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Lakefront Owners to Determine Woods Pond Level

August 05, 2010 - BRIDGTON -- Glen "Bear" Zaidman thinks sometimes one only needs to look to nature for answers to seeming complex questions.


A black line exists along a big rock situated along the Woods Pond shoreline. Zaidmn figures this "mark" is the natural water level of the pond. Some years, the water level is several inches above the line, and various problems surface.


Although he works for a summer camp, Zaidman told concerned property owners that the health of Woods Pond must be the focus.


What is the "right" water level for Woods Pond? That was the question concerned shorefront property owners hoped to find an answer to last week when they met with Bridgton selectmen, Town Manager Mitch Berkowitz and Peter Lowell, executive director of Lakes Environmental Association.


With the selectmen's meeting room filled to capacity, Berkowitz served as moderator and asked those in attendance to remain civil during discussions of what he phrased as a "passionate" issue
.

People passionately spoke about their desire to "do what is right" for Woods Pond, thus hopefully reversing a current negative trend--one property owner has been forced to cut dying trees, the result of too high water levels, he said.


"We're all here to accomplish the same thing," Berkowitz said. "We need to identify the problems that we're seeing and consider some possible actions."


Zaidman said Woods Pond has seen fluctuations in water levels over the past two or three decades. As with many lakes and ponds, striking a balance between recreation and protection of the shoreline remains a tricky proposition. He points to improvements made to the dam about 10 years ago when he noticed "major changes" to aquatic life at Woods Pond.


"Years ago, people at one side of the pond were dissatisfied because the level was too high and left them without a beach," Zaidman said. "People at the other side felt it was low enough."


LEA has been testing Woods Pond for 20 years. Lowell says the pond's clarity is "better" and overall quality is "stable."


"Woods Pond is a 'colored' lake--'tea bag' in color--because of the amount of wetlands," Lowell said. "It's not a very deep lake, about 26 feet in the middle. It doesn't get oxygen depleted like some lakes in the area."


Heavy development around Woods Pond in 2003 sounded the warning bell concerning erosion and phosphorus runoff. Conditions improved, thanks to efforts by some developers, who used new technologies to prevent runoff.


Although Lowell was unable to give a specific water level shorefront property owners should shoot for to protect Woods POnd, he offered how the group should approach the issue.


First, he instructed the group to tour the pond and identify the most fragile shoreline. There, they need to set a "maximum" water level. Then, the group needs to check levels at various "reference points" or "landmarks," as well as "traditional high water marks."


Second, Lowell and Berkowitz encouraged shorefront owners to form a committee, whose charge is to set water levels. The town and LEA will assist the group in accessing scientific data needed to make that decision.


"Use common sense," Lowell said. "Look at the lake's shoreline and try to protect it."


Berkowitz pointed out that the town budget is a "walking skeleton" with no additional money to fund studies, etc.


Committee volunteers include: Bob Finnochiaro, Zaidman, Carole Ayer, Kelly Margolis, Mary Egan, Barry Denofrio, Roy Lambert and Glen Freeman.


"You (shorefont owners) know the lake better than anyone else. You're sittiing there looking out at it all the time," Lowell said. "You will do a better job determining what level works for everyone than anyone else."


Because of Mother Nature's unpredictability, Lowell said what might work in one year may not in others, so the group must be flexible in the approach. Several property owners suggested that the committee contact them via e-mail to keep everyone informed. They also suggested that the committee make contact with existing road associations. Bill Morrisseau reminded attendees that Woods Pond is part of a "water system."


"When you dump water from Highland Lake and Woods Pond, it can affect other waterbodies, which can't dump the water as fast as we are, thus causing problems there," he said.


Lowell agreed, saying unlike some other lakes and ponds in the area, Woods Pond property owners "don't have to worry what's happening up stream."


Selectmen Art Triglione, Earl Cash and Woody Woodward praised the group's interest and willingness to work together in Woods Pond's best interest. Cash noted that he was a member of a committee 10 years ago charged with setting the water level.


"We thougth we did the right thing, but apparently it wasn't," he said. "Seeing this meeting tonight, we're in a better situation now than we were then when I was standing on a cold beach in October."


by Wayne Rivet, The Bridgton News, August 5, 2010


Lakes: Woods Pond
Regions: Sebago


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