Our Lakes Are In Great Shape
As I write this column, our lakes are in great shape. They are now forecasting 2.74″ of precipitation for the next ten days. For the record we had only 0.19″ for the past ten days. If we do in fact get this forecast, we’ll be able to open up the flow to freshen Mill Stream coming into the Village from Great Pond. This will help our residents on the Stream who rely on this water.
The Village spillway dam is presently at 1.7″ above full pond with both gates still closed. Long Pond, at the Wings Mill Dam, is 1.8″ also above full pond with both gates still closed. Snow Pond is holding at 2.88″ below their spillway which is still good considering their electricity generation needs. Salmon and McGrath are in great shape and exactly at 0.6″ below full, basically full pond with the 1 cfs calibrated valve opened 15 turns.
We received an interesting question this past week: “What would happen if the dams were removed.” Well, in 1975, Central Maine Power (CMP) stated the following during a public meeting:
QUESTION: What would happen to the lakes if the dam gates were permanently removed and the water allowed to drop to original lake levels?
ANSWER: Salmon Lake-McGrath Pond would drop about six feet. Great Pond roughly seven feet and Long Pond about three, subject to levels of the stream bottoms immediately ahead of these dams. The impact on individual lake and stream front properties would vary according to the character of the shoreline. Docks, water intakes, swimming and boating conditions would be affected and some property lines may be altered. Without the dams the remaining lakes would be subject to wide variations in levels which would be uncontrollable.
Knowing what we know now, the impact on water quality due to further erosion and run off would also be catastrophic.
If you have a particular questions regarding our dams and/or water levels, please email your inquiry to dickgreenan@outlook.com and we will try to answer your question either in this column or via email.
Enjoy the family, your vacation, and this incredibly beautiful weather, and please stay safe!
Dick Greenan is the Rome representative on the Belgrade Lakes Watershed Dams Committee. He submitted this report on July 9, 2025.
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