Papoose Pond, located in the northeast corner of Waterford, is seasonally attached to the Crooked River through floodwater and wetlands. This small but scenic pond is said to have been named after a Native American baby, who drowned in the waters prior to European colonization of the area. The pond is relatively shallow and does not strongly stratify in the summer. It is lightly colored and has a mix of gravel and wetland shorelines.
The principal fisheries on Papoose Pond are largemouth bass, white perch, chain pickerel and black crappie. The short outlet of Papoose Pond is directly connected to the Crooked River, and fish can migrate freely between the two waters. As a result, anglers sometimes have an opportunity to catch a salmon or brook trout, particularly in the winter. Other fish found in Papoose are golden and common shiners, fallfish, creek chubsucker, white sucker, hornpout (bullhead), yellow perch, banded killifish, pumpkinseed sunfish, minnows and American eel.
Papoose Pond is sampled by LEA once per year in August. The long-term average reflects data from 1996 to 2022. The Secchi disk reading for 2022 was 3.5 meters, which falls into the moderate clarity range. The Secchi disk did not hit bottom this year but has in years past, indicating that average Secchi depth may not be a reliable indicator of water clarity; however, the clarity trend is still reported because the majority of Secchi measures did not hit bottom. The total phosphorus reading of 14.0 ppb falls into the high range. The average deep water phosphorus value was less than 10 ppb above average surface water phosphorus values, which suggests phosphorus recycling is not problematic. The chlorophyll-a reading of 2.0 ppb falls into the low range. Long-term trend analysis indicates chlorophyll-a concentrations are stable, total phosphorus concentrations are stable, and clarity readings are increasing. The color reading for 2022 was 36.0 SPU, indicating that water in Papoose Pond is highly colored.
Papoose Pond’s 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.
58 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.
13 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.
A trace percentage 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.
3 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.
The remaining 27 percent of the watershed is taken up by the pond.
