Penobscot Bay

Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay (Maine)
Location	Maine, United States
Coordinates
River sources	Penobscot River
Ocean/sea sources	Atlantic Ocean
Max. depth	145 meters
Salinity	approx. 31psu
Settlements	Rockland, Maine Camden, Maine

Penobscot Bay originates from the mouth of Maine's Penobscot River. 11,000 years ago, at the beginning of the Holocene era, the Gulf of Maine's sea level fell as low as 180 feet (55 m) below its present height. Penobscot Bay was then a continuation of Penobscot River that meandered through a broad lowland extending past present day Matinicus Island. Penobscot Bay is between Muscongus Bay and Blue Hill Bay.

Penobscot Bay and its chief tributary, Penobscot River are named for the Penobscot Indian Nation, which has continuously inhabited the area for more than ten thousand years, fishing, hunting and shellfish gathering in and around the bay and river. A part of the Wabanaki Confederacy, the Penobscot Indian Nation's present reservation includes Indian Island, north of Orono, Maine, and all the islands of Penobscot River above it. Ancient remains of their campsites dating back millennia have been found on the bay's shores and islands. For more on Wabanaki culture and history on the Maine coast, see "Asticou's Island Domain: Wabanaki Peoples at Mount Desert Island 1500-2000,"(National Park Service, 2007)

There are many islands in this bay, and on them, some of the country's most well-known summer colonies. The bay served as portal for the one time "lumber capital of the world," namely; the city of Bangor.

Penobscot Bay has many working waterfronts including Belfast, Maine, which is home to custom boat builder Front Street Shipyard. Other working waterfronts include Rockland, Maine and Rockport, Maine.

Penobscot Bay Water Pollution

Penobscot Bay has been the receiving waters for sewage waste and industrial waste discharges from bay and river towns since the 19th century. Noticeable improvements in water quality began in the mid 20th century when the federal government began requiring communities and businesses of all states to meet national water pollution standards.

On June 28, 1966, the State of Maine's Commissioner of Sea and Shore Fisheries, Ronald W. Green, ordered closure of the shellfish beds in the waters of Searsport and Stockton Springs, in upper Penobscot Bay, "due to the polluted condition of the water."

The US Department of the Interior's Water Pollution Control Administration and the US Public Health Service then conducted a joint investigation of the lower Penobscot River and upper Penobscot Bay "to determine the sources of this pollution, the direction of travel of this pollution and the degree of economic injury involved."

In February 1967, the Water Pollution Control Administration (WPCA) published its findings as "Report on Pollution - Navigable Waters of the Penobscot River and Upper Penobscot Bay". The investigation found that the sewage from eleven towns,and effluents of thirteen businesses and one university facility were the chief sources of the pollution.

According to the report,"substantial economic injury results from the inability to market shellfish or shellfish products in interstate commerce because of pollution caused by sewage and industrial wastes discharged to the Penobscot River and upper Penobscot Bay area and action of state authorities." The WPCA noted that "accordingly the pollution of these navigable waters is subject to abatement under procedures described in Section 10 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended"

The WPCA report recommended specific water quality requirements for these pollution dischargers, and concluded that if the identified pollution sources improved their waste treatment practices, the waters of the upper Penobscot Bay communities of Northport, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Penobscot, Castine, Islesboro and Belfast, Maine would again be available for commercial and recreational fishing, swimming, pleasure boating, industrial processing and cooling water, wildlife and navigation.

Islands in Penobscot Bay

• Isle au Haut
• Islesboro
• North Haven
• Vinalhaven
• Matinicus Isle
• Criehaven
• Sears Island
• Great Spruce Head
• Nautilus Island
• Little Deer Isle
• Deer Isle (Deer Isle, Stonington, Mountainville, Sunrise, Sunset)

Towns along the western side

Penobscot Bay near Belfast

• Saint George
• South Thomaston
• Owls Head
• Rockland
• Rockport
• Camden
• Lincolnville
• Northport
• Belfast
• Searsport (Penobscot Marine Museum)
• Stockton Springs
• Prospect
• Verona Island

Towns on the eastern side

• Bucksport
• Orland
• Penobscot
• Castine
• Brooksville
• Deer Isle
• Stonington

Penobscot Bay panorama

A 180° panorama of the Penobscot Bay from near the Belfast/Searsport town line looking SE. Belfast Bay is to the right, Northport on the peninsula, Islesboro on the center horizon, Castine to the left of that, and toward Stockton Springs and the entrance to the Penobscot River are beyond the trees on the far left.

External links

• Report on Pollution: Navigable Waters of the Penobscot River and Upper Penobscot Bay in Maine
• Maine Department of Conservation. *"Penobscot Bay 10,000 Years Ago."
• Godfrey, John E. *The Ancient Penobscot, or Panawanskek. as transcribed from The HISTORICAL MAGAZINE and Notes and Queries concerning The Antiquities, History, and Biography of America. (Third Series, Vol. I, No. II; Whole Number, Vol. XXI, No. II) February, 1872. (Morrisina, N.Y., Henry B. Dawson) pp. 85–92 (illustrated & annotated)
• "Joshua Treat, The Pioneer Settler on Penobscot River." The Bangor Historical Magazine, Vol. IV, No. 9-10, pp. 169–176 April, 1889.
• "The Farnsworth Museum"
• "The Penobscot Marine Museum"
• "Penobscot Bay Watch [NGO web portal on Penobscot Bay management, conservation, ecology, history and advocacy."