23 March 2022: Ice Out Update: Close but No Cigar!
I have never seen the ice disappear from Clary Lake as fast as it has this year! Last Friday there were people ice fishing. Rain on Saturday and with winds on Monday and Tuesday with gusts of 35-40 mph really hammered the ice into submission. As of this morning, winds have let up considerably but are still blowing 8 mph or so. There is a considerable amount of ice left on the south shore both in Whitefield and Jefferson. We’re not calling ice out yet, but it won’t be long now. Tomorrow we’re expecting rain during the day with moderate winds from the south which change to the east and pick up in intensity come night fall. It’s hard to imagine the remaining ice hanging around to the weekend.
You can keep an eye on things with our Clary_cams (which President Dave Knight insists on calling Spy_cams) and if you haven’t tried yet, livestream them!
21 March 2022: Ice Out Update
Last Friday, only 4 days ago, there were people out on Clary Lake ice fishing. Today there is a sizable portion of open water on the north side of the lake, easily visible in this picture taken this morning. You can just barely make it out on Clary_cam-1 as a thin dark line in the distance. High northwest winds forecast for today will push that open water further towards the south shore. We’re still quite a few days, away from open water.
Here are the 2022 Ice Out Contest guesses. Good Luck Contestants! Continue reading
A Day On The Dock On Clary Lake
13 March 2022: Early Spring Dam Management
We’ve begun our Spring management activities with the aim of getting Clary Lake filled up for another boating, fishing, and swimming season, about week earlier than usual because of all the snow and rain we’ve been blessed with this year. Our spring management includes adding stop logs to the weir to start raising the lake level to it’s spring high while opening the gate to increase outflows to maintain minimum flows, and also to keep the lake from rising too quickly. It’s a balancing act made more difficult with having to second guess the weather. Because of drought conditions the previous 3 years, it has been a challenge raising the lake level in the spring while at the same time maintaining outflows. We pretty much have the opposite problem this year! After the first two months of 2022 we’re 2.5 inches of precipitation above normal for this date. The picture shows Steve Cowles on March 9th cranking open the gate the other day, with Dave Knight standing by with the folding ruler. There are 4 threads to the inch on the screw, so opening the gate 12″ means turning the gate wheel 48 turns. That’s a workout. Today, we installed the last two stop logs in the weir. You can track all the action on the 2022 Dam Operation Log.
06 March 2022: Clary Lake Ice Out Contest Closed to New Entries
I have closed the 2022 Clary Lake Ice Out Contest to new entries. 36 people have made their guesses (below). Now, we wait… for ice out. I have no idea what the No U-Turn sign has to do with anything.
Good Luck Contestants!
2022 Ice Out Guestimates
These are the guesses for ice out. The timestamp column will be used to decide on who was first in the event of a tie. Hint: you can sort on any of the columns by clicking on the header:| Timestamp | Your name: | Ice Out Guess: |
|---|---|---|
| 02/27/22 09:43 AM | Sophie Seba | 03/23/22 |
| 02/27/22 10:45 AM | Jack Holland | 03/24/22 |
| 02/27/22 11:01 AM | Vicky Grimaldi | 03/25/22 |
| 02/27/22 11:30 AM | Dan Burns | 03/30/22 |
| 02/28/22 10:13 AM | Steve Relyea | 03/30/22 |
| 02/28/22 08:35 PM | Hillary Relyea | 03/31/22 |
| 02/27/22 01:03 PM | Ronnie Spann | 04/01/22 |
| 02/27/22 03:13 PM | Linda S Gallion | 04/01/22 |
| 02/27/22 02:41 PM | Rob Rowland | 04/02/22 |
| 02/27/22 08:45 PM | Tim chase | 04/02/22 |
| 03/01/22 09:27 AM | Cathy johnson | 04/02/22 |
| 03/04/22 11:51 AM | carolyn curtis | 04/02/22 |
| 02/27/22 05:00 PM | Malcolm Burson | 04/03/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:36 AM | Karen Stutzer | 04/04/22 |
| 02/28/22 05:47 AM | Geoff McCullen | 04/04/22 |
| 02/28/22 08:06 AM | Thurlow Crummett | 04/04/22 |
| 02/27/22 01:41 PM | June m Lordi | 04/05/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:31 AM | Bill Hall | 04/06/22 |
| 03/01/22 09:26 AM | Bambi Jones | 04/06/22 |
