7357-R2_LSLA_2020_WinterNewsletter

2020/2021 Winter Hopkins Dam Report As I write this on this cold and windy November 1 st , Little Sebago Lake is 6” below summer high. The Hopkins Dam was opened for the winter drawdown on October 15 th . We started 13” below summer high when the dam was closed on April 15 th . Winter melt and spring storms brought us to a full lake on May 3 rd . By May 12 th , the lake was 3.5” above summer high. The dam was opened and we went back down to summer high on May 23 rd when the dam was again closed. Early summer rains brought Little Sebago up 2” on June 29 th and then to 6” above summer high on July 1 st . With the dam opened again, the lake was back down to summer high on July 10 th when the dam was closed. The dam remained closed as there was virtually no precipitation for the remainder of the summer. By September 22 nd the lake level had dipped to 7” below summer high. Some early fall rain brought the lake to about 5” below summer high on October 15th. The Hopkins Dam was opened on that day to begin the State mandated winter drawdown. We can bring the full lake down about an inch a day with the dam open, but 1 inch of rain brings the lake up 3 inches. Our goal is to bring the lake down 16” to 18” inches before ice in – but Mother Nature will control that at this point. to design and build a replacement for our rusted 38 year old sluiceway gate. The gate should last at least a couple more years, but we don’t want to wait until it fails to replace it. Our early estimate is that the replacement will cost about $20,000. We are looking for an engineering stamp for the gate if anyone knows a PE that could help us. The State does not require a PE stamp for a replacement gate, but the dam committee would feel better if we had one. We are looking to install the new gate in the spring of 2021 or 2022. Lake level and weather conditions will be factors in the replacement timing. My thanks to the Dam Committee – Dave Vance and Justine Beaudoin – to the LSLA Board of Directors, and to the LSLA membership for your support. Rod Bernier Hopkins Dam DamKeeper

The repointing work by Breton Masonry has continued. The extremely low water level on the Mill Pond side of the dam exposed some holes in the lower part of the dam that were previously not seen. We are in hopes that the excellent work being done by Jon Breton and his team will last for many many years. The work done so far looks great. Our 130 year old dam looks like new. There are currently no leaks in the sluiceway and the dam gate mechanism is in good working order. Our plan is to work over the winter months

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