Established November 24, 1965, Carlton Pond WPA is the only Waterfowl Production Area in the Region. Purchased with funds from the sale of duck stamps, the area is open for hunting, trapping, boating, wildlife viewing, fishing and other public uses.

Black terns, an endangered species in Maine and a Category 2 species nationally, nest on the area. Wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and common goldeneyes nest in the numerous nesting boxes originally erected by the State of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, but now managed by FWS.