Friends of Sebago Lake (FOSL) officials this week have come out strongly against federal recommendations that they say would negatively affect lake level management on Sebago Lake.

FOSL, in reaction to the management plan, is starting a public education campaign and plans on attending a public hearing this week to voice their objections to the plan.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), has scheduled a public meeting to discuss their recently released draft Environmental Assessment for the relicensing of the Eel Weir Project.

The meeting, set for Thursday, August 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Windham High School auditorium, will allow groups and individuals a chance to voice comments and concerns regarding the findings. All comments must be filed with FERC by August 25 of this year.

The draft Environmental Assessment is a required step for S.D. Warren to obtain a new 30-to-50-year operating license from FERC for their Eel Weir Hydroelectric Project. The Eel Weir Dam, located at the outlet of Sebago Lake on the Presumscot River, has been operating under an annual license since its original license expired in March of 2004.

The dam provides hydroelectric power for the Westbrook paper mill owned by Sappi Fine Paper, also known as S.D. Warren.

According to both Phil Boissonneault of the Portland Water District and Dana Murch, dams and hydro-supervisor for Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the FERC document contains only minor changes from the LLMP.

But Friends of Sebago Lake (FOSL) take exception to that opinion. Under the new plan, water levels would be at full pond for an additional week, until June 22. In addition, a three-inch increase in water level is allowed in August.

At FOSL’s annual meeting Tuesday, the group discussed the document at length. Flooding is a major concern for the group, both for Sebago Lake homeowners and Presumpscot River homeowners.

According to the minutes of that meeting, “Because of increased flood potential in the spring, FOSL members approved a motion to notify downstream residents of the Presumpscot of the potential for increased numbers of flooding events and increased magnitude of events since the storage capacity of Sebago Lake has been significantly reduced.”

In a recent phone interview, FOSL member Ted Tibbals accused FERC of “caving in to business interests,” which he identified as the marinas and resorts.

Tibbals believes that the state of Maine has lobbied for these interests, disregarding the environment of the lake, because of the revenue the state receives from them.

In a letter written to marina owners by Charles Frechette, owner of Sebago Lake Marina in Sebago, Frechette urges their attendance at the August 18 meeting saying, “FERC has made recommendations to the current water plan that could significantly impact navigation (ex. Today’s water level lowered three-and-a-half-feet for this time).”

Frechette could not be reached for comment.

At Tuesday’s FOSL meeting, Tibbals said, the group discussed a plan of action to voice their concerns and to convince FERC of the legitimacy of their claims.

The group is urging their members to start writing letters to FERC explaining the erosion they have witnessed as a result of high water levels.

FOSL also wants FERC to hold S.D. Warren financially accountable for instances when water levels exceed FERC’s prescribed limits.

“When the water exceeds our flowage easements, S.D. Warren should be penalized,” said Tibbals. “If they violate the general terms of the agreement they should be forced to pay damages to the people who have suffered damages.”

The group also plans to start writing a column for local newspapers to educate people about FOSL’s concerns for the health of the lake.

“It’s a joke to call it an Environmental Assessment,” Tibbals said, “because they’ve hardly given any consideration to the environment at all.”

The Eel Weir Dam stands at the outlet of Sebago Lake on the Presumpscot River. The dam, which provides S.D. Warren with hydroelectric power, is up for relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.