Flickers look different from most of the woodpeckers we commonly see in the New England wilds. It is more of an oddball in the woodpecker clan. It has a speckled, chestnut-brown body with a black crescent on its spotted breast, and a black mustache—when it is a male. We might see yellow under the surfaces of its wings and tail if it flies overhead. A new article by ecologist Dave Eastman.
The state advises swimmers to avoid the blue-green algae scum patches and colored flecks that have been found along the pond's shoreline and coves. Some cyanobacteria produce toxins that can cause human health problems, but the state says the Danforth Pond warning is not based on a toxin evaluation. Instead, it is intended as a precautionary measure.
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.
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.
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.
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