WEST HARBOR POND

West Harbor Pond is a beautiful 84-acre freshwater lake in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Designated and protected by the state as a Great Pond, it is home to an abundance of fish and wildlife. 

As part of the watershed connecting Knickerbocker Lake to Boothbay Harbor's inner harbor and the Gulf of Maine, West Harbor Pond is a pathway for migrating alewives and glass eels. The population of large- and small-mouth bass and white perch keeps fishermen busy.

The Pond is a bird lovers’ paradise with regular sightings of bald eagles, osprey, owls, blue heron, loons, and white egrets. It is home to kingfishers, cormorant, and an ever-changing population of ducks including buffleheads, wood ducks, and other migratory waterfowl. Along its shores, deer, wild turkey, fox, and mink are plentiful. Turtles and beaver make their home in the Pond.  See examples of Pond wildlife in our Photo gallery.

West Harbor Pond is also a place of stillness. State law prohibiting motorized craft over 9.9 hp means that there are few motorboats on the Pond.  Most folks venture out in canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, rowing shells, and row boats when they wish to enjoy the benefits of this special place. 

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We might think of West Harbor Pond mostly in the warmer seasons, but in winter it becomes a special place as winter weather turns it into a home for winter's special seasonal activities as well.

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Summer on the Pond

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- Swimmers of all ages gliding through clear water

- Fishermen in kayaks, boats, and on the shore

- Children splashing and laughing as they jump from floats or rope swings

- Ladies gathering in kayaks to enjoy a leisurely paddle and cocktail hour

- Vacationing and resident dogs love to swim, too.  Two annual visitors from NY, Maizie and Lucie (pictured right), love their summer on the Pond 

- Wildlife:  Osprey flying overhead or diving for a meal.  Herons on shore tending their clutch. Beavers swimming, carrying bottom plants for lunch. A pair of loons swimming and diving. "Glenn" and "Frye", our resident bald  eagles.  Mallards, cormorants, gulls, turtles, and on it goes.

LATEST NEWS FROM THE WHPWA

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Remembering Pat Farrin

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When Pat Farrin passed away on Saturday May 14, 2022, West Harbor Pond and its residents lost a friend and a benefactor. Pat’s generosity and good works went far beyond our tiny Pond to touch the larger Boothbay community in many ways, and others are better suited to paint the full picture of Pat’s kindheartedness. His obituary in the Boothbay Register may be viewed here.

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WHPWA BOD President Merritt Blakeslee prepared a photo remembrance of the many ways in which Pat impacted West Harbor Pond.  It can be found here.

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WHPWA and the Lakes Stewards of Maine

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In 2022, the WHPWA will enter a new era in its relationship with the Lake Stewards of Maine, the organization that oversees the collection of water quality data from lakes across the state.  We have been collecting and providing water transparency data to LSM since 2010.  Beginning this year, we will also be providing our temperature and dissolved oxygen data to LSM.

In May 2022 West Harbor Pond was featured as the “Lake of the Month” on the LSM’s website, where they have posted an article about the Pond on their home page. 

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For more information about the WHPWA relationship to the Lake Stewards, go to the Lake Stewards page on this website.

Blocking of the 1880 siphon

The original 1880 siphon, replaced in 2019 by a new siphon, was occasionally leaking salt water into the Pond since its failure in the first decade of the 2000's.  This problem was corrected in March of 2022 with the plugging of the siphon.  For more details read the Boothbay Register article on the topic by WHPWA Board Chairperson Merritt Blakeslee.

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The Steller's Sea Eagle

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West Harbor Pond was chosen by a Steller's Sea Eagle as a great place to visit in January, 2022.  To learn more about the bird and its time at the Pond, visit our Current News page.

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Other WHPWA News

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For information about the WHPWA Annual Meeting, some changes to water quality sampling, and a new "No Anchoring" sign on the Harbor, please visit the WHPWA website News Page.

 Image Courtesy of Jodi Lynne Photography, Massachusetts 

Pat Farrin working on the West Harbor Pond siphon project (Photo courtesy Merritt Blakeslee)

Moonlight Paddles On West Harbor Pond 

The Moonlight Paddle scheduled for May 16th 2022, was cancelled due to inclement weather. 

Click here for more information on Moonlight Paddles.