Matagamon Lake
Association, Inc.

Annual Meeting

Matagamon Lake Association

June 6, 2010

Meeting called to order at 1:15, secretary’s report was read, motion to accept, by John Banks, seconded by Jon Marshall.  Vote to accept unanimous. Treasurers report was read and motion to accept by John Banks, seconded by Jon Marshall, vote unanimous.

Officers reappointed were Donald Dudley, president, Noreen Peters, secretary and treasurer. Directors, reappointed were John Banks and Dave Hostetter, both 3 year terms. Discussion on changes in directors, as camps on river have been eliminated, was held and will be checked on for next meeting as some of these terms will be up next year. Also Buster Carter has moved from IF&W to NRCS, it was decided to ask him to remain on board under different category and ask biologist from Enfield on Wildlife side of IF&W to fill position held previously by Buster. The board has room for 4 non-voting directors at large, one IF&W Fisheries, one from wildlife, one Atlantic Salmon Commission; the other will be NRCS, if Buster will remain on board.

Spring run-off was discussed; a mild winter and early spring had made the runoff very light, no major flooding. Lake was filled shortly after ice out which was April 19. One of our earlier ice out dates.

Power point presentation was presented on our winter updates on equipment. Two grants were received in 2009 to upgrade hoist system. Previous system was 1940 vintage and in need of replacement, we had applied to two different sources, and received 13.000.00 from Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and 20,000.00 from Quimby Family Foundation. The total update costs were 38,919.80. Included were new generator, 21kw diesel, rewire to , AC power from DC power, from generator shed to dam and overhead to mid dam,  10-ton Harrington Electric Chain Hoist, with motorized trolley and weather cover. Power steamer to thaw gates in winter and storage shed to house steamer. Work was started in November and completed in February. Thanks to Association members, Don Dudley, Joe and Allen Christianson, Tom Chase, Nels Kramer, Jon Marshall, who put in 135 hours of labor under cold winter conditions? Special thanks to Directors Nels Kramer and Buster Carter as they did the bulk of paperwork on applications for grants, without their help this all would not have been possible.

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Meeting called to order at 1:15, secretary’s report was read, motion to accept, by John Banks, seconded by Jon Marshall.  Vote to accept unanimous. Treasurers report was read and motion to accept by John Banks, seconded by Jon Marshall, vote unanimous.

Officers reappointed were Donald Dudley, president, Noreen Peters, secretary and treasurer. Directors, reappointed were John Banks and Dave Hostetter, both 3 year terms. Discussion on changes in directors, as camps on river have been eliminated, was held and will be checked on for next meeting as some of these terms will be up next year. Also Buster Carter has moved from IF&W to NRCS, it was decided to ask him to remain on board under different category and ask biologist from Enfield on Wildlife side of IF&W to fill position held previously by Buster. The board has room for 4 non-voting directors at large, one IF&W Fisheries, one from wildlife, one Atlantic Salmon Commission; the other will be NRCS, if Buster will remain on board.

Spring run-off was discussed; a mild winter and early spring had made the runoff very light, no major flooding. Lake was filled shortly after ice out which was April 19. One of our earlier ice out dates.

Power point presentation was presented on our winter updates on equipment. Two grants were received in 2009 to upgrade hoist system. Previous system was 1940 vintage and in need of replacement, we had applied to two different sources, and received 13.000.00 from Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, and 20,000.00 from Quimby Family Foundation. The total update costs were 38,919.80. Included were new generator, 21kw diesel, rewire to , AC power from DC power, from generator shed to dam and overhead to mid dam,  10-ton Harrington Electric Chain Hoist, with motorized trolley and weather cover. Power steamer to thaw gates in winter and storage shed to house steamer. Work was started in November and completed in February. Thanks to Association members, Don Dudley, Joe and Allen Christianson, Tom Chase, Nels Kramer, Jon Marshall, who put in 135 hours of labor under cold winter conditions? Special thanks to Directors Nels Kramer and Buster Carter as they did the bulk of paperwork on applications for grants, without their help this all would not have been possible.

financial report from 2000 to 2010 was given.

Discussion was held on future goals to continue on our dam upkeep. An estimate was given in March to repair and replace spalled cement on dam. John Banks was going to pursue possibility of help in funding thru NOAA fisheries and Jon Marshall to inquire on same thru MEMA.

Fisheries report was given by Nels Kramer, smelt egg transfers still being done yearly. Possibility of studies on lake this fall. Also possibility of river study by Atlantic salmon group if funding comes thru this year. These would be Mostly flow studies, which could benefit trout and salmon.

 Web site has been completely updated and reworked, check it out! Thanks to Tom Chase and Don Dudley.

Annual Meeting

Matagamon Lake Association

June 4, 2011

Meeting called to order at 1:00pm, secretary's report read and motion to accept by Jon Marshall, seconded by Tom Chase, vote to accept unanimous. Treasurers report was read and motion to accept by Tom Chase , seconded by Jon Marshall, vote to accept unanimous.

Officers reappointed were Donald Dudley, president, Joseph Christianson, Vice president, Noreen Peters, secretary, treasurer. Directors elected to three year terms were, Charles Stewart, Jon Marshall, and Joseph Christianson.

Seasonal report on flows and weather recap. Total snowfall October 1st to May 1st, was 161.5 inches. Same timeframe, 62 gate changes were made. Snowpack conditions this spring were high with 10 inches average, of water in the snowpack in our 496 square mile drainage area. Making possibility of flooding high if certain conditions were to follow. We were able to handle flows without the  use of flood gates, by drawing lake to lower  levels to handle snow melt, along with releases, and only 1 significant rain event, we were able to get by with minimal flooding.

Equipment report was made on new equipment installed in 2009-2010. Due to heavy rainfall in fall and early winter, requiring more gate changes than normal throughout the winter, gave our new equipment a real test. Our new steamer, first used in December and through winter of 2011, proved to be an important asset. In past we had to chip ice from gates then thaw with torches, at times, meant running 350 feet of hose from cellar to dam to run water down sides and back of gates unreachable by other methods to remove ice.  In below freezing temperatures, a difficult chore. With help from Joe and Allen Christianson, we were able to master running the new steamer, which did require some trial and error practice. Once we figured out how to best accomplish this, all fell in place. Everything is more difficult in extreme cold when dealing with water, obviously. All new equipment functioned flawlessly.

River Hydrology Study proposed by UNH student Mike Abbott was also discussed. Mike met with Don Dudley in mid May to explain his proposed study, to measure flows and temperature patterns in East Branch from Matagamon Dam south. Directed partly to climate change and to provide optimum flow regime recommendations for Atlantic Salmon. Funding was still pending at that time.

We also discussed grants for cement work on dam, still searching for entities that could provide necessary funding. A work in progress.

We were fortunate to have a presentation by Keith Smith from Maine Forest Service on Lake Smart and Firewise Program. This program is available to camp owners, free of charge. Forestry will inspect area around homes, camps and local waters, to help us survive one of the more than 44 forest fires that occur in Maine yearly. They will do this for complete lake association, or individuals, then make recommendations, free of charge. They even have program that will provide a chipper free of charge.

Nels Kramer gave an interesting fisheries report, with updates on pending changes in law book . Also discussed smelt planting program ongoing for numerous years on Matagamon.

It was proposed that we might consider setting date of annual meeting at same day each year. April seems to be most popular time. Example, second Sunday of April yearly. Don agreed to email members to get a feel for best dates, for members to attend. All members should have input on lake and river flow issues.

Thanks to all members for your support.

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