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Looking forward to ice out on Megunticook Lake and other Rangeley Lakes

April 18, 2007 - Okay. Here we go again! The radio and television stations once again got us all fired up from monster storm 48 hours in advance. I clicked on the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather website Sunday morning and was met with multiple warnings: coastal flood warning -- flood watch -- hazardous weather outlook -- high wind warning -- Winter weather advisory.

This was the largest display of red, flashing warnings I have ever seen.

At the time this article is being written, it's too early to tell what the next two days will actually bring. It won't be pretty, whatever comes.

Water levels have fluctuated greatly this spring, and this most recent storm is just another example. Erosion, silty runoff and a regular water levels make living conditions difficult for fish and all marine mammals. Ground nesting birds will also be affected.

Needless to say, early-season fishing has not been the best it could be, with high, fast running water, and most lakes and ponds are still covered in ice.

Chickawaukie Pond became ice free late last week, and if we get the predicted wind and rain over the next couple of days, others should soon follow.

The 100 year average ice-out date for Megunticook Lake is around April 20, so this year it may not be far off the average. Last spring, Megunticook and Norton Pond were both declared ice free March 28. The latest recorded ice out in more than 100 years from Megunticook was May 2, which occurred in 1926 in 1939; the earliest on the record was March 23, 1903.

Because Megunticook is open to the wind and has numerous underwater springs, the Route 52 side of the lake often clears of ice in a week or more before the main lake. Individuals who regularly travel along Route 52, often believe Megunticook is clear, when the majority of the lake is still socked in.

Official ice out is when a boat can be navigated from the outlet dams up the Route 105 side of the lake, through Cheney's Narrows, between Lutz Island and Young's Neck to the outlet from Norton Pond. They may still be some residual ice chunks or small patches of ice and colds, but when the lake's original channel is ice free, ice out is declared.

Ducks and geese have been finding open water, and loons have landed in open water on Norton Pond, Megunticook Lake and the Megunticook River.

Maybe, just maybe, after the storm passes us by, spring will actually arrive. I'm getting to the point where I'm looking forward to the first black fly and mosquito.


This article appeared in its original form in the Village Soup Times April 18, 2007.


Lakes: Mooselookmeguntic &Cupsuptic
Regions: Rangeley


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