The dam operator can regulate the water, but only if there is water to regulate. The
yearly graphic from DES shows that since the Spring, the outflow from the dam was pretty much minimum. They aren't allowed to shut it off completely or several other lakes downstream would suffer.
I don't think we can legitimately complain about the dam operator's decisions. It was a minimum since the middle of May, with a few increases when rain's came. The precipitation was normal through mid-May and the water levels were within normal until late August. In hindsight, the releases in mid-July were probably a mistake, but the data supported it at the time.
It was a low rain year and we're still more than 10% lower than normal. Maybe things will average out with a big snow year and then we'll be able to complain about the lake too high next Spring.