For years the DES and Army Corps of Engineers never acknowledge Silver Lake as a lake but rather part of the Winnipesaukee River. This fact has been a thorn on the Silver lake Association.
Cattle Landing area between Meredith Neck and Bear Island was at one time when the lake level was low before the Lakeport dam was built, shallow enough to cross cattle between the main land and the island. That was how it got its name.
Eons ago Lily Pond and the land now the Laconia airport was flooded and was part of Lake Winnipesaukee. Merrymeeting river flow was reversed and the Merrymeeting river drained the lake to the ocean.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...tory+lake+size