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Lake Levels Affected by Catwalk ‘Dam’

December 26, 2011 - Oxford —The water levels on Thompson Lake might be a little different from now on, Oxford Town Manager Michael Chammings told the Oxford Board of Selectmen on December 15.

It turns out that the town has been using an inaccurate measure for the water levels. The mistake was revealed during the removal of an old catwalk at the Thompson Lake Dam.

"Probably the last 10 years we've getting false water levels of that lake, because that catwalk was holding back the water and the water was at a higher level than the measuring point that ... was intended."

The end result, said Chammings, will be more accurate readings, and lower water levels.

"We're probably going to see lower water levels in the lake, which probably a majority of people on the lake would be happy with that," he said.

The change, said Chammings, will amount to about four inches. He said that the grates were holding back 3.8 million gallons of water.

"You know how the argument goes, some people like more beach, some people like more water," he said.

The catwalk and supports were removed when it was determined that they consitituted a danger to the dam. Chammings said that the move was made just in time.

"The engineer who took them out said that they wouldn't have made it through the winter. They would have broken off," he said.

A road to the dam was put in to facilitate the removal of the catwalks, which turned out to be a one-day project at a cost of $4,000.

Chammings said that the town would get some money back by selling the steel.


Matt Hongoltz-Hetling, Advertiser Democrat, December 2011


Lakes: Thompson Lake
Regions: Sebago


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