Sebec River

Sebec River
View of the Sebec River as seen from route 11 in Milo Maine.
Sebec River is located in Maine
Sebec River
Sebec River is located in the United States
Sebec River
Location
CountryUnited States
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMaine
 • elevation300 feet (91 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Piscataquis River
 • coordinates
45°14′01″N 68°57′47″W / 45.23361°N 68.96306°W / 45.23361; -68.96306 (Sebec River)
 • elevation
265 feet (81 m)
Length10 miles (16 km)
Basin features
ProgressionPiscataquis River
Penobscot River

The Sebec River is a tributary of the Piscataquis River in Piscataquis County, Maine. From the outflow of Sebec Lake (45°16′13″N 69°06′54″W / 45.2704°N 69.1151°W / 45.2704; -69.1151 (Sebec River source)) in Sebec, the river runs 10.0 miles (16.1 km)[1] east and southeast to its confluence with the Piscataquis in Milo.

Sebec Lake[edit]

Sebec Lake
Sebec Lake evening
Sebec Lake is located in Maine
Sebec Lake
Sebec Lake
LocationPiscataquis County, Maine
Coordinates45°17′N 69°18′W / 45.283°N 69.300°W / 45.283; -69.300
Primary outflowsSebec River
Max. length11.4 mi (18.3 km)[2]
Surface area6,362 acres (2,575 ha)[3]
Water volume283,337 acre⋅ft (349,491,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation322 ft (98 m)

Sebec Lake extends westward from its overflow into Sebec River in the northern part of Sebec. The lake extends through the northeast corner of Dover-Foxcroft and covers the southwest corner of Bowerbank Township and the southeast corner of Willimantic. Minor south shore tributaries include Bog Brook and Cotton Brook in Dover-Foxcroft, and Smith Brook, Bennett Brook, Ayer Brook, and Badger Brook in Sebec. Minor north shore tributaries include Mill Brook and Grapevine Stream in Bowerbank Township and the larger Bear Brook flowing 6 miles (9.7 km) from Barnard Township. The largest tributaries are Wilson Stream and Ship Pond Stream flowing into the northwest corner of the lake in Willimantic.[2]

Wilson Ponds[edit]

Upper Wilson Pond
Upper Wilson Pond is located in Maine
Upper Wilson Pond
Upper Wilson Pond
LocationPiscataquis County
Coordinates45°30′N 69°29′W / 45.500°N 69.483°W / 45.500; -69.483
Primary outflowsLower Wilson Pond
Max. length2.2 mi (3.5 km)[2]
Surface area987 acres (399 ha)[3]
Water volume13,053 acre⋅ft (16,101,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation1,123 ft (342 m)[2]
Lower Wilson Pond
Lower Wilson Pond is located in Maine
Lower Wilson Pond
Lower Wilson Pond
LocationPiscataquis County
Coordinates45°29′N 69°31′W / 45.483°N 69.517°W / 45.483; -69.517
Primary inflowsUpper Wilson Pond
Primary outflowsBig Wilson Stream
Max. length2.8 mi (4.5 km)[2]
Surface area1,414 acres (572 ha)[3]
Water volume40,050 acre⋅ft (49,400,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation1,122 ft (342 m)[2]

Wilson Stream originates in Upper Wilson Pond on the western edge of Bowdoin College Grant West. Tributaries North Brook and South Brook flow into the eastern end of Upper Wilson Pond from Mountain Pond and Horseshoe Pond, respectively. The western end of Upper Wilson Pond overflows into the eastern end of Lower Wilson Pond. Lower Wilson Pond is in the eastern part of Greenville. The southern end of Lower Wilson Pond overflows into Wilson Stream. Wilson Stream flows 17 miles (27 km) south into Sebec Lake. The Appalachian Trail crosses Wilson Stream approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Lower Wilson Pond. Little Wilson Stream flows 8.6 miles east from Shirley to join Wilson Stream approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) downstream of the Appalachian Trail crossing. Big Wilson Cliffs and Little Wilson Falls and Gorge are scenic highlights along the Appalachian Trail.[2]

Lake Onawa[edit]

Lake Onawa
Lake Onawa is located in Maine
Lake Onawa
Lake Onawa
LocationPiscataquis County
Coordinates45°23′N 69°23′W / 45.383°N 69.383°W / 45.383; -69.383
Primary inflowsLong Pond Stream
Primary outflowsShip Pond Stream
Max. length3.4 mi (5.5 km)[2]
Surface area1,192 acres (482 ha)[3]
Water volume26,679 acre⋅ft (32,908,000 m3)[3]
Surface elevation537 ft (164 m)[2]

Lake Onawa (or Ship Pond) is in the southeastern corner of Elliotville Township. Long Pond Stream flows 7 miles (11 km) south from the west end of Long Pond to reach the north end of Lake Onawa. The south end of Lake Onawa overflows into Ship Pond Stream which flows 5 miles (8.0 km) south into Sebec Lake. The International Railway of Maine was built along the south shore of Lake Onawa in 1887. One of the highest bridges on the railroad was Ship Pond Viaduct across Ship Pond Stream. The viaduct is 1,230 feet (370 m) long and passes 130 feet (40 m) above Ship Pond Stream.[4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed June 22, 2011
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (Thirteenth ed.). Freeport, Maine: DeLorme Mapping Company. 1988. pp. 30&40. ISBN 0-89933-035-5.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Maine Depts. of Environmental Protection and Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (2005-08-04). "Maine Lakes: Morphometry and Geographic Information". Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental and Watershed Research, The University of Maine. Archived from the original on 2006-09-03. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  4. ^ Johnson, Ron (1985). The Best of Maine Railroads. Portland Litho.