APPENDIX 11.7: Information from Expert Interviews In September – December, 2003, as part of its ecoregional planning process, TNC organized a series of six meetings of regional experts to discuss the current status and historical aspects of Maine’s aquatic ecosystems. In conjunction with other databases, the information obtained during these meetings is being used to identify streams / rivers and lakes that appear to be of particular interest from the perspective of conservation planning. This Appendix summarizes much of the information obtained during the expert meetings; it also integrates additional information obtained by MABP via interviews with fisheries biologists, including the early phase of an “anecdotal information-capture” project started in 2004 by MDIFW and MABP. It is important to note that this Appendix is not intended as a comprehensive review of aquatic ecosystems in Maine and should be viewed as a supplement to other data presented in this report. Information in this Appendix inevitably reflects the areas of expertise of the individuals participating in the meetings, incorporating much “anecdotal”-type information that is often not adequately captured in traditional databases. The information content also reflects the need to cover large areas of the state in a limited amount of meeting time. Furthermore, the TNC meetings focused on medium-sized stream watersheds, in the range 30 – 1000 sq. miles. Smaller watersheds were not explicitly discussed during the meetings (although it is recognized that these are “embedded” in the larger watersheds). Large river watersheds (>1000 sq. miles) were also excluded from the discussion since these are automatically incorporated into the series of “focus” watersheds developed by TNC. The following information list is ordered by watershed (HUC-8). Map codes refer to numbered points in the Figure at end of Appendix. Appendices 32 _________________________________________________________________________ HUC8: Allagash Map Code: 75 Name: Cliff Lake Both forms of lake whitefish (dwarf and normal) present, with extreme differentiation. Dwarf form first documented in this lake by O. Fenderson. HUC8: Allagash Map Code: 86 Name: Allagash River: upstream of Allagash Falls Upstream of falls, Allagash fish assemblages are native, except for smelts. HUC8: Aroostook Map Code: 30 Name: Ireland Pond High brook trout growth rates. High alkalinity. No introduced species such as bass, pickerel or white perch. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 49 Name: Tea Pond Lake trout fishery either much reduced or extirpated, because of too liberalized fishing. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 50 Name: Flagstaff Lake Good smelt run into lake. Substantial water-level drawdowns. "Impending" site of next illegal bass introduction in region. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 51 Name: Helen Pond Pond has unusual blue color, as does neighboring High Pond. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 55 Name: West Carry Pond Native lake trout population; never stocked. Only such lake in the region. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 57 Name: Blanchard Pond Classic kettle pond. Small, deep, with numerous spring seeps, organically stained water and "peatty" bottom. Golden shiner recently introduced illegally. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 60 Name: Enchanted Pond Deep pond, scenic, very oligotrophic. Wild brook trout population. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 64 Name: Unnamed ponds on Spencer Mountain Series of high elevation ponds are spectacular. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 66 Name: Durgin Brook Stream has self-sustaining rainbow trout population. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 67 Name: Tim Pond Excellent wild brook trout fishery ("trout factory"). If bass get into Flagstaff system, Tim Pond is highly vulnerable. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 68 Name: Little Tea Pond Was a fishless pond. Have now been stocked with brook trout. Limited spawning habitat, however. HUC8: Dead Map Code: 69 Name: Little Jim Pond Appendices 33 Pond grows exceptionally-sized brook trout. Also has few, but large, Lake trout. May be native lake trout pond (although not on list of wild Lake trout lakes). HUC8: Dead Map Code: 70 Name: Horns Pond Used to be fishless until early 1980s. Now stocked with fry (brook trout). HUC8: Dead Map Code: 71 Name: Dead River Unusually deep section of river at this point (ca. 30-40 ft deep). Resident smelt population suspected. Resident population of rainbow trout. Nearby Black Brook and Spring Lake outlet are spawning/nursery areas. HUC8: East Branch Penboscot Map Code: 28 Name: Wassataquoik River Very nice river. Char found in headwater lake. Water is cold year-round. Possibly too cold for salmon, including landlocked salmon. Excellent spawning habitat, however. Too cold for bass. HUC8: East Branch Penobscot Map Code: 29 Name: Seboeis River Good salmon and bass river. Before