Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffk
It's great that the dam operators realized that they need to dump some water. I suspect they have been constrained by downstream flooding concerns. Winnisquam is over its normal high level and Silver Lake is full.
At the current dam flow rate, ~640 CFS, it will drop Winnipesaukee (VERY rough calculation based on the max 1920 CFS rate dropping the lake about an inch per day) about 1/3 inch a day, taking about a week to drop the extra couple inches in the lake right now.
The problem is, the next week is predicted to be VERY rainy, with almost 3 inches of rain forecast. With runoff, that could raise the lake 6 inches, or more. That puts us into possible "No Wake" considerations. With the downstream impacted by the rain as well, the Lakeport dam operators are constrained as to how much they can dump. An additional 6 inches of water could take an additional 6 weeks to drain at the current flow rate. Addition Spring rain over that 6 weeks could complicate things even more.
The dam operators have limited choices right now.
Blame Mother Nature. Let the moaning and groaning begin.
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So I just looked at that wonderful new DES Page (yes lots of sarcasm intended).....
The lake appears to be holding its current level, and they increased the out flow another 100 CFS or so This morning
Looking down stream they have gotten Winnisquam to drop around 1 inch since its high of 483
Silver lake is holding steady
Long Story Short lets hope we get a few dry days, and then lake starts to drop.......
Overall I think they Dam operators are doing the best they can