We Really Need Rain!
by Dick Greenan
Well, it's not dams related, but there is some real good news out of Great Pond! In the recent Audubon Loon Count, our dedicated volunteers had counted 42 or so adults on Great Pond but not a single loon chick — on all of Great Pond! But an astute resident, just this past week, discovered a single loon chick with two very proud adults foraging around in the north end of the pond. Definitely a silver lining in an otherwise gloomy forecast. Fortunately the Belgrade Lakes Association is in its second year of their Loon Project in an effort to get a handle on what is happening with our loon population on all of our ponds, so stay tuned.
As I write this week's column, we have received a paltry 0.33" of rain in the past ten days and are forecasted to receive 1.25" of precipitation for the next 10 days, if it does happen. We'll take anything that we get at this point because we really need it. Great Pond is currently 2.04" above full pond, with Long Pond holding right at full pond. Although our neighbors on Snow Pond are in still in relatively good shape at 2.5" below full, Salmon is really feeling the effects of this heat and is now 6" below full. Hopefully the rain in the coming week will help us all.
The repairs on the Wings Mill dam should finally kick in mid-week with installation of the new and innovative floating cofferdam to deter the water flow while they do the reconstruction. If you are out and about, you may want to take a drive by to check out the operation. Google Wings Mill Road in Belgrade and when you see the bridge, you're there.
Enjoy the family, your vacation and this incredibly beautiful weather! And remember, the occasional showers are a blessing!
Dick Greenan is secretary to the Belgrade Lakes Watershed Dams Committee. He submitted this report on 7/30/2020.
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