ELLSWORTH -- On the eastern end of the 3,000-plus-acre Green Lake sits the Green Lake Dam. This is currently lowering the water levels from its summer levels of between 6.2-7.2 feet.

By October 15th, the water levels, "Will be at the bottom of the gauge," said Robert Kleinschmidt. "Which there's no problems this year, it's been really dry."

Since 2005, Kleinschmidt, his wife Caroline, and an operator have run the dam and have been responsible for what it does for the region.

Green Lake's water travels through a penstock for a quarter-mile at around 10 feet per second. The water then goes into a turbine, turning all of the water pressure into electricity and going to the grid, which powers roughly 300 homes. The water runs down Reeds Brook towards Graham Lake. Kleinschmidt says Graham

See Full Page