The state of Maine has 90 lakes designated as “high-elevation”: those located at or higher than 2000 ft above sea level. These lakes have unique ecological attributes and a history of recreational and scientific importance. In collaboration with the Maine Mountain Collaborative, we have captured a set of stories about ecology and recreation in Maine’s high-elevation lakes, and created a mapping tool to identify data availability and conservation status and priorities for these valuable ecosystems.
Click on the links below to explore these tools.
Podcast series
High Water: Stories from Maine’s Mountain Ponds
A series of conversations exploring the science, ecology, and conservation of Maine’s beloved mountain ponds.
Mapping tool
Maine Mountain Ponds interactive conservation and data map
This interactive map shows conservation status and ecological attributes of the 90 high-elevation lakes in Maine.
Check back for new data additions to this map through 2026.
Maine Mountain Ponds 