lakeport Dam

[fpartri497]

last thursday, I visited the dam only to find it was closed down to just a trickle of water. even though the lake level rose four to five in. the night before. does anybody know if It has been re-opened since?

[snowbird]

That "trickle of water" was reported by Bizer on Thursday as 275 cu ft/sec, about normal for this time of year. Since the Big Lake's level is currently at average "full" while lakes downstream are still way over full, 275 would seem a logical number for now.

[wildwoodfam]

Perhaps ( "Dont worry be happy...." ) is a motto you should try to live by instead of just using as a signature tag for your posts.

I am not trying to point the finger at you specifically, as this type of post is quite common here - but since you posted - here goes:

I am tired of those who seem to believe that because they reside on the lake and can drive to the dam, that they somehow KNOW what and how the dam should be controlled. Let's ASSUME for the sake of reason and logic and common sense, that those who run the Lakeport Dam have at the very least a basic sense and understanding of what needs to be done, i.e. using the dam as is intended, as a flood control gate for the downstream lakes, Opeechee, Winnisquam, Silver and the Merrimack River further on down, which by the way is still running high from the flooding rains last month!

The counter side to this argument can be drawn back a few years ago when the dam was opened to release waters and ultimately was followed up by a very dry July and August, which led to disasterously low water levels.

Let's also remember that the size of Winnipesaukee enables it to consume some rainfall without always running the risk of flooding, and that the flooding rains of May and June set 100 year records (or close to it) and were much higher than the recent downpours last week.

The other option would be to simply apply for the job as Dam Operator when one of the current ones caves to his frustrations of always being second guessed and decides he's had enough!

Sorry for the rant - but this is a topic that drives me to - well - rant!!

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

That "trickle" from the Lakeport Dam was reported as 374 cfs as of this morning. Tilton had a 1030 cfs outflow.

When I'm interested in that kind of info I call the Winnipesaukee Data Phone -
aka, the Lakeport Dam Phone (603) 527-0071. The recording is updated daily, usually in the morning.

A short recording with info such as: Levels of Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam, Flow at the Lakeport Dam and in Tilton, precipitation in the last 24 hours and the Lake Winnipesaukee water temperature. There's also a reference to a web site (but write fast ).

I find the phone to be another great service from our dam operators. Wonder if the voice on the recording the person on the forum known as "The Keeper" (although I think I've heard a female voice a few times).

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by fpartri497

last thursday, I visited the dam only to find it was closed down to just a trickle of water. even though the lake level rose four to five in. the night before. does anybody know if It has been re-opened since?

A friend who lives on Silver Lake (the outflow of Winnisquam) bought a new Seadoo boat this year, and has not been able to launch it on Silver lake yet...water's too high.

All the outflow of Winnipesaukee coupled with the streams and brooks inflow into Winnisquam and Silver lake (not to mention the spring fed areas with in the lakes) has kept the water flow extremely high down river. The Winnipesaukee river where it crosses rte 140 in Tilton is still very high and the rapids just south of 140 seem to have an extremely fast current flow.

Hopefully most people will agree that the dam operators have done quite a job this past year under very trying. unpredicatable, and unusual weather conditions. (Example: Lochmere golf course got a lot of water late this past week, we got very little here in Alton Bay, where I work in Rochester had a lot in just a few heavy downpours, and Waukewan in Merideth where we played golf today received a lot this past week. Unfortunately, the heavy downpours have hit areas which have inflows to Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, and Silver lake, resulting in the high flow downstream in Tilton.)

[JeffreyJoyal242]

I have been alake frnt property owner since 1954. in 1964,1965 they let the lake down 5 ft to repair something . the level of the lake we consider normal today and expect are actualy 4 or 5 feet higher than before the construction of the dam. the eviormentalist would have had a dodo. we worry about 6 or 18 inc variation now. hey, the loons move they adjust.


