Main source Maine890 feet (270 m) Source elevation 271 m | Length 85 km | |
River mouth Mattawamkeag River365 feet (111 m) Progression | ||
The West Branch Mattawamkeag River is a 52.6-mile-long (84.7 km) tributary of the Mattawamkeag River in Maine. From its source (46°08′07″N 68°30′09″W) in Maine Township 6, Range 6, WELS, the river runs 10 miles (16 km) northeast by Pleasant Lake and through Mud Lake and Rockabema Lake, then 42 miles (68 km) south and southeast through Upper Mattawamkeag Lake and Mattawamkeag Lake to its confluence with the East Branch Mattawamkeag River in Haynesville, about 10 miles (16 km) west of the Canada–United States border.
Contents
Map of West Branch Mattawamkeag River, Haynesville, ME, USA
Mattawamkeag Lake
Mattawamkeag Lake is 4 miles (6.4 km) east (downstream) of Island Falls. There is a good boat launching area on Upper Mattawamkeag Lake on the east side of U.S. Route 2 about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Island Falls. Upper Mattawamkeag Lake is at the same level as Mattawamkeag Lake, and boats can easily navigate the short thoroughfare from the south end of Upper Mattawamkeag Lake to the north end of Mattawamkeag Lake. For decades there was a dam at the south end of Mattawamkeag Lake controlling overflow to the West Branch Mattawamkeag River. Water level dropped several feet when the dam was abandoned; and the lake shoreline is rocky where wave action eroded shallow soil. The two lakes provide good habitat for chain pickerel, smallmouth bass and white perch.