Discussion: Interesting premise. Sheni...

Interesting premise. Shenipsit Lake is stupidly low this fall as well, even though the stream inflow has been running at normal levels for months. I assumed that they may be doing maintenance to the water company equipment at the far end in Rockville, but letting it stay low for invasives control (plant or mussel) is a viable possibility.

When I was on the Conservation Commission, the lake associations would come around with their plans for dealing with weeds using a combination of winter drawdowns and chemicals. Drawdowns would have a multiyear schedule, different levels each year. At some point I think I heard some mention of the notion of dropping the level, letting the ice form and freeze solid around the weeds, then letting the water in so that the rising ice would rip the vegetation out by the roots. But I think the general idea is just to expose it so that it either dries out and dies, or maybe so that it can be mechanically collected.

I think a lot of the submersed invasives tend to shallower waters. So lowering levels for an extended time would expose most to dessication and freezing.

Take some of our water if you want it. We have plenty (at the moment). Perhaps after this 'once every seven year' La Nina cycle (now in its third year) goes away we may run dry again.

We've been in a serious drought this year, but this part of the country doesn't suffer the same effects as the West does. Even in a drought, we have a decent amount of water around. In the case of the lake, it's a matter of opening the dam and then operating the siphons to really lower the water level. Come next summer, it will definitely be full no matter what the weather brings.

All that said, I've been reading about the flooding in Australia, and I have sympathy.