In 2023 TPIA conducted a survey of property owners eligible for TPIA membership. The goal of the survey was to determine what pond levels were mutually agreeable.
Survey Responses
We received 177 responses representing a total of 190 Thomas Pond area properties owned by respondents.
We asked: “In general, how do you rate the overall water quality of Thomas Pond?”
Water Quality
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”.
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?“
10 Year Pond Levels
Responses were on a five point scale ranging from “Hate” to “Love”
78% of responses rated 10-Year water levels as “Like” or “Love”
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”
Target Lake Levels
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.
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. “
Maximum Draw Down 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 for Water Levels
A narrower range In-Season is the most popular alternative to no changes.
Only 6 respondents wanted the lake lower in all respects, while 10 respondents wanted it higher in all respects.
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.
Wrap Up
The Survey responses clearly demonstrate that the mutually agreed upon pond levels from the original management plan are still mutually agreed upon by the vast majority of property owners.
There was a strong dislike for very low off-season lake levels. The current practice of drawing down to 26 or 27 inches below the max off-season level is reasonably well accepted and historically provides sufficient “room” for spring thaw and rains.