Albeni Falls Dam, response raises many questions

A few  "inconvenient" questions to ponder:

1. State and federal laws guarantee a 2062.5 foot (full pool) for six months of the year. The reality for recent years is that we have been lucky to see this approximate level for four months (June through September) or less. Why?

2. The contract to rehabilitate the dam was issued in June 2023 and the defects were discovered in April 2024. What was happening in the intervening 10 months, especially those months (including a very mild winter) where the lake was not at full pool and therefore spill gate usage would be minimal? 

2a. Think there'll be any consequences for poor planning or incompetence in this matter? 

3. The argument can be made for a cautious lake refill in heavy snowfall /wet years, but this year is certainly not one and the current lake level is five feet below full pool. Could the bleating about "safety," "flood control" and "unpredictable weather" be a bit overdone and diversionary?

4. Does the increased demand for electricity in the region served by the hydropower the dam produces and the large revenues for suppliers of power have anything at all to do with the manipulation of lake water levels or is that just another conspiracy theory?

5. Could this be just another example of the interests of the citizens and taxpayers being ignored in favor of revenue and payoffs to the appropriate players? After all, the rules are for the little people.

6. Is it true that you can tell that those dispatched to blather and obfuscate are lying because their lips are moving?

MICHAEL LANG

Sunnyside