Lake Anasagunticook Blog

I have not been able to verify exactly when and who built the first dam on Whitney Brook in Canton but it is believed to be around 1849. In the late 1980s, Ray Fortier was the dam keeper for owners, M/M Richards, before becoming part owner in December 1990 and sole owner of the Anasagunticook dam in March of 1997.

In 1978, the Introduction to the “Water Level Management Plan for Canton Lake” describes:
“Lake Anasagunticook Dam has a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a total length of 175 feet. It consists of a concrete gated spillway structure, 25 feet in length, and a 150-foot long earthen embankment. The average width across the crest of the earthen embankment is 25 feet. Four wooden rectangular, vertical lift gates, 6.4′ H x 4.5′ W, span across the entire length of the spillway and serve to regulate the lake level. The dam spans the headwaters of Whitney Brook and is located in south-western Maine. The drainage area above the dam is 14.95 square miles. Maximum storage capacity is about 5,800 acre-feet. Normal pool is approximately 11,500 feet long and has a surface area of about 582 acres. Lake Anasagunticook is used for recreational purposes.

This Management Plan will focus on the proper management of this dam to effect the following concerns:
(a) to prevent the erosion of shorefront property and the flooding of sewage disposal systems on Canton Lake.
(b) to prevent damage to properties downstream of the outlet dam due to extreme water levels.
(c) to maintain and improve the fisheries management program for the lake.”

This area of the “blog” will have DEP and MEMA orders, inspections, and important documents giving the history of the difficulties which have been documented with the administration of the Water Level Management Plan and the recommended repairs to the Anasagunticook dam over the last couple decades. When reviewing these documents which give a better understanding of the history of the long-standing dam safety issues, please note that some are well before the current owners tenure in this matter. It is also worth noting that along with inherited property rights (flowage or flooding rights) are the inherited historic problems which I hope to document.

Judy Hamilton

One very important question raised is what is the impact of low water levels on water quality and the long term health of the lake? The directors divided up a list of State agencies and biologists to ask this very question. Obviously, the short term effect is hardest on those plants, critters and habitats along the shoreline which are now out of water and drying. Mother nature is resilient and these areas can expect to rebound when water levels rise again. Read these emails for yourself.

As with the other “blog” categories about the dam, I encourage you to ask questions and make suggestions by clicking on “Comments” below or signing the lake association guest book on the home page. Then come back to this web page often to keep yourself informed.
Judy Hamilton

Note: Newest entries will be posted at the bottom.

David Firmage, Colby College Prof. Environmental Studies

Judy’s emailed request to biologists and State agencies

Scott Williams, Volunteer Lakes Monitoring Program

Roy Bouchard, DEP Lakes Assessment Unit

Maine Rural Water Association

Alex Wong, Maine Rural Water Assn. Groundwater Prog. Manager

David Courtmanch Ph.D. DEP Director, Div. of Environmental Assessment

James Pellerin, Dept. IF&W Asst. Regional Fishery Biologist

Charles Hulsey, Dept. IF&W Strong Office

There are four elected boards that we should be looking to for a final resolution to the varying water levels on our lake. MEMA Supplemental Dam Safety Order, May 8, 2007, means the gates to the dam must remain open until the ordered repairs are made. The State has said that a change in ownership is needed. What does this mean? What will this cost? Who can do what to make it happen?

The elected officials to the Select Boards in Canton and Hartford, the Trustees of the Canton Water District, and the Board of Directors of the Lake Anasagunticook Assn. are the ones to make things happen.

This is an opportunity for you to stay up to date on what this group is doing, make your suggestions, ask questions and work together with this group toward a final solution. As with the other “blog” categories, I encourage you to click on “Comments” below or sign the lake association guest book on the home page. Then come back to this web page often to keep yourself informed.
Judy Hamilton

Note: Newest entries will be posted at the bottom.

Meeting to Establish Permanent Solution Team

Hamilton questions of Core group mtg 7/24/07

Residents of Canton and Hartford and taxpayers in either town may read and sign the Petition to MEMA asking for support of local efforts to secure a permanent solution to the water level and dam safety situation. Copies of the petition can be found at both the Canton and Hartford Town Offices and with the Lake Anasagunticook Assn. through Judy Hamilton.

Petition MEMA for support

9/6/07 Update

11/15/07 Update

December ‘07 News Article

1/15/08 Update

There have been three different temporary dam site proposals to stabilize water levels for this summer and, if needed, for the short term until the dam is repaired or another permanent solution is found. The first proposal, which Michael Ranhoff described at the May 30th public meeting, was a temporary sandbag dam to be built at the narrowed point about half-way down Whitney Brook; the second location, just above the old bridge abuttment and Mr. Fortier’s property line; and the third location, at the mouth of Whitney Brook.

Temporary dams must have DEP permits and the applications must include written permission of property owners on both sides of the brook where construction is to take place along with a variety of documents. This is a lengthy process and many variables have to be considered.

Below are some of the emails that I have received over the past several weeks. These correspondences will give you an insight to the amount of energy and personal resources individuals have contributed, and realize the difficulties faced, to protect and preserve our beautiful lake.

As with the other “blog” categories, I encourage you to ask questions and make comments by clicking on “Comments” below or signing the lake association guest book on the home page. Then come back to this web page often to keep yourself informed.
Judy Hamilton

Note: Temporary Dam information emails are not yet up to date. The newest entries will be posted at the bottom.

Email from Ranhoff to Murch 6/4/07

Email update from Michael Ranhoff 6/5/07

Email update from Michael Ranhoff 6/13/07

Email from Murch to Ranhoff 6/13/07

Email from Hamilton to Murch 6/14/07

Meeting at the State House 6/20/07

Meeting Hartford Town Hall 2nd proposal 6/27/07

LAA Directors Meeting 7/1/07

Answers to Savarese Questions 7/11/07

Ranhoff re: flowage rights 7/12/07

Dana Murch re: Tempory Dam

DEP returns Temporary Dam App. 8/6/07

Hamilton/Murch on Returned App.

Ranhoff/Murch on Returned application