The lake levels in Sabattus, Monmouth and Litchfield are being lowered, starting this week, and lakeside property owners are being urged to remove docks and boats as soon as possible.

Buddy Potts, president of the Tacoma Lakes Improvement Society, said water levels on Jimmy, Buker, Sand, Woodbury and Purgatory ponds will start dropping to their winter level, which is about 18 inches less than summer, starting Oct. 15.

Walter White, chairman of the Sabattus Dam Commission, said the fall drawdown on Sabattus Pond began Tuesday. For information call White at 946-5794.

Sabattus will hold a fact-finding workshop dealing with the Sabattus Pond water levels at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the town office to collect public input on water levels.

This lowering is done to provide additional protection for the shoreline from erosion and the effects of ice damage. Residents may wish to remove their boats and docks before the lake levels are lowered.

This past summer has been one of the greatest challenges in good dam keeping in recent years, according to Potts. Heavy rains, especially those that occurred in as little as 12 hours, kept dam keeper Terry Averill very busy closely monitoring the situation. The rain necessitated constant opening and closing of the dam to avoid shoreline flooding or lake levels falling below desired levels. This was especially important during the loon nesting period when heavy rain and high water could flood out nests, which are just inches above the normal lake levels.

The Tacoma Lakes Improvement Society mission is to encourage interest and commitment to maintain the high quality of the ponds making up the Tacoma Lakes chain. For membership information go to www.tacomalakes.org or call Judy Bourget at 268-4341.