Beaver Pond is a beautiful, shallow waterbody located at the southern base of Pleasant Mountain. It is broken up by three small islands, which provide interesting habitat to explore in a canoe or kayak. The rocky, southwest ridge of Pleasant Mountain towers on the northern side of the pond and provides a dramatic backdrop for a day on the water. In the height of the summer, freshwater jellyfish can sometimes be found in great abundance swimming in the pond’s waters.

Fishing

Because of Beaver Pond’s shallow depth , it does not provide suitable habitat for coldwater fish. Largemouth bass were introduced by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in 1960, and they now provide a self-sustaining fishery. Perch, pickerel, and bullhead also provide angling opportunity. Minnows, creek chubsucker, fallfish, white sucker and pumpkinseed sunfish are also found within Beaver Pond’s waters.

Water quality: Average

You can usually see to the bottom of most parts of the pond. The pond’s waters are well mixed throughout the summer so dissolved oxygen depletion is not a problem. Average phosphorus concentrations are high but algae populations (measured through chlorophyll concentrations) are only moderate. This is an unusual (but good) combination as algae populations are typically limited by the amount of phosphorus in the pond. Although water quality seems to be quite good, there is some concern over prolonged high phosphorus levels in the pond. LEA rates Beaver Pond in the Average degree of concern category.

2012 water-testing summary

This year’s Secchi disk reading was 2.6 meters, however, the disk hit the bottom of the pond.  The long-term Secchi average is 2.7 meters.  The shallow water column remained well oxygenated again this season. Phosphorus levels in the surface waters were 16.0 ppb, which is just over the long term average of 15.9 ppb.  Alkalinity was 7 ppm, which is below the long term average of 8.  Chlorophyll concentrations were 2.8 ppb, which is just under the long term average of 3.0 ppb.  Conductivity was 17 μs, which is below the long term average of 18 μs.  pH was 6.8, which is below the long term average of 6.9.  Average color was 15 SPU, which is below the long term average of 17 SPU.  Beaver Pond remains in the AVERAGE degree of concern category.

2012 average vs. long-term average