For the latest Water Quality monitoring Information regarding McGrath Pond can be obtained by following these links. vlmp@mainevlmp.org and www.7lakesalliance.org
McGRATH POND, Oakland – Water Quality
Midas: 5348, Basin: 01
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME-DEP) and the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program (VLMP) have collaborated in the collection of lake data to evaluate current water quality, track algal blooms, and determine water quality trends. This dataset does not include bacteria, mercury, or nutrients other than phosphorus.
Water quality monitoring data for McGrath Pond has been collected since 1975. During this period, 17 years of basic chemical information was collected in addition to Secchi Disk Transparencies (SDT). In summary, the water quality of McGrath Pond is considered to be slightly above average based on measures of SDT, total phosphorus (TP), and Chlorophyll-a (Chla). The potential for nuisance algal blooms on McGrath Pond is moderate.
Water Quality Measures: McGrath Pond is a non-colored lake (average color 16 SPU) with an average SDT of 5.6 m (18.4 ft). The range of water column TP for McGrath Pond is 7 – 14 parts per billion (ppb) with an average of 11 ppb, while Chla ranges from 1.7 – 10.3 ppb with an average of 3.3 ppb. Recent dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles show very little DO depletion in deep areas of the lake. The potential for TP to be released by bottom sediments and become available to algae in the water column (internal loading) is low.
Oxygen levels below 5 parts per million (ppm) stress certain cold water fish and a persistent loss of oxygen may eliminate or reduce habitat for sensitive cold-water species. McGrath Pond is somewhat shallow thus levels below 5 ppm rarely occur.
McGrath Pond’s watershed was surveyed in 1998; a watershed management plan was
McGrath Pond – Circa 1940
developed as part of the Great Pond Watershed Management Plan published in 2001.
Erosion controls have been implemented in this watershed since 1996 with the assistance of the Belgrade Lakes Conservation Corps, the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance at 207-495-6039. Members of the Salmon/McGrath Pond Lake Association has been actively involved in monitoring both Salmon and McGrath Ponds for transparency, dissolved oxygen and other parameters for the better portion of nearly 3 decades.
See ME-DEP Explanation of Lake Water Quality Monitoring Report for measured variable explanations. Additional lake information can be found on the Internet at www.Pearl.maine.edu and/or www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/lake.htm, or by contacting ME-DEP at 207-287-3901 or VLMP at 207-783-7733.