Company That Owns Stevenson Dam Taking Precautions

Charles B. Burnham, a spokesman for FirstLight Power Resource, the company that owns the Stevenson Dam, submitted the following information to local news outlets Saturday afternoon:

• We will lower Lake Lillinonah to its lowest allowable operating level beginning tonight and concluding Sunday evening.  This is the most significant action we can take to create “space” so to speak, for the rain to gather and temporarily hold off flows downstream. "This is the most significant action we can take to create 'space' so to speak, for the rain to gather and temporarily hold off flows downstream," he told the Valley Independent Sentinel.
• We had already pulled Lake Zoar down to 98 feet to allow residents to do maintenance on their docks, as we do annually.  Once Lillinonah begins draining, that water will re-fill Zoar.  Zoar is so small compared to Lillinonah that its level is relatively insignificant in terms of water flow. (think of Lillinonah as a bathtub and Zoar as a shot glass).  Again, it is important to remember that the Shepaug and Stevenson dams are not flood control structures.
• Our staff is prepared to execute the FERC Lower Housatonic Flood Plan notification system once the rain begins. We will make calls to notify local elected officials and emergency operations personnel as water levels rise.  It is up to the local municipalities to determine what recommendations to make to their residents in terms of evacuations.