Trickey Pond is the most transparent lake that LEA tests. The average clarity, as measured by a Secchi Disk, is over 33 feet deep. The pond has a relatively small watershed and is probably fed largely through underground springs. This would help account for Trickey’s excellent clarity, as much of the water entering would have already been “filtered” through the ground.
Trickey Pond is managed for both coldwater and warmwater fish species. The pond produces high quality landlocked salmon, and provides good habitat for adult brook trout, lake trout and splake. Because of limited spawning habitat, these coldwater fish populations are primarily maintained by the state stocking program. Chain pickerel and yellow perch populations have declined since the introduction of lake trout, and smallmouth bass are now the principle warmwater sport fish. The pond also contains largemouth bass, golden shiners, white suckers, banded killifish, hornpout, pumpkinseed sunfish, slimy sculpin and American eel.
The average Secchi disk reading for 2022 was 9.7 meters, which falls into the high clarity range. The average total phosphorus reading of 5.5 ppb falls into the moderate 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 average of 2.0 ppb falls into the low range. Long-term trend analysis indicates chlorophyll-a concentrations in Trickey Pond are increasing, total phosphorus concentrations are stable, and clarity readings are decreasing. The average color reading for 2022 was 22.0 SPU, indicating that water in Trickey Pond is moderately colored.
Trickey 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. The small red dots represent individual readings taken in 2022.
35 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.
28 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.
The remaining 36 percent of the watershed is taken up by the pond.
