02 October 2014: Another lake shore owner writes State

Another impassioned email this one from Clary Lake shore owner Rick Gallion, confounded by the low water conditions and the apparent lack of any enforcement action being taken against the dam owner by the Department of Environmental Protection. We know from Beth Callahan’s response to Jean McWilliam’s letter from the other day that the State has decided to hold off on enforcement action against dam owner Pleasant Pond Mill LLC pending the outcome of currently ongoing mediation. While this approach is somewhat understandable, it doesn’t make the situation out here on the water any easier to take.


September 30, 2014

Beth,

     I wanted to alert you as to the seriousness of the low lake level of Clary Lake.  Last weekend I  only managed to get my small sailboat out of the lake with great Gallion01difficulty, and possibly some damage because, as you can see, the level of the lake at the public boat launch is extremely low.  A fisherman behind me had difficulty even getting his shallow draft, metal hulled fishing boat out.  In the photo of the grassland with the lake in the distance, the water is usually nearly up to the photographer, and the wetland is teeming with wildlife.

     There was a family at the boat launch and the children were trying to swim.  One of them asked his mom “Where’s the water”.  On a day as nice as it was that Sunday, there would usually be several family groups there enjoying the lake.

      My wife and I own the Clary Lake Bed and Breakfast in Jefferson, very near the lake. Our business has suffered the last several years because people have stopped Gallion03coming to visit families and friends who have camps on the lake.  I have been unable to use my sailboat because the level is so low throughout the lake.  I only put it in this year so that I could give my nephew from Kansas a sailing lesson, but I was very limited on where I could sail, and I won’t be able to use it until the lake level is restored.

     I know that you and your department have been working very diligently on a lake level order for Clary Lake, and I do appreciate your efforts.   I also know that Gallion02the owner of the property that the dam is on continues to find new and different ways to delay and impede the process.  My hope is only to remind you and your department of the negative effects that the mismanagement of the Clary Lake dam has had and continues to have on real people, in hopes that it may encourage you to make every effort to expedite the process, so that Clary Lake will once again be a fine recreation destination for the area, and the state.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Rick Gallion
Clary Lake B&B
777 Gardiner Road
Jefferson, ME 04348
207 549-5961