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Old 10-18-2010, 01:55 PM   #17
jrc
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I think we should remember that without a dam the level of the lake was far from the stable values we have today. Today the lake varies less than 2 feet over the year. Without a dam the level would vary much more.

Maybe during dry years or at the end of summer, the channel between the main lake and Paugus bay got very shallow. We've all seen the drawings of Indians trapping fish there in the original wiers. As the lake water dropped below the bottom of the channel the lake had no exit, so it would fill until the level rose. There maybe other areas with similar natural dams.

I doubt very much the average lake level was 18 feet lower in 1822, there is too much contrary eveidence, and FLL never backs his "facts". But I could believe that the water varied 18 feet in those years, between spring flooding and a very dry fall.

I have no facts just my guesses.
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