Foster Pond, located in South Bridgton was named after the Foster family who set up saw and grist mills on the outlet in the early 1800s. The pond is also sometimes called Ingalls Pond, which refers to another prominent family during Bridgton’s early history.
Foster Pond provides good habitat for species such as smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and chain pickerel. Although the pond is annually stocked with brook trout from state hatcheries, it is poorly suited for coldwater species as the entire water column becomes quite warm during the late summer. Foster Pond also has populations of hornpout, smelt and fallfish.
The average Secchi disk reading for 2022 was 6.5 meters, which falls into the moderately clear range. The average total phosphorus reading of 6.4 ppb falls into the moderate range. The chlorophyll-a average of 4.8 ppb falls into the moderate range. Long-term trend analysis indicates chlorophyll-a concentrations in Foster Pond are increasing, total phosphorus concentrations are stable, and clarity readings are decreasing. The average color reading for 2022 was 17.9 SPU, indicating that water in Foster Pond is moderately colored.
Foster Pond surface water chlorophyll (ppb), phosphorus (ppb), and Secchi depth (meters) data comparison. Colored areas represent the long-term range of values, from minimum to maximum. Area thickness indicates frequency of measurements at that value. Area thickness increases as more measurements are reported at that value. The vertical black line represents the long-term average value. The large red dot represents 2022’s average value. The small red dots represent individual readings taken in 2022.
2 percent of soils in the watershed are type A soils. Type A soils tend to be well drained sands, loams, and gravels. When vegetation is removed and the soil is exposed they can be susceptible to erosion. Because they are often coarse with ample pore space, there is low runoff potential and water will not usually pool on them. These soils can be good places to site leach fields or infiltrate stormwater from a home or residence.
8 percent of soils in the watershed are type B soils. B soils have moderate infiltration rates and fine to moderate texture and soil size. They are usually made up silts and loams. Although not as well drained as A soils, they can also be good places to site leach fields and infiltrate stormwater.
63 percent of soils in the watershed are type C soils. C soils have low infiltration rates and typically have a layer that impedes the movement of water. These soils are made of sands, clays, and loams and are one of the most common soil types in western Maine.
2 percent of soils in the watershed are type D soils. D soils have a high runoff potential and very low infiltration rates. Soils with a high water table, clay or other impervious layer near the surface are typically D soils. These soils are often associated with wetlands.
13 percent of soils in the watershed are type C/D soils. C/D soils are a mix of these two soil types. They have fairly high runoff potential and low infiltration rates and often pool water.
The remaining 12 percent of the watershed is taken up by the pond.
