Cobbosseecontee Ð Annabessacook South 
Monmouth, West Gardiner, Litchfield 
Secondary priority 
Description 
The south end of Cobbosseecontee (Cobbossee Lake), extending north and west to 
Wilson Stream flowing into Lake Annabessacook, contains extensive habitat for wetland 
species as well as two bald eagle nesting areas and a heron rookery. The wetland at the 
south end of Cobbossee is a large complex consisting of deep areas of open water, 
fringed by dense cattail stands at lower reaches and by floodplain forest and sedge 
meadow at upper reaches. The open wetlands are not considered exemplary natural 
communities in themselves, but do support several rare animal species. Least Bittern, for 
example, is a rare and regionally declining species. (The floodplain forest has not been 
evaluated.) Cobbossee Stream in West Gardiner (at Collins Dam) is also a historic 
location for Threadfoot, a rare plant, but that has not been recently confirmed there. 
Cobbossee Lake from the north 
Bald eagles have used Cobbosseecontee intermittently. Nesting was recorded near the 
inlet in East Monmouth in 1966. Although transient eagles continued to visit the area in 
fall and spring, no residency was noted for the next twenty years as population declines 
nearly extirpated bald eagles from central Maine. Meanwhile, a large colony of great 
blue herons on Pinkham Island and a wide scattering of osprey nests among islands in the 
southern reaches of the lake suggested the area remained suitable for eaglesÕ return. A 
non-breeding pair wandered the lake in 1997 Ð 1999 (briefly occupying an old osprey 

nest on Pine Island during 1998). In 2000, a new eagle nest was occupied on Goodwin 
Island in West Gardiner. Nesting was successful even though a summer camp is not far 
away on the island. Many other islands in Cobbosseecontee appear to be suitable and 
relatively more secure niches, and time will tell whether Cobbossee becomes a steady and 
reliable nesting area for bald eagles. 
Rare Species and Natural Communities Summary Table 
Common Name Latin Name EO Global State 
Rank Rank Rank 
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis G5 S2B 
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias B G5 S4B 
Stinkpot Sternotherus odoratus G5 S3 
Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus G5 S3 
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus G4 S4B 
Other Resources Mapped by MDIFW 
Extensive areas along Cobbosseecontee Stream east of the lake, the wetlands north and 
east of Wentworth Cove, the Jock Stream Ð Mud pond area at the south end of the lake, 
and Jug Stream (between Annabessacook and Cobbossee Lakes) are mapped as Wading 
Bird Ð Waterfowl Habitat. These overlap with all of the rare animal occurrences noted. 
Several Deer Wintering Areas are mapped as well, mostly on the east side of the lake. 
Protection Status 
The land in this area is all privately owned. 
Conservation Considerations 
Cobbosseecontee is a highly developed lake, so the conservation goal should be to 
minimize encroachment on what is currently undeveloped. 
Appropriate conservation strategies include tree growth and open space treatments, 
conservation easements and fee ownership. 
For lands where timber harvest or development continues, buffers should be maintained 
around all wetlands and ponds. While different species can have different buffering 
requirements, wider buffers provide better protection for riparian and wetland-dependent 
species. The state minimum shoreland zoning standards specify a minimum 75Õ buffer in 
which very little harvest or clearing is allowed, with less stringent restrictions within 250Õ 
of the wetland border. Better protection will be afforded to the wetlands and ponds if as 
little alteration as possible occurs within 250Õ of the wetland/upland border. Any timber 
harvesting within and adjacent to wetlands or adjacent to ponds should be implemented 
with strict adherence to Shoreland Zoning guidelines and Maine Forest Service Best 
Management Practices.