Sappi Fine Paper North America recently announced plans to lower the level of Sebago Lake two and a half feet by Nov. 1.

Sappi holds the license to operate the Eel Weir Dam, which controls the water flow into the Presumpscot River. Lowering lake levels has been a part of the Lake Level Management Plan since 1997, which stipulates that Sappi lower the levels two years out of every nine, in an attempt to restore sand to eroded beaches.

Brooke Carey, a spokeswoman for Sappi, said that the company had attempted to lower the levels in both 2005 and 2006, but that conditions were not ideal. “We hope the effort will be successful this year,” said Carey.

Dana Murch, the dams and hydropower supervisor for the Department of Environmental Protection, said the decision to lower the lake this fall was based on favorable weather conditions.

“If you get a lot of rain at the wrong time of year, it’s just not going to work,” said Murch.

The Eel Weir Dam is the site of a hydropower project that has been operated by Sappi (formerly S.D. Warren Paper Company) for more than a century. Murch said that levels of the lake are lowered through a combination of sending more water through the generator, and opening gates to move water into the Presumpscot. If the goal of 261.75 feet above sea level is reached by Nov. 1, Sappi will reevaluate the situation. If circumstances are favorable, the lake will be brought down to 261 feet, which is five-and-a-half-feet shallower than full pond.

Sebago Lake beaches have become significantly reduced throughout the past few decades, and Murch said that there is evidence that the shoreline is still adjusting to the dam.

“You’re not looking at a natural lake anymore,” said Murch.

Sebago Lake Marina owner, Charlie Frechette, said that because of lowered lake levels, his customers will not be able to enjoy the warm weekend coming up, having to take their boats out of the water because of shallow water near the shore. Frechette claims that shore restoration though lowered lake levels has been minimal, at best.

“The impacts to our boating economy far outweigh any sand that has come back,” said Frechette.

At this time, the state is reviewing Sappi’s license for the Eel Weir Dam project, and will probably not decide whether to renew it until next year. Frechette said he hopes that a new management plan will be reached through the relicensing process that won’t require the lake to be lowered periodically.

“I hope the last state plan, without the two-in-nine-years rule, gets accepted,” said Frechette.

On the other side of the issue, Roger Wheeler, of the Friends of Sebago Lake association, believes that water levels are not lowered enough in the fall, and doubts that Sappi will hit its target by Nov. 1.

“They want to reach 261 feet, but we’ll be lucky to see 261 by December some time,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler added that he does not think it is safe to predict that the weather will cooperate this fall, a typically rainy time of the year, he said.

“I don’t know how they can say that. It may happen, it may not,” said Wheeler.