lake level

[Lakes Region Guy]

With all the snow this year have there been any projections as to what the lake levels will be?

[DesertDweller]

Based on what happened last summer/fall, I hope they are a little more conservative in what they release. My boat slip had less than a foot of water last September when it's normally 2 and half feet plus.

[Descant]

My unscientific opinion is that snow melts slowly and will be absorbed into the dry watershed, as opposed to rain which runs off faster and fills the lake. This is good as it allows more even control of lake level at the Lakeport dam.

[LIforrelaxin]

Ah lake level discussions......

As stated already, the snow pack will slowly melt and while some of it will make it to the lake, the watershed itself is thirsty after last year. So exactly what the will make it to the lake isn't easy to tell.

With that said, Dam operations are pretty good keep the rise of the lake under control from the spring run off... Unless it is combined with heavy rain fall, it would anticipate a slow controlled rise to full lake like usual....

With that said, how will the lake fair this year as the summer progresses. Well each year is unique.... All you can do is wait and watch. They can only fill the lake up so much, and then a constant release must be maintained... As long as normal rainfall happens through out the summer the lake will predictably go down on its normal pattern.... Not enough rain and guess what, the lake will go low again.....

Over the years I have realized, people (including myself) spend far to much time worrying about lake level and how the dam operations could be done differently.... but the truth is, the one in control is mother nature.... Lake level depends on consistent precipitation, at consistent intervals..... Unfortunately we don't always get that consistent schedule.....

[Dad207]

So true: it is all about the long term and natural cycles. This year: meaningless; 20 years, worth evaluating.

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Ah lake level discussions......

As stated already, the snow pack will slowly melt and while some of it will make it to the lake, the watershed itself is thirsty after last year. So exactly what the will make it to the lake isn't easy to tell.

With that said, Dam operations are pretty good keep the rise of the lake under control from the spring run off... Unless it is combined with heavy rain fall, it would anticipate a slow controlled rise to full lake like usual....

With that said, how will the lake fair this year as the summer progresses. Well each year is unique.... All you can do is wait and watch. They can only fill the lake up so much, and then a constant release must be maintained... As long as normal rainfall happens through out the summer the lake will predictably go down on its normal pattern.... Not enough rain and guess what, the lake will go low again.....

Over the years I have realized, people (including myself) spend far to much time worrying about lake level and how the dam operations could be done differently.... but the truth is, the one in control is mother nature.... Lake level depends on consistent precipitation, at consistent intervals..... Unfortunately we don't always get that consistent schedule.....

Pretty much sums it up…

[Lakegeezer]

Most of the snow this season, till this last storm, has been light and fluffy. The kind that is hard make snowballs from. Lots of snow depth doesn't mean lots of water. Currently, there is about 2.5" of water stored in the snowpack in Laconia. Today's value is on a .

In my opinion, we don't have enough snowpack, so far, to bring up the lake significantly. But, March and even April can bring big heavy wet snowstorms that would add to the snowpack and then to the lake level. Or, multi-inch rainstorms. As long as the ground is frozen, much of the water will runoff from the watershed, rather than be absorbed.

So, the April 15'th lake level is anyone's guess at this point, but as of today, the lake level isn't coming up much from the snow on the ground. The law averages says something will happen to make things normal again, but its a law that isn't always enforced.

[jeffk]

As of today, the lake level is about 3" from Full Pool.

The dam is at minimum output of 250 CFS.

Not much additional rain predicted this week but about an inch predicted the following week.

The state is mostly in moderate to severe drought conditions.

[8gv]

All the snow and rain had me thinking we were ok again.

Every time I needed to do something outdoors the weather was prohibitive.

Now it turns out we didn't even get un-droughted!

[kjbathe]

When I look at https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files...-graph2026.PDF I see we're 3" from full, currently above average, and 2026 precip is a little below average.

It looks perfectly fine.

[ishoot308]

Here is Bizer's graph chart from April 2 before the recent rains...Does not look like we are too far off the mark for this time of year. Hopefully we do get more precipitation and runoff from surrounding areas to get us above full lake pretty soon...

