Maine standards-what is a "pond" vs. what is a "lake?" (Bangor: home, camp)

[deere110]

In looking for new places to explore in Maine I'm always struck by what passes for a "pond." Here in NJ a pond is something you find on a farm or in a park that ranges from a glorified swampy spot, to something about the size of an olympic swimming pool. Basically any body of water 1 acre or larger we call a "lake." Our biggest "lake" is about 2500 acres, and the two local reservoirs that I do most of my fishing on are about 1800-2200 acres. When I look at property in Maine obviously it's a much different story-Upper Shin "Pond" is over 500 acres! The "lake" I learned to swim in as a kid was 90 acres So what is the cutoff between lake and pond in Maine? What are sub 100 acre bodies of water usually called? Does the size of the body of water tend to affect the property value? For example would there be a huge price difference between an acre fronting on Moosehead Lake vs. an acre fronting on a sub 50 acre (or even sub 10 acre) "pond?"

[DPO1131959]

Presque Isle, my home town, has the 5 acre Mantle Lake. I now own a parcel on a 200 acre "pond" near Bangor. There are no set standards. But if the tourists are less likely to come to a pond because they think it's too small, I'm okay with that.

[deere110]

Originally Posted by DPO1131959

Presque Isle, my home town, has the 5 acre Mantle Lake. I now own a parcel on a 200 acre "pond" near Bangor. There are no set standards. But if the tourists are less likely to come to a pond because they think it's too small, I'm okay with that.

Sounds good to me-being on a nice quiet 5 acre pond/lake/whatever would be very appealing.

[Submariner]

I think a pond has water in it. A lake is similar to a pond. A sea is usually larger than either a pond or a lake.

[slyfox2]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I think a pond has water in it. A lake is similar to a pond. A sea is usually larger than either a pond or a lake.

ROTFLMAO! WHAT about a bay?

[kellysmith]

Here's a NH fact sheet that goes into it to some detail. No definitive method to determine however.

http://des.nh.gov/organization/commi...ents/bb-49.pdf

[deere110]

Originally Posted by kellysmith

Here's a NH fact sheet that goes into it to some detail. No definitive method to determine however.

http://des.nh.gov/organization/commi...ents/bb-49.pdf

Interesting-thanks! This was actually kind of a tongue-in-cheek question meant more as a commentary on the fact that what we consider to be lakes here in NJ are mere ponds in the vastness of Maine. It's hard for me to fathom a lake the size of Moosehead-I can't wait to see it when we take our next trip up that way. Of course my brother will still have me beat-he is four weeks into Navy boot camp at Great Lakes, IL on the shores of Lake Michigan In any event, I'd be interested in what NMLM would have to say about the value of properties on large vs. small bodies of water.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by slyfox2

ROTFLMAO! WHAT about a bay?

A bay may or may not have water in all of it. Depending on the time of day. About 11 hours or so of mud, muck, and mire along the edges.

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by slyfox2

ROTFLMAO! WHAT about a bay?

It's pronounced E-bay...

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by slyfox2

ROTFLMAO! WHAT about a bay?

Bays are often like coves, Lochs or harbors.