Highland Lake in Windham and Falmouth, Maine Close to Portland, but Far, Far Away

Thompson Lake, Casco, Maine – Big, Brawny, Clean Water, Great Fishing… and Solitude
January 21, 2010
Out and About in York County, Sanford Lakes Region of Maine January 28 to February 3
January 27, 2010

Highland Lake in Windham and Falmouth, Maine Close to Portland, but Far, Far Away


Highland Lake in Windham
Just a few miles from Portland, Maine, Highland Lake in Windham and Falmouth, is highly valued by lakefront property owners for its pristine waters and sense of wilderness, yet close proximity to entertainment, dining and other activities.
Highland Lake provides a perfect sanctuary for cottage dwellers and wildlife, including loons, eagles, ducks, blue heron, turtles and lots of fish. The public boat launch on Lowell Farm Road in Falmouth is for hand-carried canoes and kayaks only. Motor boat traffic is low.
Fed by springs and streams, including MacIntosh Brook at the northern end, Highland Lake encompasses 623 acres. The maximum depth is 67 feet, with an average depth of 22 feet.
Keith Williams, Ph.D. and Chair of the Water Quality Committee for the Highland Lake Association, says, “Highland Lake’s water quality is about typical of lakes in southern Maine.” The water quality is slightly above average. It’s tested bi-weekly during summer months and on a monthly basis throughout the winter. For more information, check the Highland Lake Association web site at www.highlandlakemaine.org. Fred Gallant is the current president.
If you’re an angler, you’ll find incredible fishing at Highland Lake. Plan to catch bass and trout right off your dock. According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, adult hatchery salmon are stocked in the lake. In 2006 a fish passage was completed.
“The project involved renovating the fishway and restoring the degraded stream channel at Highland Lake Dam in order to improve upstream and downstream passage for diadromous (sea-run) fish-especially alewives, which had historically free access to Highland Lake,” said Sandra Lary, Project Coordinator.
This project provided alewives with access to Highland Lake for spawning and nursery habitat. From fish to seabirds, seals, whales, otter, mink, fox, raccoon and turtles, nearly everything eats alewives. Therefore, the project aided the web of life and has the potential to bring our rivers, lakes, estuaries and oceans back to life.
A Highland Lake Conservation Project was completed in 2007 in conjunction with the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District. This 319 Grant from the Maine DEP was meant to significantly reduce erosion and export of sediment and phosphorus into the lake.
“Best management practices” were installed at 63 sites. In addition, to meet the goals of the grant, several workshops including “Cruise the Buffers,” “Rain Gardens,” and “Front Runner,” were offered. Through education, technical assistance and on-the-ground fixes, significant changes were made.
During ice fishing season, you should know that Fat Bass Tours offers ice fishing trips on Highland Lake. For more information, check their Web site at www.fatbass.com and maybe you’ll be retreating to their warm shanty soon.
Speaking of ice shanties, just the other day Buddah wrote on the ice shanty blog, “Head over to Highland Lake in Falmouth/Windham and fish the lower end, you should have pretty steady action on warm-water fish and maybe even connect with a brown trout or salmon.”
So . . . if you are looking for lakefront property close to Portland, yet with the feeling like it’s a million miles away, I encourage you to check out the classic Maine setting offered along the shores of Highland Lake in Windham and Falmouth.
Check out all the current lakefront property listings for sale on Highland Lake by clicking on the box below:

Search for properties on Highland Lake in Falmouth and Windham

Related Articles:
Falmouth Fights More Lake Access by Public

Stay Informed

Get the latest lake news delivered direct from Maine’s lake expert, Tom Ferent