McWain Pond was originally known as Long Pond, but was renamed after Waterford’s first settler, David McWain, who came to the area in 1775. McWain was rumored to have hidden silver in pine trees to protect it from being stolen.
Click on a program below for the most recent data summary. For descriptions of each program, return to our Lake Look-Up page.
Water Quality Monitoring SummaryMcWain 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 2025’s average value. The small red dots represent individual readings taken in 2025.
Water Quality overview and methods
2025 as a Year (summary for all lakes)
Winter Water Monitoring Summary2025-2026 data will be available in May
High Resolution Temp. Monitoring SummaryTemperature maps were generated using daily mean temperature values, which help determine temperature across depth and time. Temperature is represented by colored contours, where the red to blue color range corresponds to a high to low temperature range. The vertical bar on the right side of the temperature map indicates the temperature each color represents in degrees Fahrenheit (°F). The horizontal axis shows the months sensors were deployed, while the left-hand vertical axis shows sensor depth (meters) below the water’s surface.
Temperature stratification shows up as areas of the plot where colors change in the vertical direction and contour lines are tilted more towards horizontal (from June through early November). The area where temperature changes most rapidly with depth is often referred to as the thermocline. Vertical contour lines indicate mixed conditions, and areas of a single color from top to bottom (such as late-October into November) indicate completely mixed conditions. Warm, stratified conditions stand out as darker red areas. Large gaps between lines means there is a large temperature difference between depths.
High Resolution Temperature Monitoring Methods and Reading Graphs
Algae Monitoring SummaryGraphs have been included for each test site to visually compare fluorometer, temperature, and oxygen profiles from May through September. The vertical axis (y-axis) indicates depth below the surface, while the horizontal axis (x-axis) represents reported values. Three different parameters are being reported on the same graph, which results in the value units for the horizontal axis varying, based on parameter. Units are noted in parentheses in the legend.
LEA also offers technical assistance to landowners through LakeSmart evaluations and Clean Lake Check Ups.
McWain Pond is principally managed for smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, and rainbow smelt. Yellow perch, golden shiners, and rainbow smelt all provide forage for the bass. Crayfish were introduced in 1959 by the Maine Dept of Inland Fish and Wildlife as an additional food source for the bass. Smelts are commercially taken from the pond by local bait dealers, and recreational dipping is allowed in the pond and its tributaries. McWain also supports populations of fallfish, white sucker, hornpout, pumpkinseed sunfish, and American eel.
General fishing laws apply.
After a very successful volunteer-based survey of erosion sources within the Watershed, an implementation plan aimed at correcting the identified problems began. The project worked on numerous residential sites within the watershed and larger-scale conservation practices were also installed on Whiting Avenue, Camp McWain and Mill Hill Road.
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