Saranac Lake officials say they finally have water levels under control at a key dam in the village.

Village Manager John Sweeney reported on flood damage to the village board Monday night. He said crews were managing the flow upstream of the Lake Flower Dam, and should be able to reduce water levels by an inch a day. “For the first time in quite a while we’re seeing reductions in downstream movements and hopefully relieving some of the pressure on people downstream for us,” he said.

Sweeney listed concerns about two water system trunklines, and “uncalculated” shoreline repairs.

He said a hydropoint - manmade peninsula that protects a sewer line below the dam - has significant scouring damage.  Retaining walls downstream will need work, as will the foundations of some buildings, and the River Walk corridor.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have visited the village. But Sweeney says they came too early. “Their comment to me was, ‘Usually, the event is over with,’” he said. “We still had flood stages when they were here. So they will be back.”

Sweeney says if the village gets money for repairing publicly-owned infrastructure, 75 percent will be funded by the federal government, while the remaining 25 percent will be split evenly by state and local governments.