It seems like this April has been colder than usual, certainly colder than it had to be though that is just my opinion. Most everyone I’ve talked to seems to agree with me though. Anyways, it just seems like it hated to warm up this month and this in spite of the lack of rain. I usually think of April as a cold and wet month, but this one was just cold. We’ve only received 1.58″ of rain so far, well below normal. In the past couple of days though the weather sure has taken a turn for the better and it looks like we’re in for a good stretch of warm, dry weather. People are out fishing, putting docks in, and cleaning up around their yards. It’s nice to see activity around the lake again. I for one constructed a slip for my boat and hung my hammock today. I was somewhat chagrined to see that the hammock (and anyone laying in it) it is visible on the webcam. Not sure how I feel about that.

The lake was like a mirror this morning and the sun was bright. I was sitting down by the lake having my coffee and contemplating where we’ve been with this water level petition so far, and where we’re headed. And of course, I couldn’t help but notice how bloody shallow the water is on my shoreline. The picture at left tells the story. The water level is currently 44.25″ below the top of the dam and falling about 3/4″ a day. 25′ off shore the water is less than 2′ deep, and that’s about as close as I can get to shore with my boat without pulling the motor up and rowing. Everyone around the lake is in the same boat. As it were. More or less. Some have more water, some have less.

I was looking through an old Association photo archive the other day I and came across 4 pictures of loons with a baby. The pictures are dated July 14, 2003 which is very likely the last time we had a baby loon on the lake. If anyone knows who took them, please let me know so I can give them credit. I’ve added the pictures to the User Uploads Gallery. Let’s hope the pair of loons on Clary Lake this spring have more luck nesting than they did last year. They need a stable water level. It doesn’t look like they’re going to get that this year.

The week ahead promises to be action packed with something happening it seems like every day. Tomorrow there are 3 letters going in the mail. As soon as they have been mailed (and emailed) to their intended recipients, I’ll post them on the web site. Tuesday night is Whitefield’s Information Public Meeting, 7 PM at the Whitefield Fire & Rescue building on Town House road. Wednesday we get the Department’s responses to my and Paul Kelley’s comments on the bathymetric survey. That should be interesting.

Thursday I’m going fishing.

I am more firmly committed to resolving this Clary Lake water level crisis now than I have ever been. I’m not tired, nor disappointed with where we are in the process. I believe DEP is acting with the best of intentions and with the importance of Clary Lake’s valuable wetland habitat, and the best interests of the general public firmly before them. While the situation is still fluid and somewhat confusing with the 2 different petitions underway, I see a path forward through the confusion and I am more confident of the ultimate outcome now than ever before.