Sebago Lake

{{For|the lake in the U.S. state of New York|Lake Sebago}} [[Image:Steamboat Landing, Sebago Lake, ME.jpg|thumb|right|Steamboat Landing in c. 1910]] Sebago Lake is the deepest and second largest [[lake]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maine]]. The lake is {{convert|316|ft|m}} deep at its deepest point, with a mean depth of {{convert|101|ft|m}}, covers about {{convert|45|sqmi|km2|0}} in surface area, has a length of {{convert|12|mi|km}} and a shoreline length of {{convert|105|mi|km}}. The surface is around {{convert|270|ft|m}} above sea level, so the deep bottom is below the present sea level. It is located in [[Cumberland County, Maine]] and bordered by the towns of [[Casco, Maine|Casco]], [[Naples, Maine|Naples]], [[Raymond, Maine|Raymond]], [[Sebago, Maine|Sebago]], [[Standish, Maine|Standish]] and [[Windham, Maine|Windham]]. The seasonally occupied town of [[Frye Island, Maine|Frye Island]] is on an island in the lake. The lake is connected to [[Brandy Pond (Cumberland County, Maine)|Brandy Pond]] by the Songo River and eventually to [[Long Lake, Maine|Long Lake]] in Naples. The name comes from a local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe. The lake is drained primarily by the Presumpscot River. Prior to construction of a railroad in 1870, Sebago Lake was linked to [[Portland, Maine|Portland]] harbor by the [[Cumberland and Oxford Canal]]. The outlet to the river has been dammed since 1875 by the Eel Weir Dam and the Head Dam, owned and operated by the [[S. D. Warren Paper Mill]].

Water Supply

Sebago Lake is the primary [[water supply]] for the Portland Water District, which serves the Greater [[Portland, Maine|Portland]] region and about 15% of Maine's population. The lake's watershed is more than {{convert|50|mi|km}} long and covers parts of 24 Maine towns. The lake holds roughly {{convert|995|e9USgal|m3}} of water that on average resides 5.1 to 5.4 years in the lake. The direct watershed is about {{convert|171|sqmi|km2|0}} of land plus the {{convert|45|sqmi|km2|0}} of the lake, and the indirect watershed about {{convert|190|sqmi|km2|-1}} of land plus about {{convert|28|sqmi|km2|0}} of other bodies of water. As of May 1990, roughly 86% of the watershed was forests and fallow fields, 2.5% in active timber operations, 9.3% in residential, agricultural, and commercial use, and 2.2% used for other purposes. Water inflow is estimated at {{convert|544|e6USgal|m3}} per day and outflow at {{convert|498|e6USgal|m3}} per day, of which {{convert|24|e6USgal|m3}}/day are for the water district.

Recreation

In 1938, Maine opened [[Sebago Lake State Park]] as one of its original five state parks. The area was a recreation center even before this. The park is now {{convert|1,400|acre|km2}} (mostly forested), open year-round, and has facilities including two public boat launches and a 250-site campground. There are also numerous private campgrounds (like [http://www.pointsebago.com Point Sebago] in Casco which is {{convert|775|acre|km2}}), cottages, and other recreational facilities in the area. Sebago Lake also hosts the only inland lakes Sailing School and Charter service in Sebago Sailing, Inc. ([http://www.sebagosailing.com www.sebagosailing.com]). They are one of only 3 American Sailing Association certified sailing schools in Maine. Sebago Lake is in the portion of Maine that the Maine tourism industry refers to as the Western Lakes and Mountains Region.

Fishing

The lake contains natural populations of land-locked salmon ([[Salmo salar sebago]]) and [[smelt (fish)|smelt]]. When the last major glaciers retreated, the entire watershed was under seawater, and populations of these marine animals became established as the land rose and seawaters retreated. Other game fish that can be found in the lake include [[lake trout]], [[brook trout]], [[brown trout]], [[smallmouth bass]], [[largemouth bass]], and [[northern pike]]. Some of these are stocked by the state, either in the lake directly or in connected bodies of water, while others were introduced illegally. The state encourages anglers to kill, hold, and notify them of all northern pike taken in the lake because they were introduced illegally, are not native to the region, and could disrupt the lake ecosystem.

External links

*[http://www.pwd.org/environment/sebago/sebago.php Portland Water District - Sebago Lake]