lyLast October after Columbus Day, the dam’s gates were opened, allowing the water level to drop to its winter target of 32 inches below the top of the dam. The Town of Oxford maintains this lowered level, especially in the early Spring during ice out, when floating ice could cause damage to the shoreline.
For 2026, ice out was on April 10th, but several heavy April rainstorms resulted in the Lake reaching its summer water level about a month early (target date is usually Memorial Day.) The attached photo taken on May 9, 2026 shows the water level at 18 inches below the top of the dam. At the time this photograph was taken, rain was anticipated so the dam’s East and West gates were open even though the water level was not quite at the summer target of 14 inches below the dam top.