Dan

[Descant]

I wish I could see overlays showing the rainfall, snow accumulation and/or watershed saturation. I have long believed that we should be looking for full pool sometime in July, where it appears DES sees full pool in May and wants to drop the level right away. "Oh NO! It might rain." I talked to the state dam director some years ago and mentioned that when people pay $100K for a boat, they want to use it through Columbus Day. His remark was "We never thought of that. We always thought all boating ended on Labor Day." Things in the fall have improved since then, but it still appears DES is overly concerned about going to an inch or two over full pool. It's a tricky balance. If the watershed is saturated, over pool may not be desirable, but when there is a fall drought (2025) there isn't much runoff and we can take a little more water IMHO.

[jeffk]

This is the DES current and averaged Winnipesaukee water levels. As of this morning we are 2" below Full Pool, about 5 weeks ahead of average (in yellow), a nice recovery from the Fall levels.

I previously mentioned the drought level of the state as an interesting observation but drought is a tricky indicator. It is not just rainfall. It includes lots of measurements like groundwater and LOTS of other factors. And, as with most complex calculations, it loses something in clarity as to exactly what it means. It means that all the things going into it came out as a value that has been labeled as a level on a drought scale. What that means as a practical matter is less clear. If we are in moderate drought, is that somewhat "normal" for this time of year? Are there any problems associated with that measurement? It's hard to tell. If we get a good amount of Spring rain, will we be out of drought conditions? Maybe, since rain is only part of the calculation. An expert could probably wax on for hours about the technical meaning but perhaps not give a clear practical meaning to a drought measurement.

It seems to me that the state has been in some level of drought for many years, when I spot check occasionally. Yet, my sense of wellness doesn't sync with that. Plants are growing, animals are thriving, ... If we are in mild to moderate drought most of the time yet there is no clear impacts of that label, is it a helpful label? "Drought" is a scary label but maybe not as helpful as it could be to the average person.

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by jeffk

This is the DES current and averaged Winnipesaukee water levels. As of this morning we are 2" below Full Pool, about 5 weeks ahead of average (in yellow), a nice recovery from the Fall levels.

I previously mentioned the drought level of the state as an interesting observation but drought is a tricky indicator. It is not just rainfall. It includes lots of measurements like groundwater and LOTS of other factors. And, as with most complex calculations, it loses something in clarity as to exactly what it means. It means that all the things going into it came out as a value that has been labeled as a level on a drought scale. What that means as a practical matter is less clear. If we are in moderate drought, is that somewhat "normal" for this time of year? Are there any problems associated with that measurement? It's hard to tell. If we get a good amount of Spring rain, will we be out of drought conditions? Maybe, since rain is only part of the calculation. An expert could probably wax on for hours about the technical meaning but perhaps not give a clear practical meaning to a drought measurement.

It seems to me that the state has been in some level of drought for many years, when I spot check occasionally. Yet, my sense of wellness doesn't sync with that. Plants are growing, animals are thriving, ... If we are in mild to moderate drought most of the time yet there is no clear impacts of that label, is it a helpful label? "Drought" is a scary label but maybe not as helpful as it could be to the average person.

I think most Folks here would describe “drought” as “can I get my boat in/out of my dock”!

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by BillTex

I think most Folks here would describe “drought” as “can I get my boat in/out of my dock”!

The thing is, there are many times in the Fall when we have been declared "in a drought", yet have no problem getting in/out of our docks. It becomes a case of "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.".

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by jeffk

The thing is, there are many times in the Fall when we have been declared "in a drought", yet have no problem getting in/out of our docks. It becomes a case of "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.".

Most Folks don’t really care what the definition of “drought” (as it applies to Winni) means. As long as they can get their boats in/out…that is all that matters to them.
But I don’t live on Winni…and every lake is different.

Our lake is managed to prevent these conditions. In 25+ years never had a season we couldn’t launch/retrieve our boats. We will see what this season brings.

A wet spring (like last year) could change everything.