| 03/03/22 03:55 PM | Mary Gingrow-Shaw | 04/06/22 |
| 02/27/22 12:23 PM | Gayle Knight | 04/07/22 |
| 02/27/22 06:52 PM | Steve Cowles | 04/08/22 |
| 03/03/22 03:49 PM | Amanda Knight | 04/08/22 |
| 02/27/22 12:19 PM | Kate Seba | 04/09/22 |
| 02/27/22 08:27 PM | Donald Hogg | 04/09/22 |
| 03/01/22 10:32 PM | Ben Gerdts | 04/10/22 |
| 03/02/22 09:12 AM | David Knight | 04/10/22 |
| 03/04/22 10:10 AM | Stephen Viti | 04/11/22 |
| 02/27/22 11:42 AM | Arlene Wing | 04/12/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:54 AM | Beverley Bowen | 04/13/22 |
| 02/28/22 05:24 AM | Cary McCullen | 04/15/22 |
| 02/28/22 05:26 AM | Geoff McCullen | 04/16/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:21 AM | Sara Roy | 04/17/22 |
| 03/03/22 01:11 PM | Gareth Bowen | 04/18/22 |
| 03/01/22 11:23 AM | Cheryl Smith | 04/20/22 |
| 02/27/22 08:16 PM | Thomas vigue | 04/21/22 |
2022 Ice Out Contest Guestimates
Still contemplating your 2022 Ice Out Contest Guestimate? Well, you can agonize over it for only a few more days! I’m planning on closing the contest to new guesses in two days, at the end of the day on Saturday March 5th. Below is the list of ice out guesses received so far, who guessed, and the date guessed sorted by guessed date. Not confusing at all! Here’s a link to the original post with the contest rules and prizes. I’ll keep this page updated. Good Luck!
2022 Ice Out Guestimates
These are the guesses for ice out. The timestamp column will be used to decide on who was first in the event of a tie. Hint: you can sort on any of the columns by clicking on the header:| Timestamp | Your name: | Ice Out Guess: |
|---|---|---|
| 02/27/22 09:43 AM | Sophie Seba | 03/23/22 |
| 02/27/22 10:45 AM | Jack Holland | 03/24/22 |
| 02/27/22 11:01 AM | Vicky Grimaldi | 03/25/22 |
| 02/27/22 11:30 AM | Dan Burns | 03/30/22 |
| 02/28/22 10:13 AM | Steve Relyea | 03/30/22 |
| 02/28/22 08:35 PM | Hillary Relyea | 03/31/22 |
| 02/27/22 01:03 PM | Ronnie Spann | 04/01/22 |
| 02/27/22 03:13 PM | Linda S Gallion | 04/01/22 |
| 02/27/22 02:41 PM | Rob Rowland | 04/02/22 |
| 02/27/22 08:45 PM | Tim chase | 04/02/22 |
| 03/01/22 09:27 AM | Cathy johnson | 04/02/22 |
| 03/04/22 11:51 AM | carolyn curtis | 04/02/22 |
| 02/27/22 05:00 PM | Malcolm Burson | 04/03/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:36 AM | Karen Stutzer | 04/04/22 |
| 02/28/22 05:47 AM | Geoff McCullen | 04/04/22 |
| 02/28/22 08:06 AM | Thurlow Crummett | 04/04/22 |
| 02/27/22 01:41 PM | June m Lordi | 04/05/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:31 AM | Bill Hall | 04/06/22 |
| 03/01/22 09:26 AM | Bambi Jones | 04/06/22 |
| 03/03/22 03:55 PM | Mary Gingrow-Shaw | 04/06/22 |
| 02/27/22 12:23 PM | Gayle Knight | 04/07/22 |
| 02/27/22 06:52 PM | Steve Cowles | 04/08/22 |
| 03/03/22 03:49 PM | Amanda Knight | 04/08/22 |
| 02/27/22 12:19 PM | Kate Seba | 04/09/22 |
| 02/27/22 08:27 PM | Donald Hogg | 04/09/22 |
| 03/01/22 10:32 PM | Ben Gerdts | 04/10/22 |
| 03/02/22 09:12 AM | David Knight | 04/10/22 |
| 03/04/22 10:10 AM | Stephen Viti | 04/11/22 |
| 02/27/22 11:42 AM | Arlene Wing | 04/12/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:54 AM | Beverley Bowen | 04/13/22 |
| 02/28/22 05:24 AM | Cary McCullen | 04/15/22 |
| 02/28/22 05:26 AM | Geoff McCullen | 04/16/22 |
| 02/27/22 09:21 AM | Sara Roy | 04/17/22 |
| 03/03/22 01:11 PM | Gareth Bowen | 04/18/22 |
| 03/01/22 11:23 AM | Cheryl Smith | 04/20/22 |
| 02/27/22 08:16 PM | Thomas vigue | 04/21/22 |
February 2022 Water Level Chart Archived
I have archived the February 2022 Water Level Chart (at left). The above-average precipitation with which we started the year (January ended 0.93″ above normal) has continued throughout the month of February which saw a total of 4.16″ of precipitation (water), the effect of which has been to put us fully 2.48″ above normal for the year to date. This bodes well for ground water supplies this spring, in marked contrast to the last 3 or 4 years. We’ll have to wait and see if the cycle of summer drought has been broken. All the rain and snow we received in February resulted in the lake level rising to unseasonably HIGH levels, overtopping the dam on February 23rd and coming to within half an inch of the HWM on the 25th. Continue reading
2022 Clary Lake Ice Out Contest! [UPDATE]
