NIPSCO set to lower water levels for second of Twin Lakes, this time at Shafer, to preserve endangered mussels
Ron Wilkins
MONTICELLO, Ind. — Lake Shafer, just upstream from the draining Lake Freeman, now finds itself in the crosshairs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mandate to protect an endangered mussel downstream from the Oakdale Dam.
Lake Shafer might soon see its water levels dropping as its sister lake, Freeman, has been doing since August, when NIPSCO, which operates the Oakdale and Norway dams, issued an abnormal river condition warning.
NIPSCO announced Tuesday an abnormal river condition warning for Lake Shafer, setting the stage for lowering Shafer levels.
“Freeman continues to go down and at some point, Freeman is going to empty,” said John Koppelmann, chairman of the water level committee for Shafer Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corps. "Another 5 feet of Freeman has to come out before they start hitting on Shafer.”
NIPSCO's release stated, "Without a significant rainfall or water upstream, the use of Lake Shafer — where NIPSCO’s Norway Hydroelectric Dam is situated — may be required to maintain compliance, which could potentially affect lake levels at Lake Shafer.
"The timing and degree of any potential draw down of Lake Shafer is dependent on weather, but current projections indicate such activity could occur as early as this year."
“They’re not going to be happy,” Koppelmann said of Shafer residents and businesses.
He sent a group email out Monday informing the businesses and residents along the upper lake about NIPSCO's announcement on Tuesday.
Fortunately, most of the boaters on Lake Shafer have winterized their boats, Koppelmann said, unlike those on Freeman, where boat owners have been unable to get their boats into storage or winterize them. The winterization process requires the boat to be in the water.
By the end of September, Lake Freeman was seven feet below normal, Susan Wagner, owner of Susan's Freeman Bay, told the Journal & Courier.
Freeman only continues to be drained, Koppelmann said, noting that what rain they've received this autumn is a relief, but most of it soaks into the parched soil.
According to the United States Drought Monitor, most of Tippecanoe, Carroll and Fountain counties, and all of White, Benton, Warren counties are in a moderate drought.
“It would take a good, long, steady rain,” Koppelmann said about the need to replenish Freeman and save Shafer from a similar fate. “Just one or two days won’t do it.”
Shafer Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corps took the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to court in early October, contesting the service's calculations about how much water is needed to preserve the endangered mussels.
Koppelman said they believe the mussels can be preserved with a smaller amount of Freeman's waters.
That hearing was Oct. 5, and it is expected that the decision will come within 60 days of the hearing, Koppelmann said.
“Even if we get a decision by the courts, it’s not a long-term fix,” Koppelmann said. “That doesn’t fill the lakes back up.”
"At this point, what's needed is rain," he said.
Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.