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Environmental scientists monitor the lake
for various parameters including temperature,
dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, chlorophyll-a,
fecal coliform bacteria, MtBE, pH, alkalinity,
turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved
solids, and water transparency.
Tributary Biological Monitoring is one
out of the 10 significant monitoring programs
conducted on Sebago Lake. Scientists sample
the insect community of inlet streams.
By testing the overall ecosystem health
one can draw a conclusion on the water
quality of the system. These insects have
complicated life cycles and spend the majority
of their lives in the streams. They tend
to inhabit specific home areas and are
unable to avoid the effects of pollution.
They also have a wide range of sensitivity
to pollution among the different species.
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By
almost any scientific measure, the quality of Sebago Lake is excellent.
For nearly a century, the Portland Water District has been caring
for the lake and ensuring its quality for generations to come. Currently,
the Portland Water District conducts 10 significant monitoring programs
around the lake.
A clean lake benefits everyone. Not only does it remain an excellent
public drinking water source, but it is treasured for its salmon and
trout fisheries. Tourists flock to the area every summer, and shoreline
properties are highly prized.
You don't have to be a scientist to see that the lake is unusually
clean - any first time visitor will immediately notice that the bottom
can be seen in 30 feet of water. A Secchi Disk is an instrument that measures clarity. It
is lowered into the water and the depth at which the disk can no longer
be seen is recorded as a measurement of lake clarity. Secchi Disk
readings in Maine lakes average between 3 and 8 meters; however, Sebago
Lake typically sees 8 to 12 meter Secchi Disk readings. To learn more
about the health of Sebago Lake, view the
State
of the Lake Report.
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