At an Alliance forum on August 25, Jim Gallagher, the state’s chief engineer, detailed plans for a major reconstruction of the Ossipee River dam complex starting in the spring of 2019. The DES official fielded an array of questions during the hour-long meeting, ranging from water levels to historic preservation to fish ladders.
Alliance Report
Flooding Will Always Be Possible for Ossipee Lake. Here’s Why.
Major Work planned for the Ossipee River Dam next year will likely alleviate flooding to some extent. But because of the geography of the lake, Mother Nature will remain a wild card. This is the last of the articles in our series leading up to the state’s public presentation of its plan to replace the dam next year. The meeting is this Saturday, August 25, at 10 a.m. in Freedom Town Hall.
Repair Project Highlights Importance of Ossipee Lake’s Dam
In this 2010 Alliance newsletter article, a state official articulated why the dam needed to be replaced to improve flood protection and prevent a structure failure that would devastate downriver properties. The article is also useful for its recounting of the dam’s history.
More Studies Needed on Impact of Drawdowns
A long-time resident of Freedom, Ned Hatfield, author of this article, died in July 2017. He was a retired teacher who served his town for a number of years on the zoning board. His deep interest in the lake is evident in this thoughtful article about the environmental implications of winter drawdowns, a topic he felt had not received sufficient attention. We’re reposting it, along with other similar articles, to provide context for the August 25th public meeting we’re hosting at which the state will present its plan to replace the Ossipee River Dam.
On the Level: Notes on Managing the Height of the Lake
Bob Smart has written often about the Ossipee River Dam, including this newsletter article from 2004 about the dam’s history and how it’s operated. This is one of a number of articles we’ll be reposting in advance of the state’s presentation on how it plans to rebuild the dam next year. That public presentation will be August 25 in Freedom Town Hall at 10 a.m.