Results of the 2023 Survey on Lake Levels
Click any of the images below to bring up full size graphics.
Survey Responses
This map shows the locations from which we received responses. We received 177 responses representing a total of 190 Thomas Pond area properties owned by respondents.
Click here for a blank copy of the survey.
Thomas Pond Water Quality
We asked: "In general, how do you rate the overall water quality of Thomas Pond?"
Responses were on a five point scale ranging from "Very Poor" to "Very Good". 87% of the responses rated water quality as good or very good, and no one rated water quality "very poor".
10 Year Lake Levels
We asked "In general (ignoring last fall’s extreme draw-down) how do you feel about the lake levels on Thomas Pond for the last 10 years?"
Responses were on a five point scale ranging from "Hate" to "Love"
78% of responses rated 10-Year water levels as "Like" or "Love"
Lake Level Targets
We asked 3 questions about the target lake levels that we have been managing to as per our Management Plan, as follows:
• "Tell us what you think about the In Season high lake level"
• "Tell us what you think about the In Season low lake level"
• "In general, ignoring the last Off Season draw down, tell us what you think about the Off Season high lake level"
Responses were on a five point scale ranging from "Much too Low" to "Much too High". About 72% feel the In-Season high level is the right lake level, 58% feel In-Season Low is correct, and 74% feel the Off-Season typical high level is good. Over 80% of respondents who feel the in season low level is not correct feel it is too low.
Maximum Draw Down
At the 2022 Annual Meeting members voted to draw the lake down to the last stop log, unlike prior off-seasons when the lake was drawn down to 26-28 inches below the top of the dam.
We asked:
"Tell us how you felt about the lake levels last Off Season when the lake dropped to about 42.5 inches below the top of the dam. "
Responses were on a five point scale essentially from "Hate" to "Love". Roughly 78% of responses indicated that they disliked or hated the maximum drawdown.
Respondent Desires
One key question in our minds, if we were to make changes, what would they be. This chart shows a summary of what people would like to be different, if anything. As you can see, a narrower range In-Season is the most popular alternative to no changes. This means respondents said they were ok with the high or low for In-Season but wanted the low higher or the high lower, effectively narrowing the range.
We're all for trying to do what the membership wants, but our target range is already only 3 inches in season, and that's very narrow. Realistically, its not practical to have a range any narrower.
Only 6 respondents wanted the lake lower in all respects, while 10 respondents wanted it higher in all respects.
Wrap Up
The Survey responses clearly indicate that the mutually agreed upon pond levels from the original management plan are still mutually agreed upon by the vast majority of property owners.
TPIA has used the Survey results to inform the work on the new the Water Level Management Plan.
We expect to present the survey results & proposed new plan at the 2024 Annual Meeting and have the members vote on the new plan.
Click the adjacent image for a blank copy of the complete survey
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@thomaspond.org.
Thank you!