Larger Lakes in Great Shape
As I write this column, our lakes are still in great shape. But, unfortunately for our farmers, gardeners, and those smaller lakes without dams, we’re back in a drought. They are now forecasting a negligible 0.11″ of precipitation for the next 10 days. For the record, we were bone dry for the past 10 days as well. We’ll still be able to open things up to freshen Mill Stream coming into the Village from Great Pond, but only for a very short time. This will help our residents on the Stream who rely on this water. Your Dams Committee is back in the save every drop of water mode!
The Village spillway dam is presently at 1.32″ above full pond with both gates still closed. Long Pond, at the Wings Mill Dam, is 1.92″ also above full pond with both gates still closed. Snow Pond is down to 6.96″ below their spillway due to their electricity generation needs during this hot spell. Salmon and McGrath are in the same shape and at 1.08″ above full with the 1 cfs calibrated valve opened its 15 turns.
We received this question a few times every year: “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 or water levels, please email your inquiry to , 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. Please stay safe!
Dick Greenan is chairman of the Belgrade Lakes Watershed Dams Committee. He submitted this report on July 8, 2026.
<— Previous Article • Summaries • Next Article —>
©2026 by Summertime in the Belgrades. All rights reserved.