State of Maine
Department of Environmental Protection
July 1, 1996
Ray Fortier
PO Box 621
Sabattus, ME 04280
RE: Canton Lake Water Levels
Dear Ray:
The Department has reviewed your proposed water management
plan and other relevant information on file with respect
to Canton Lake.
Based on this review, the Department has developed a
detailed Water Level Management Plan for Canton Lake, a
copy of which is attached. The purpose of this plan is to
explain how you are to operate the outlet dam to comply
with the State's water level order for the lake. This
management plan is effective July 1, 1996.
As part of this management plan, we are calling the summer
target level the point 5 inches below the two remaining
old spillway gates in the dam, and 11 inches below the
two rebuilt gates. This corresponds to the level that has
been traditionally maintained at the dam since the water
level order was issued in 1978. We understand that the
lake is currently higher than this level.
You are hereby directed to immediately take all steps
necessary to lower the lake to the summer target level
and to thereafter operate the outlet dam in accordance
with the attached Water Level Management Plan. The
Department will enforce your compliance with Plan.
As I have explained before, if you decide to pursue state
and federal permits to build and operate a hydropower
project at the Canton Lake Dam, you can propose a new
water level management plan as part of your appliation.
DEP and other agencies will then review your proposal
under the criteria of the Maine Waterway Development
and Conservation Act and the Federal Power Act, and may
accept all, part, or none of your proposal
It is perfectly acceptable to the DEP if you authorize
others to open and close gates in your absence to comply
with the management plan. However, please understand that
you will be held responsible for any violations of the
management plan brought about by the actions or inactions
of your authorized agents.
In a related matter, the DEP has investigated a complaint
about erosion of the banking of Route 140 where it passes
next to the lake. It is our determination that the erosion
is occuring as a result of runoff across the road, not by
lake levels, and we have notified the Department of
Transportation about the situation. Without corrective
action, the existing guard rail will fail.
This letter is being copies to the Department of
Transportation, the Canton Water District, the Canton
Lake Accociation, and the Towns of Canton and Hartford
to apprise them of your water level obligations.
If you have any questions about compliance with the water
level management plan, please contact Scott Farwell of
this office at 287-3901.
Sincerely,
Dana Paul Murch,
Dams & Hydro Supervisor
cc:
David Ames, DOT-Dixfield
Bob Doucette, Canton Water District
Conrad Hutchinson, Canton Lake Association
Town of Canton
Town of Hartford
Scott Farwell, DEP-Enforcement
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