bass were present, river probably also supported a good trout population. HUC8: East Branch Penobscot Map Code: 31 Name: Mattagamon Lake Water feeds to both Penobscot and Allagash systems. Significant issues associated with dam management and thus how muchw water goes where. Water flow is important for lake whitefish. HUC8: East Branch Penosbscot Map Code: 32 Name: Allagash Stream Probably one of few Maine streams that was not log driven. Today, stream is considered headwaters of East Branch of Penobscot. Originally it was headwaters of Allagash River. Headwaters of East Branch of Penosbcot have high % native species -- only introduced species are smelt and killifish. HUC8: Fish Map Code: 89 Name: Portage Lake and surrounding wetlands Wetlands complex contains some of most diverse plant assemblages in Maine. HUC8: Fish Map Code: 90 Name: Chase Pond complex Very scenic ponds. Has unique lake trout population (feeds on plankton). HUC8: Fish Map Code: 91 Name: Deboullie Lake Landlocked salmon accidently dropped into this area in 1990s. Not sure if they 'took'. HUC8: Fish Map Code: 92 Name: Fish River falls Study currently underway to determine if falls would be a significant barrier to muskie and smallmouth bass -- or could be modified to become an effective barrier. Introduction of these species upstream into Fish River Lake and associated ponds would have significant negative impacts on trout fishery. HUC8: Fish Map Code: 93 Name: Long Lake Probably as good a landlocked salmon fishery as anywhere in the state. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 40 Name: Sunday River Headwaters are in good shape. Habitat issues increase in transition areas. This pattern is common for streams in this region. Rainbow trout found up into headwaters. There are no obstacles to their movement. Stream is flashy and channel bed moves. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 41 Name: Stony Brook Only tributary of Ellis River with wild brook trout population. Habitat issues -- unstable stream bed. Appendices 34 HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 42 Name: Bear River River is in good shape. Wild rainbow and brook trout populations. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 112 Name: Androscoggin River at Rumford Falls Historic upstream limit for alewife and blueback herring. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 113 Name: Sunday River and tributaries Tributaries have unusual macroinvertebrate components; some stonefly species, for example, that are not found in many other locations. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 114 Name: Martin Stream Good Brook trout fishery, although pike are now in nearby Bear and Crystal Ponds. Scarcity of brook trout streams in region underscore value of Martin Stream. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 115 Name: Androscoggin Lake, Pocasset Lake and others There are 3 chains of lakes in this region: this one, the Cobbossee one and the Belgrade lakes. This one is probably in the best condition, followed by the Belgrades. Androscoggin Lake has a reverse delta. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 116 Name: Little Androscoggin River at Bisco Falls Probably historical upstream limit for anadromous fish. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 126 Name: Cathance River Has both smelt and shad populations. Only juvenile shortnose sturgeon caught was in this river. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 139 Name: Androscoggin River: Lower section Lower and middle sections of river are one of few river systems in region which produce consistently high quality smallmouth bass fishery. River is an enriched system, highly altered. No fish passage on the dams, which will not by up for re-licensing for several years. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 140 Name: Wild River Beautiful, clear stream more similar to those of northern New Hampshire and Vermont. Maine reaches of river have water temperatures that are borderline for coldwater fish species during July and August. Nevertheless, river provides thermal refuge for trout of Androscoggin River. Entire stream is within White Mountain National Forest system. River supports good populations of wild brook trout and rainbow trout. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 141 Name: Ellis River Lower gradient stream, with unusual flat-bottomed valley. Sandy. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 142 Name: Concord River Nice stream with riffle/pool habitat that provides summer thermal refuge for Androscoggin coldwater fish species. Lower section of stream approaches higher temperature limits for coldwater species. Ponds in upper part of watershed may be distinct. Botanically, the are is very rich. HUC8: Lower Androscoggin Map Code: 144 Name: Bog Brook Watershed apparently supports excellent brook trout habitat and provides a relatively unique southern Maine trout fishery. Good supply of deep pools, cool tributaries and active springs. In the past, farming