Pleasant Pond, located in Denmark, Fryeburg and Brownfield, is actually a large backwater of the Saco River and its size fluctuates depending upon flows within the river. The fishable area of the pond is quite a bit smaller than a topographic map indicates due to expansive areas of shallow wetlands. There is little development along the shorelines, which gives the pond a remote character.
The pond is homothermous and lacks suitable habitat for salmonids. However, the pond provides excellent fishing for perch and pickerel, and it also produces some quality-size largemouth bass. Other fish present are creek chubsucker, golden shiners, yellow perch, white suckers, chain pickerel, hornpout (bullhead) and pumpkinseed sunfish.
Pleasant Pond is sampled by LEA once per year in August. The long-term average reflects data from 1997 to 2022. The Secchi disk reading for 2022 was 2.0 meters, which falls into the low clarity range. The total phosphorus reading of 20.0 ppb falls into the high range. The chlorophyll-a reading of 4.0 ppb falls into the moderate range. Long-term trend analysis indicates chlorophyll-a concentrations are stable, total phosphorus concentrations are stable, and clarity readings are decreasing. The color reading for 2022 was 49.0 SPU, indicating that water in Pleasant Pond is highly colored.
Pleasant 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.
16 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.
2 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.
55 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.
19 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.
2 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 6 percent of the watershed is taken up by the pond.
