Board votes to regulate lake level

OXFORD —  At its October 4 meeting, the board of selectmen voted to lower the winter water level on Thompson Lake for this year.

Town Manager Michael Chammings said the board could set the water levels for this year, allowing the three other towns bordering the lake – Poland, Casco and Otisfield – to consider a symmetric ordinance needed to regulate the water levels.

According to a letter from town attorney Geoffrey Hole presented to the Thompson Lake Dam Advisory Committee in a September meeting, the four towns must approve identical ordinances and enter into an interlocal agreement in order to lower the water levels.

According to reports, at the meeting Chammings told the committee he understood the town had the legal authority to use the Robinson Mill Dam, located at the northern end of the lake, to regulate the water levels.

In August, the Thompson Lake Dam Advisory Committee recommended the selectmen adopt the water level adjustment detailed in a report from the Thompson Lake Environmental Association.

According to the report, "the largest soil erosion comes from erratic water levels."

The report states that between 1966 and 1986, the winter water level was 37 inches below the top of the dam.

According to TLEA representative Scott Bernardy, the winter levels in recent years have been much higher – 18 to 20 inches below the top of the dam.

According to Bernardy, this has resulted in soil erosion and undermined some large trees on the shoreline. Erosion could lead to additional phosphate discharge into the lake, affecting water quality.

The report recommended that the board lower the water level to 32 inches below the top of the dam. Rain and snow melt would bring the level back up to a regular level in the spring.

The report recommends the town begin lowering the lake between October 1 and October 20.