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All Quiet on the Greenwood / Woodstock Waterfront

November 21, 2007 - Heavy fall rains have swelled the waters of the three ponds held back by the Alder River dam in Locke Mills, but the past summer's angry roiling over just how high those waters should be kept appears to have subsided. And a committee formed in response to the past season's acrimony appears well on its way toward developing a water-level management plan that might satisfy, if not universally delight, most waterfront stakeholders.

The past summer's events were precipitated by winter run-off and late spring rains, which raised the water levels to the point that some property ovvners protested. High winter waters led to shorefront ice damage, they complained, and, come spring, parts of their land remained under water. They took their complaints to Greenwood selectmen (who are responsible for managing the dam), but the selectmen's well-intended response only made the overall situation worse.

The selectmen had the three levels of four-inch batten boards at the top of the dam removed, effectively lowering the water level behind the dam by a foot. This pleased those who thought the water had been too high, but infuriated many more shorefront property owners, who now complained their shorelines were turning into mudflats.

In late July about 100 year-round residents and summer visitors turned out at a public hearing the selectmen had called to hash out the matter. The meeting, often heated, lasted two and a half hours, and seemed to satisfy no one. Later that month about 30 people turned out again at a special Town Meeting to again protest the low-water levels.

Loretta Mikols, chairman of the town selectmen, urged calm. The town planned to form a committee to study the matter, she said, and to come up with a well-thought-out plan for managing the water level. In response to complaints that the selectmen were moving too slowly to resolve the situation, Mikols argued that undue haste would only create more serious problems.

"We are moving to the place where the impact of a bad decision is entirely too great," Mikols said, "and if that means it takes a little more time to get the right answer, rather than rush to judgment and have a catastrophe happen, then we're guilty."

The committee formed to address the water level issue (the Water Level Policy Committee) began meeting in September, and late last month completed a draft plan for management of the water during the fall and winter. There are 13 members on the committee and the plan was approved unanimously by the 11 members present at the most recent meeting. The plan calls for drawing down the ponds beginning on or about Nov. 1 of each year, by removing all three levels of batten boards at the dam.

A plan for what will happen in the spring and summer has yet to be developed, and may prove more difficult to find such broad consensus on. But by next spring the committee hopes to have a year-round plan ready to present to town residents. A hearing on the plan will also be held during the summer, when more seasonal residents can attend. Town Manager Kim Sparks said.
Long-time North Pond resident Marie Bartlett had been among the most vocal critics of the manner in which the town has handled the waterlevel situation. But Bartlett said Wednesday she was "absolutely delighted," with the progress the new committee has made. They've been very reasonable," Bartlett said. "The approach they're taking is wonderful."

SOURCE: BETHEL CITIZEN

DATE: 11-08-2007

Lakes:
Regions: Sebago


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