Water level hearing set for late August

OXFORD — A public hearing concerning a proposal to drop the winter water levels of Thompson Lake has been tentatively set for August 30.

At the August 2 selectboard meeting board members instructed Town Manager Michael Chammings to set the hearing near Labor Day, when many summer residents will be on the lake.

The proposal was brought to the board by the dam advisory committee, an eight-person body established to offer the Oxford Selectmen guidance on managing the dam at Robinson Mill. The dam controls the lake's water level.

During the meeting Scott Bernardy, environmental chair of the Thompson Lake Environmental Association, presented the board with the findings of a steering committee organized by the advisory committee to examine the lake's water levels.

Bernardy explained that erosion on the lake's shore is due to erratic water levels.

Erosion has resulted in phosphate discharge into the lake, said Bernardy – because the lake has a very low flush rate, those phosphates can remain for years and degrade water quality.

Lowering the winter water level to 32 inches below the top of the dam will allow for a healthy bounce-back in the spring, bringing the water back to around 14-16 inches from the top of the dam.

This level is within the "cobble zone," the part of the shore composed of stone and gravel stripped of phosphates.

According to the proposal, the town would lower the water level between October 1 and October 20.

The advisory committee was in favor of the proposal, but Chammings and other members were concerned of an outcry from lake residents.

The public hearing will give residents a chance to ask questions and voice their opinions about the proposal – a final decision on the changes will be made by the selectboard.

Notification of the public hearing will be sent out to property owners during the month.