Lake History

The Damariscotta Lake Watershed has been an important center of activity from the time of the Native Americans. In speaking of the history of the Watershed and lake, it is important to understand changes in population, commerce and land use.

Population

After centuries of Native American occupancy, European settlement began in the early part of the 17th century. Population peaked in the 1800s, and then dwindled as westward expansion of the country lured many away. Not until the late 20th century did the population exceed the numbers of the mid-19th century. To learn more about the population of the Damariscotta Lake Watershed, click here.

Commerce

People have long strived to use the rich resources of the Watershed to the best advantage. The forests and Lake have provided many options for commerce. The Watershed has an interesting history of uses from the building of dams and extensive logging, the use of steam-powered boats on the Lake to present day recreational opportunities. To learn more about commerce in the Damariscotta Lake Watershed, click here.

Land Use

Over the years, the ideas about the best way to use the land of the Watershed have been changing. The initial draw of the Watershed area was understandably the possibilities created by the richness of the land's resources. Through the years, people's ideas of land use, and their efforts to steward the land, have evolved as they have made use of their experiences and knowledge on land and water. To find out more on the land use of the Watershed, click here.

Lake Size

Bedrock geology and glacial processes determined the original shape of the lake. Then, when a dam was built, the lake enlarged. To learn more about the fascinating shape of the lake and fluctuations in depth, click here.

How a Lake Ages

Lake aging is a natural process by which a lake fills in over time. The aging of Damariscotta Lake can be measured by observing rate of sedimentation and eutrophication (nutrient increase and oxygen decrease). Sedimentation and eutrophication have been accelerated by human use of the watershed. This has caused a loss of dissolved oxygen, changes in fish species, a decline in clarity, and an increase in algae. To learn more about how a lake ages, click here.

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