East Grand Lake

GRAND LAKE, EAST
(East Grand Lake)
ELEVATION: 434
AREA: 16,070

Danforth, and Forest City,
Washington Co. Weston, and Orient,
Aroostook Co. U.S.G.S. Orient,
Danforth, and Forest City, ME (7W).

Click here for  full size 8.5x11 Depth Map

Physical Characteristics

Area: 16,070 acres
Temperatures: Surface-70°F. 110 feet-48°F.
Maximum depth: 128 feet

Principal fishery:
Landlocked salmon, lake trout, smallmouth bass

Suggested Management

East Grand Lake lies in the headwaters of the East Branch of the St. Croix River on the boundary with New Brunswick, Canada. This is the second largest lake in the boundary waters that the Canadians refer to as the Chiputneticook Chain of Lakes.

The shoreline is mostly very rocky with many sand beaches. Two unusual features of East Grand Lake are its irregular shoreline and numerous, prominant rocky reefs. Both of these features help to make East Grand a highly productive lake.

Water quality is excellent for the production of coldwater gamefish although extensive annual drawdowns (6-7 feet) do limit the productivity of the area along the shoreline. There is sufficient oxygen and cool water to provide excellent habitat for salmon and togue through the summer months.

Although East Grand was one of the few lakes that contained a natural population of landlocked salmon the tributaries are presently unable to produce enough fish to maintain a salmon fishery. A fishway is maintained in the outlet dam.

The salmon fishery is maintained by annual stocking and the lake trout fishery is maintained by natural reproduction. Both species rely heavily on the abundant smelt population for forage. The salmon fishery in this lake is one of the best in the state. Smallmouth bass are abundant but the growth rate is quite slow. Cusk and lake whitefish have started to produce a fair fishery in recent years.

The major access site is in Greenland Cove in Danforth off Rt.#1 and there is a smaller site in Davenport Cove off Rt#l in Weston.

Surveyed - September, 1952. (Revised - 1998) Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Funded in part by the Federal Aid in Restoration Act under Federal Project F-28-P. L1O7OF