
Third Debsconeag Lake
Coordinates45°46′N 69°03′W[7]
Max. length2.5 mi (4.0 km)[2]
Max. width1 mi (1.6 km)[2]
Surface area970 acres (390 ha)[3]
Max. depth162 feet (49 m)[8]
Water volume57,736 acre⋅ft (71,216,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation568 ft (173 m)[7]
Fourth Debsconeag Lake
Fourth Debsconeag Lake
Coordinates45°45′N 69°05′W[9]
Max. length1.2 mi (1.9 km)[2]
Surface area223 acres (90 ha)[3]
Max. depth150 feet (46 m)[10]
Water volume12,793 acre⋅ft (15,780,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation630 ft (190 m)[9]
Fifth Debsconeag Lake
Fifth Debsconeag Lake
Coordinates45°46′N 69°06′W[11]
Max. length0.7 mi (1.1 km)[2]
Surface area87 acres (35 ha)[3]
Max. depth42 feet (13 m)[12]
Water volume988 acre⋅ft (1,219,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation810 ft (250 m)[11]
Sixth Debsconeag Lake
Sixth Debsconeag Lake
Coordinates45°46′N 69°07′W[13]
Max. length0.3 mi (0.48 km)[2]
Surface area30 acres (12 ha)[3]
Max. depth26 feet (7.9 m)[14]
Water volume316 acre⋅ft (390,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation971 ft (296 m)[13]

First Debsconeag Lake

The first lake is the second-largest of the chain, and holds more water than the combined total of the four smaller lakes.[3] The west end of the first lake receives discharge from the upstream lakes of the Debsconeag chain, while the eastern end overflows into the Debsconeag Deadwater on the West Branch at about the same level as the first lake.[2] The first lake supports a population of lake trout and land-locked Atlantic salmon.[4]

Second Debsconeag Lake

The second lake is the fourth-largest of the chain, but twice as large as the fifth lake.[3] In addition to discharge from the upstream lakes of the Debsconeag chain, the west end of the second lake receives drainage from Big and Little Beaver Ponds, Big and Little Minister Ponds, and Moose Pond. The east end of the second lake overflows into the first lake 900 yards (820 m) to the east.[2] The population of native brook trout fare poorly in competition with pumpkinseed and yellow perch.[6]

Third Debsconeag Lake

The third lake is larger than the combined total of all the other lakes in the chain.[3] Drainage from the fourth lake enters the end of the western arm of the lake, while the northwestern arm of the lake overflows into the second lake 400 yards (370 m) to the north.[2] This unusually clear lake supports a native population of brook trout and lake trout.[8]

Fourth Debsconeag Lake

The fourth lake is the third-largest of the chain, and holds more water than the combined total of the three smaller lakes.[3] Drainage from the fifth lake enters the north side of the lake, while the east end of the lake overflows into the third lake 600 yards (550 m) to the east.[2] This unusually clear lake supports a few brook trout, but is a more favorable habitat for lake trout.[10]

Fifth Debsconeag Lake

The fifth lake is the second-smallest of the chain. It is three times as large as the smallest sixth lake.[3] Drainage from the upstream ponds enters the west end of the lake, while the east end of the lake overflows into the fourth lake 900 yards (820 m) to the southeast.[2] The lake supports a population of native brook trout in competition with introduced yellow perch. Falls below the lake prevent upstream migration into the lake.[12]

Sixth Debsconeag Lake

The sixth lake (sometimes called the sixth pond) is the smallest of the chain.[3] The lake supports a population of native brook trout.[14] The east end of the lake overflows into the fifth lake.[2]

Debsconeag Ponds

The Eighth Debsconeag Pond at 45°47′N 69°08′W[15] drains through the Seventh Debsconeag Pond at 45°46′N 69°07′W[16] into the chain of lakes downstream of the sixth lake and upstream of the fifth lake.[2] These ponds are much smaller than any of the six lakes.[3]

Sources
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: First Debsconeag Lake
  2. The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (Thirteenth ed.). Freeport, Maine: DeLorme Mapping Company. 1988. pp. 42&50. ISBN 0-89933-035-5.
  3. Maine Depts. of Environmental Protection and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (2005-08-04). "Maine Lakes: Morphometry and Geographic Information". Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, The University of Maine. Archived from the original on 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  4. "First Debsconeag Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Second Debsconeag Lake
  6. "Second Debsconeag Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Third Debsconeag Lake
  8. "Third Debsconeag Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  9. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fourth Debsconeag Lake
  10. "Fourth Debsconeag Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  11. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fifth Debsconeag Lake
  12. "Fifth Debsconeag Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  13. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sixth Debsconeag Pond
  14. "Sixth Debsconeag Lake" (PDF). Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Game. State of Maine. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  15. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Eighth Debsconeag Pond
  16. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Seventh Debsconeag Pond
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