While listening to “The Sound of Ideas Tour on the Future of Shaker Lakes,” I was disappointed that every community speaker supported the preservation of Lower Shaker Lake.

These lakes were created by dams built for industrial purposes over 200 years ago. The lifespan of a dam is typically 100 years.

Herons have been spotted “walking on water.” They are actually walking on compacted silt.

Lower Shaker Lake is sick. The dam is dangerous and obsolete.

The Shaker Lakes are not natural. They are an artificial resource.

Dams are being removed worldwide to restore rivers. For example, two dams were removed from the Elwha River in Washington. Salmon and steelhead returned in less than six years. Numerous species benefited from the change.

The cost of dam removal was more than offset by the

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