This is our third year running a Clary Lake Ice-Out contest. This year’s prize for first place is a beautiful 12″ H x 15″ W framed loon photograph taken by David Hodsdon. If you guess the correct ice-out date or come closest without going past it, you’re the winner. In the event there are two (or more) people who guessed the same winning date, the person guessing first (based on the recorded timestamp) will be the winner and the other less-lucky (but still lucky!) person (or persons!) will win a laminated 8.5″ x 11″ Clary Lake Depth Map as a runner up prize (see below). FYI, the earliest the lake has been deemed completely free of ice was on March 13, 2016; the latest the ice has gone out was on April 24, 2001. Last year’s 
“official” ice out date was March 29th which was correctly guessed by Bambi Jones. She won a blue “We Give A Dam” tee shirt. We also awarded second places (also tee shirts) to Kelley Doore and Alan Nicholas Decker who correctly guessed the “What Do You Mean It’s Not Ice Out Yet?” date of March 28th. Visit our Ice In and Ice Out page to see all our historical data back to 2001. Reviewing historical ice-in and ice-out data is NOT CHEATING!
[UPDATE]: I’ve posted the current guesses at the bottom of this message and I’ll update the list at least daily. We’ll close the contest some time before the ice actually goes out. And yes, you can submit more than one guess, but only your last guess will count 🙂
Bangor Savings: Community Matters More!
Here’s a great opportunity to make a difference in your community: The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation will give more than $155,000 to 45 local nonprofit organizations in Maine and New Hampshire. In celebration of their 15th year of Community Matters More, the one nonprofit that receives the most overall votes will be awarded a $15,000 grant! You can vote for 5 nonprofits:
https://www.bangor.com/community/community-matters-more
Far be it for me to tell you how to vote because there are a number of worthy nonprofit organizations doing good work in this area that could use some financial help including the Clary Lake Association! Other notable local nonprofits doing good work are the Whitefield Library, the Jefferson Area Community Food Pantry, the Whitefield Food Pantry, and the Whitefield Historical Society.
Cast your vote today for your favorite nonprofits!
9 February 2022: How’s This For Confusing?
Everyone knows I love charts (and maps!). They’re a great way of visualizing data. Sometimes my love of maps and charts takes me to some pretty strange places. Here’s an example of one of those places (at left). Every time I look at this chart I have to stop and peer at it for a moment before it makes sense. Every time. And some days it just doesn’t make sense no matter how long I stare at it. This particular chart shows the water level of Clary Lake on February 8th, 2022 and the elevation of the water line on that date is 149.88 feet, or 1.29 feet below the HWM. What this chart is actually showing us is the distance the lake surface is below the top of the dam, at any place along the top of the dam, starting at the left (0 feet) and proceeding to the right (98 feet). Continue reading
Lincoln County News: Clary Lake Focus of Maine Loon Restoration Project
The Clary Lake Association will be participating in Maine Lakes’ Loon Productivity Project. The last time our loons successfully raised a chick was in 2017. They hatched out 2 chicks in the summer of 2018 but neither baby survived much more than a week. The loons nested again in 2019 but never hatched any eggs and they never attempted to nest in 2020 and 2021- a troubling situation. Stay tuned for more about this exciting initiative:
04 February 2022: Busted Links: I hate em!
I HATE busted links, everywhere, but especially on our own website. It’s come to my attention that a lot of links to documents & stuff that are stored on Google Drive have recently become inaccessible due to a more stringent security procedures. Security is a good thing, busted links are not. I’ve fixed quite a few already but more undoubtedly are hiding, waiting to not show you what you want to see. If you try to view something and get “You need access” instead (picture, at left) PLEASE click the “Request Access” button. This will send me an email and let me know you found a busted link. Thanks in advance!
