What Lakefront Property Owners Should Know About Fluctuating Water Levels

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What Lakefront Property Owners Should Know About Fluctuating Water Levels

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Autumn Colors Frame Moose Pond Dam, Denmark, Maine


by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
You may have noticed that the water level at your lake tends to rise and fall over the course of the year. Natural fluctuations may occur if there is less rain, less snow runoff, more evaporation, or a combination of these factors over time. Depending on the depth of the lake, the fluctuations may be dramatic or barely noticeable.



Controlling lake or pond depth is important to the surrounding environment for many reasons, good or bad.  For example, if the water is too high it could cause flooding, shoreline erosion, and property damage to beaches, boat ramps and docks. When the level is too low it may negatively impact aquatic and wildlife species, or dry up private wells.
Since drawdowns have advantages and disadvantages, it’s important for towns, lake associations and dam operators to find a happy balance that will not adversely affect the environment and property owners.
According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Web site, lowering the lake significantly (6 feet+) “may reduce high phosphorus levels. For such drawdowns to have a beneficial effect on water quality, the lake has to have:
• Very high phosphorus concentrations which peak at a specific time of year, typically late summer
• The ability to drawdown the lake (dam capacity) sufficiently to export a large proportion of the lake’s water and thus much of its phosphorus in a short period of time
• The ability to rapidly re-fill the lake with relatively low phosphorus water”
Consequently, in most cases, this technique doesn’t work. “Options usually considered by lake associations, towns and others who own dams are for variations of only a few feet at most.”
Some see a drawdown as a way to protect the shoreline from winter ice damage and erosion created by high water. Again, the DEP’s Web site states that this isn’t always the case: “Drawdowns are usually not useful in controlling shoreline erosion unless they are the only way to prevent significant springtime ice damage, which aggravates the process of soil loss by root damage and scouring. Ice damage can often be reduced by attaining a stable, slightly lower water level in the fall and actively managing the dam to keep at the target water level through the winter season and into the spring. This level should be chosen to avoid ice contact with unstable or sensitive shoreline but not so low as to cause problems with wildlife habitat or uses such as water intake pipes.”
Furthermore, “Major level fluctuations can actually aggravate shoreline erosion in some areas if wave or ice action is concentrated below the level where cobbles and boulders have accumulated over the years. This is especially true for fairly steep shorelines where erosion below this cobble layer undercuts bank stability.”
A drawdown may have a dramatic effect on some invasive aquatic plants that don’t have viable overwintering structures such as seeds and tubers. Exposure to freezing temperatures will kill them. But, according to the DEP, “The track record is mixed as to the effectiveness, since some nuisance species can remain beyond the reach of the drawdown and effectiveness is usually limited in duration to a few years.”
On the Maine DEP Web site, you’ll find that these other concerns are also addressed:
• How are fish, birds, amphibians, and warm blooded shoreline animals affected by water level changes?  What species are especially at risk?
• Does a drawdown affect algae growth and concentrations?
How long does it usually take to re-establish a stable shoreline when the water level has been raised or lowered?
• What can be done to stabilize shorelines?
• What is the best time of year for a drawdown?
A sound management plan based on historical data is essential in determining what is best for the level of your lake or pond. Check with your town or lake association if you have concerns.
To learn more about lakefront properties for sale on Moose Pond in the Sebago Lakes Region of Maine, click on the green box above.
To learn more about Denmark, Maine, check out these blog links.
Denmark Arts Center Provides Outlet for Local Talent
Moose Pond in Bridgton and Denmark, Maine, Offers Four Season, Lake Region Vacation Fun
Hancock Pond and Sands Pond, Denmark, Maine – Two for One for Lakefront Property Owners

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