By BEA LEWIS, Citizen.com
Original article reposted from Citizen.com

Selectmen are angry with the state Department of Environmental Services following what they eye as an 11th hour request by the agency for the town’s “formal opinion” concerning the level of Lake Waukewan.
Town Manager Phil Warren advised selectmen that in his mind the town shouldn’t have an opinion as it took a hands-off approach after DES, “made it clear they run the lake.”

The agency held two lengthy public hearings in Meredith and heard testimony from several hundred shorefront property owners both for and against the interim operating level of the lake that serves as the town’s drinking water supply.

DES has been investigating the management of impoundment levels at the lake as controlled by the Lake Waukewan Dam since September 2008.

According to a Nov. 18 letter to selectmen, DES says the available information seems to indicate that Lake Waukewan was maintained near an average elevation of 539 feet above sea level from 1904 to about 1985 with a fall drawdown of 15 to 22 inches occurring sporadically over the past 30 or so years. From about 1985 until about 2005, Lake Waukewan appears to have been maintained near an elevation of 540 with no purposeful drawdown. For the past five years or so previous to 2010, the level of Lake Waukewan appears to have been maintained near an average of 540.5 with no fall drawdown, the DES letter says.

The state maintains the interim water level was on average about 1 foot lower than the average from 2005 to 2010 and about six inches below the estimated average for the 1985 to 2005 period. The 2010 fall drawdown target level of 538.5 will lower the lake about six inches more than the proceedings year’s drawdown target level of 539.

DES plans to issue in final decision in early 2011.

“It seems like we’re going to pound in another lightning rod and then connect them between us,” said Selectman Peter Brothers.

“When we respond we need to tell them that it is clearly their jurisdiction as we have been led to believe and that’s how the statutes clearly read,” he continued.

Warren stressed that if the decision was cooperative “which it is not,” it should have taken place during the summer months when the majority of seasonal property owners are in Meredith “not in the dead of winter.”

“The management of the lake is a state issue we have been told that all along,” continued Warren.

Tasked with drafting a response for the board’s approval, Warren said, what he was hearing from the board is that the state should consider all of the landowner testimony that it received in making its final decision.

Selectmen Chairman Chuck Palm said one of the primary concerns of the town is that whatever water level is chosen, purity remains a priority.

But Selectman Miller Lovett maintained the town should “exercise its muscle in this,” and respond with a formal opinion. He said the lake level has been higher than it was this summer and no major problems were reported until the area experiences a 100 year flood.

“We were told they were in control. It’s up to the state to make a decision,” commented Selectman Nate Torr.