United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Maine Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





Kennebec River at Merrymeeting Bay (Lower Kennebec) Watershed

 

Description of WatershedOpen farmland with hay stacks - bringing in hay on a fall day

The 2,205,246-acre Lower Kennebec River Watershed lies in southcentral Maine.  Over 83 percent of the watershed is located in Somerset, Franklin, and Kennebec Counties.  The remainder of the watershed touches portions of Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Waldo Counties.

Approximately 216,808 residents live in the 85 towns and unorganized townships in the Lower Kennebec River Watershed.  Of the 2,038 farms listed in the 2002 agriculture census many have substantial forestlands; 1,428 of those farms have cropland while 659 contain pastureland and/or hayland in addition to the forestland, ranging in size from 3 to 250 acres.  The region is known for its agriculture and timber production.  Some of the largest dairy farms in Maine are located in the Lower Kennebec Watershed as well as two nationally-recognized seed producers.  The farming land base includes production of dairy cows, beef, laying hens, hogs, sheep, and crops that include hay, pasture, maple syrup and fresh market vegetables.

Land Cover/Use 

Land Use Acres
Cropland 70,834
Pastureland 108,753
Forestland 1,746,024
Developed 100,988
Water 96,879
     Total 2,123,478
 

Map of Lower Kennebec River Watershed
 

Map of Lower Kennebec Watershed

 

2008 CSP Enhancement Activity and Certification Sheets

These documents require Adobe Acrobat 

Enhancement Activity Sheet Certification Sheet
     
Air Quality - Agricultural Odor X X
Air Quality - Ozone Precursors X X
Air Quality - Particulate Matter X X
Air and Water Quality - Pesticide Management X X
Energy - Energy Audit of Agricultural Operations X X
Energy - Recycle 100 Percent of Waste Lubricants on Farm X X
Energy - Renewable Energy Generation X X
Grazing - Grazing Management X X
Plant Management - Cropped Woodland Improvement X X
Soil Quality - Soil Conditioning Index Thresholds X X
Soil Quality - Compaction Avoidance through Controlled Traffic X X
Water Management - Irrigation Management X X
Water Management - Field Poly Tubing and Drip Tap Recycling X X
Water Management - Remote Monitoring of Irrigation Pumping Plant X X
Water Management - Reduction of Evaporative Losses X X
Water Quality - Nutrient Management X X
Wildlife-Water Quality - Wildlife-Water Quality, Widen Buffers X X
Wildlife - Pollinator Areas X X
Wildlife - Managing Riparian Zones for Fish and Wildlife X X
Wildlife - Wildlife Friendly Haying Management X X

Maine Payment Schedule