Somtimes I wonder if I live on the same lake as some of the people who post on this Forum. Except for about 4 days a year there is hardly any boat traffic. I live between Roberts Cove and Chestnut Cove, also mother winter and the weather are this lakes protecters.

[fpartri497]

In answer to your rant Concord NH where I reside Is not exactly living on winnipesaukee. Oh and by the way dont conscern yourself so much with other peoples mottos Thank you

[Lakegeezer]

The dam operators have to do what they have to do. If Silver lake is still high, its time to get them down to normal so they can have some quality lake time before the season is over. However, Lake Winnipesaukee is still above historical averages. According to Bizer's graph, this is the fifth highest (of his data set) the lake has been this time of year. The difference that Winnipesaukee has, is the massive numbers of heavy displacement boats. This past weekend, the traffic volume was huge - it made up for the light volume over the Fourth of July holiday. The shoreline was awash with boat wake - and eroding. Much different than wind damage would do. Also, the bottom of the lake was churning to the point that visibility was nill. The water quality this year is terrible. Not only is the water extra tannic, but the surface tension is higher than normal. Its much more soupy than normal. We are damaging the lake water quality by allowing large boats to travel at above wake speed, at this lake height. Perhaps we need a "no-wake 1/4 mile from shore" rule for any boat over 5000 lbs while the lake is over "full pool"?

[ossipeeboater]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

The dam operators have to do what they have to do. If Silver lake is still high, its time to get them down to normal so they can have some quality lake time before the season is over. However, Lake Winnipesaukee is still above historical averages. According to Bizer's graph, this is the fifth highest (of his data set) the lake has been this time of year. The difference that Winnipesaukee has, is the massive numbers of heavy displacement boats. This past weekend, the traffic volume was huge - it made up for the light volume over the Fourth of July holiday. The shoreline was awash with boat wake - and eroding. Much different than wind damage would do. Also, the bottom of the lake was churning to the point that visibility was nill. The water quality this year is terrible. Not only is the water extra tannic, but the surface tension is higher than normal. Its much more soupy than normal. We are damaging the lake water quality by allowing large boats to travel at above wake speed, at this lake height. Perhaps we need a "no-wake 1/4 mile from shore" rule for any boat over 5000 lbs while the lake is over "full pool"?

thats ridiculous, I live in a no wake zone and you know what puts up the biggest wakes, idiots on pontoons and 18-20 foot bowriders going 3-4 mph over no wake speed. A 24 foot boat can be over 5000 lbs and on plane throws up no more wake than a 18 footer does. I'd rather have the boatds buzz by me at 20 mph than 10.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by ossipeeboater

thats ridiculous, I live in a no wake zone and you know what puts up the biggest wakes, idiots on pontoons and 18-20 foot bowriders going 3-4 mph over no wake speed. A 24 foot boat can be over 5000 lbs and on plane throws up no more wake than a 18 footer does. I'd rather have the boatds buzz by me at 20 mph than 10.

Its not even the 24 fts that cause the problem. The issue are the big displacment hull cruisers and the planing hull 30+ footers that don't have the power to plane well........Where I live the wakes of 98% of the boats aren't a big deal.....there are 3 or four planing hull cruisers that go to moor for the day in the Bay I am in and as they plow up the middle struggling to plane thier wakes cause all the turbulence........and if you ask me I don't think anyone should be singled out, when the lake is at full lake or above for any period of time.....shut it down to NWZ period......

[ApS]

Originally Posted by ossipeeboater

thats ridiculous, I live in a no wake zone and you know what puts up the biggest wakes, idiots on pontoons and 18-20 foot bowriders going 3-4 mph over no wake speed. A 24 foot boat can be over 5000 lbs and on plane throws up no more wake than a 18 footer does. I'd rather have the boats buzz by me at 20 mph than 10.

Pontoon boats throw far less wake than any other powerboat IMHO—and 10MPH is not "Headway Speed", except where rivers, currents and tides are involved.