January 2022 Water Level Chart Archived
I have archived the January 2022 Water Level Chart (at left), starting off the new year with more snow on the ground than I can remember seeing for several years. Compared to recent winters, this condition bodes well for our ground water supply come spring the ground thaws this spring and the snow melts.
Our general dam management goal in the winter is to maintain a lake level somewhere around 18 inches below the HWM. This is low enough to prevent ice damage to the shoreline around the lake yet still high enough to maintain outflows sufficient to meet the minimum flows requirement of the Clary Lake Water Level Order. To that end, we’ve been successful: the lake level is currently around -1.41 feet and outflows are around 13 cfs (cubic feet per second), slightly higher than the current minimum flows which of 11.3 cfs. If you’re unclear about minimum flows, what they are, and why we are supposed to maintain them, see Minimum Flows Explained.
Baby It’s Cold Outside!
For my friends unfortunate enough to not be in Maine for this epic blizzard. Sound ON:
Stanley M. Whittier January 10, 1931 – January 24, 2022
Stanley Whittier built his camp on Clary Lake back in 1955 and he has been a Clary Lake Association member since we formed back in the summer of 1960. Due to failing health, it’s been a few years since he was last a CLA member but his many years of support are not forgotten. Here is his Obituary in the Central Maine Papers:
WATERVILLE – Stanley M. Whittier, 91, formerly a long time resident of Augusta, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, at the Alfond Center for Health in Augusta following a long illness. He was born in Bath on Jan. 10, 1931, a son of the late Stanley A. and Frances (Martin) Whittier.
Mr. Whittier attended Augusta schools and was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. He was a US Army veteran, serving during the Korean War.
Mr. Whittier had been self-employed barber for many years in Augusta, where he also enjoyed organizing the Chamber of Commerce Whatever Week Races and you could always spot him in the bleachers at Cony basketball games. In 1955 he built his camp on Clary Lake in Jefferson which was his favorite place to spend time with family.
He was predeceased by his wife, Irene J. (Valliere) Whittier; two brothers, Keith and Leonard Whittier and his sister, Joyce Chick.
Mr. Whittier is survived by his two daughters, Gail J. Champine of Waterville and Jane F. Roy of Biddeford; five grandchildren, Stacy Grondin, Jessica Grondin, Carly Champine, Morgan Burnette, and Dylane Farrington, nine great-grandchildren; three great-great- grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Relatives and friends may visit on Tuesday, Feb. 1 from 10 – 11 a.m. at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta where a funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the spring in Sand Hill Cemetery, Somerville.
Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.
The family requests that donations in Stan’s memory be made to:
Travis Mills Foundation
89 Water St.
Hallowell, ME 04347
Maine Lakes’ Wednesday Webinars are back!
I’m looking forward to these webinars!
22 January 2022: Venus Rising
I woke up this morning to find Venus gracing Clary_cam2, rising in the east along with the bright star Altair, visual magnitude 0.76 visible slightly above and to the left of Venus. I love the way the bright planet reflects on the ice of Clary Lake.
Public Hearing on LD 1826: Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species
Sorry for the short notice! This public hearing is TOMORROW! I received this notice of pending legislation in my mailbox just now and decided to post it on our site. The Clary Lake Association is deeply concerned with protecting all Maine lakes and Clary Lake in particular from the unwanted introduction of invasive species. To that end we are 3 years into a long term Courtesy Boat Inspection program and are developing plans for an Invasive Plant Program for Clary Lake. Submitting a short comment to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee is simple and worthwhile. You can see what comments have already been left at the above link. Comments need not be long or involved. This is important. Thank you for being concerned.
The second session of the 130th legislature is underway! While there is a lot going on during the session, there are only a few lake bills we’ll be reaching out to you about this year. The first one has a public hearing coming up soon: Monday, January 10th at 10:30 a.m. via Zoom.
LD 1826 creates a subcommittee of the existing Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species. The subcommittee will: Continue reading
09 January 2022: Crazy Like a Fox!
Imagine my surprise when I looked out my upstairs office window at the lake yesterday afternoon and saw a red fox cavorting out on the ice. Then it cavorted back in the other direction, then back again. You can see it’s tracks in the snow. I tried to get logged into the webcam in time to get a video but I wasn’t able to. My neighbor was out ice fishing and he and the fox must have seen each other.