As many of you are aware, the level of the lake rose swiftly last week due to heavy rains, warm temperatures and snow melt. Even with the dam’s sluice gate wide open for several days before the rain, the lake filled quickly. So what happens next?

Relining of the sluice pipe (reported in the January newsletter) is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of April 14. This date, however, depends on our ability to get the lake back down to winter level. Assuming we attain winter level by April 14th, coffer steel will again be installed in front of the sluice gate to keep water out of the pipe while repairs are being made. The repairs are expected to take about one week.

Many of you who suffered dock damage this winter will have a very short window of opportunity to do dock repairs and any other shoreline projects while the lake is down before the week of April 14th. During the week the sluice pipe is being relined however, we will have no control over the lake level and the water could rise suddenly again depending on rain and flow of the Valatie Kill. Keep an eye on the water level and do your shoreline work as quickly and safely as possible.