Water level
 

This may have been discussed previously, and, if so, I apologize. My question is WHY WHY WHY do they have to start draining water out of the lake this early? Those of us who live on shallow coves to begin with really take the brunt of this. Every inch makes a HUGE difference to us. Not only is it more difficult to get boats in and out, but the shallower it is, the worse the duck itch and the worse the bacteria counts. Why can't they leave the water level alone until September?

From the Operations link at the Dam
 

Jeanzb1,

This is from the web site operated by the NH Dam Bureau:

This station is located just upstream of the Elm Street Bridge in Lakeport. The following
parameters are currently being measured at this station:

Lake Winnipeasukee Discharge
Precipitation
Air Temperature

Lake Winnipesaukee Operating Information

Water Level and Flow Constraints:
June 1 through Columbus Day (Summer Recreation Season)
To the extent that weather conditions allow, levels are managed between 504.32 and 502.80 to
facilitate the use of the lake for recreational enjoyment. Depending upon events and forecasts
lake levels are allowed to climb to 504.80 (about 6 inches above full) for short periods of
time to allow discharges at Lakeport to be managed to alleviate or lessen downstream
flooding/flood peaks and to avoid exceeding the capacity of downstream hydropower plants.
Currently, a considerable amount of judgment is applied when making decisions regarding flow
release during these high water periods. Since the wasting of water in excess of the
hydropower capacity at Lakeport Dam (1,050 cubic feet per second (cfs)) is of concern, the
decision to do it is based upon factors such as: rate of rise (inflow), soil moisture
condition, basin vegetation status, precipitation forecast and estimated length of time to
return levels to within the normal range. When levels reach 504.50+/-, the number of
complaints regarding shoreline structure damage or usability increases. This 71-square-mile
lake has hundreds of permanent and seasonal homes with varying degrees of shoreline development
When the level rises much above the full pond level of 504.32, impacts begin to occur. There
is at least one marina that experiences problems with bridge access (low clearance) when levels
begin to climb above full.

Issues associated with the lower end of the summer recreation range relate to hull/motor
damage to boats and, like high water, to structure usability. Many abutters are accustomed to
a certain range of water levels during the recreation season. However, when the lake is at
the lower end of the range, docks and other structures may become less accessible (ex: hull
draft is larger than depth at dock). The 250 cfs minimum outflow at Lakeport Dam can
sometimes far outpace inflow during the summer recreation season and this, combined with
normal summer evaporation, will cause the lake level to typically drop 12 to 15 inches over
the course of the summer.


As far as this summer is concerned, we are just about at the normal for this time of the year and only two inches or so below "full pool". Being that it has been so dry, that is pretty good. They have been releasing the minimum of about 256 cps for several weeks now. Their are hydro plants that need to be "turning" and the river has to have water in it, hence the minimum release standard.

I hope this helps you understand why the release is maintained. That said, I can understand your concern about lake levels and the problems low water brings to some areas of the lake.

Good luck!

R2B

I wish they would dump the lake this September. I have wall work to do and can't pour concrete with it up. My walls ae cracked and getting undermined. They will fall in if not fixed.:(

What lake are you on?? Here on Winni the outlet flow is at an absolute minimum flow rate of about 265 CFS. This is a hold on to the water mode, a draw-down would be almost 10X that rate.

The lake is dropping due to lack of rain and evaporation. For more rain and less evaporation you will have to talk to the Big Guy.

Seeing the title, I thought it was going to be a discussion about the lake being too high. The dam folks have been risking it this year, leaving the water so close to the high end of their goal for so long. We were lucky it was a dry spring and early summer. A six inch rainfall would have caused another 100 year flood. Also, it would have been better for the lake if it had been lower over July 4'th weekend, because the constant wake caused erosion that decreases water quality. Bizer's level chart shows the current level right in the middle of historical levels for this time of year.

The reason it is still this high, I was told, is that they did a total milfoil treatment to lake opeechee at the beginning of the summer and did not want to open the dam until last minute as possible to protect against the milfoil coming into Lake Winni on that end with cross contamination

Just for perspective I calculated the effect of 256 cubic feet per second on the lake level.

It results in a drop of 4 inches per month.

I am liking the high level this year.

There is little or no flow being let out of the Merrymeeting dam into the river. Yet Merrymeeting is dropping fast.

As stated, it is due to the combination of lack of rain, and therefore lack of brooks, streams, and springs coming in, and evaporation. You only need to go walking in the hills to see how dry the streams are.

And if the Merrymeeting River isn't flowing into Winni, along with many of the others, the level will drop.

We have been below average rain for 3 months now. More, extended, rain is the answer. But I'm hoping not yet... I start vacation on Friday! :D

Then lake level drop is right where it should be this year.... they brought the lake to full level and have maintained roughly 250 cfs at the dam since then.... this is the minimum output from the dam, to keep everyone down stream happy.

Unfortunately there are some shallow spots on the lake. And if you own in them well you should have hopefully realized that when you bought. People have dealt with these lake levels for years and it hasn't been a problem until lately. It seems now that people want bigger boats because the dealers have scared everyone away from the 18-20 foot models that draft less water then the 22 - 26 foot models that they want to push on everyone to handle this "rough lake", people think that a historical water level should be changed. Well folks it just isn't that simple. Everything is built off the historic water level... My suggestion to those that have property in areas that have to deal with shallow water... Buy a boat that has an appropriate draft for the situation, at the worst time of year... the fall....

I don't mean to sound harsh here... but this is the reality of it folks. I have watch the dam operation improve greatly over the last few years... the Level is not getting jerked around, and they are doing their best to keep the lake as high as possible as long as possible, buy getting to minimum outflow as quick as possible... But once they are there... it is all up to mother nature... the lake with go up and down... on its own....

Shoreline Maple Indicates Lower Levels Earlier...
 

Interesting problem: An old friend across from me...has a huge poured-concrete wall built in 1948. It is eroding from the top! :eek2:

As to "historic levels" (and duck itch):

I've just sighted a shoreline maple tree that is about 60 years old. There's no way that tree could have taken root—even at today's "low" lake level.

IOW, the lake's level "historically" was much lower than today's level.

The Duck Itch condition is not in the memories of my Camp Wyanoke camp-mates. (Meaning, Duck Itch is "something-new" to the lake—just as algae has become "new").

The only correlating change (to Duck Itch and algae) are the huge lakeside lawns that have sprung up in those same years.