[Descant]

Obviously, it is hard tyo please everybody. We see posts from folks who want low water to protect their docks and folks whose boats draw more water and those who want to have deep water through Halloween. The key, to me, is full pool into July, instead of dropping the level in June. Maybe we need to pay DES folks more so they can afford Winnipesaukee boating like all us rich folk?

[ishoot308]

This past weekend and according to my dock, the lake was at full pool. With the rain we got today and the rest of this week things are shaping up nicely!

Dan

[Descant]

Your dock is probably a better indicator than the scale on the Weirs bridge. The channel compresses the water flow and the level is likely artificially high in the spring. Hence my desire for full pool to be in July, not May.

[8gv]

The post above makes me wonder...

Paugus Bay passes the lake's water on into Opechee where it ultimately travels to the sea.

Are there any other "outlets" on the big lake?

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

This past weekend and according to my dock, the lake was at full pool. With the rain we got today and the rest of this week things are shaping up nicely!

Dan

The DES gauge at the Weirs boardwalk shows ~1/2 inch below Full Pool. There is 1" of rain forecast this week by the end of this Sunday that should cause the lake level to go over the "Full" mark. That would be about 6 weeks earlier than the DES 40+ year mean reaches it around June 1st.

The Lakeport dam output is still at minimum, 250 CFS. Both Silver Lake and Winnisquam are at "normal" low levels so if we got a deluge of rain in the future, it could be dumped downstream without a significant problem. It seems we can let the level continue to go up for another few inches over Full without any major problems.

[John Mercier]

What is the maximum rate at the Avery Dam?

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

What is the maximum rate at the Avery Dam?

Max Discharge (Cubic Ft/Second) 5960 (online lookup)

Which is a lot more than Lakeport, which is ~2000 CFS. At that rate, it drops the lake about an inch a day.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

What is the maximum rate at the Avery Dam?

Doing a little research I found the following on the Avery Dam from a Study/Inspection done by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1978....

The dam itself if capable of 5K+ cfs (true Max in the report is ~8K under specific conditions)..... however the actual max recommended flow back at that time was around 2.6K do to the capacity of the River in that area....

The output of Avery Dam is really dependent on the level at which the lake is being maintained.

in short my take here is that what ever goes in from Winni, goes out through Avery Dam......

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by jeffk

It seems we can let the level continue to go up for another few inches over Full without any major problems.

That really depends on who you ask... I know that both Fay's and Sheps start to see problems at full lake.... Nothing Horrific mind you, but issues.....

Unfortunately many of the older permanent docking structures are built at the high water mark... over the years I have seen some boat houses get raised, when they have gone major renovations. I supposed some docks get the same treatment, the boat houses are just more noticable.

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

That really depends on who you ask... I know that both Fay's and Sheps start to see problems at full lake.... Nothing Horrific mind you, but issues.....

Unfortunately many of the older permanent docking structures are built at the high water mark... over the years I have seen some boat houses get raised, when they have gone major renovations. I supposed some docks get the same treatment, the boat houses are just more noticable.

While true, if you asked the marinas (and lakefront owners with docks, and boaters in general) if they could trade the low water problems from last Fall for the high water ones they would have done it in a heartbeat. Also, if the water is a little high, it can be adjusted down, usually within a week or so. If it is low, you are out of luck. People started noting the low water last year in August and we had to deal with it for over 2 months as it got significantly worse.

[jeffk]

The DES tracking is now reporting that the lake is over Full Pool. 1/2" more rain on Sunday. Then on and off April showers, no major storms, predicted until the end of the month.

My guess is that the Lakeport dam management, given the last two years bad experiences, will leave it full or a little more into the summer. Usually, a slow drawdown is allowed to happen starting mid-June. It might be smart to delay that or proceed at a slower drawdown pace through the summer.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by jeffk

While true, if you asked the marinas (and lakefront owners with docks, and boaters in general) if they could trade the low water problems from last Fall for the high water ones they would have done it in a heartbeat. Also, if the water is a little high, it can be adjusted down, usually within a week or so. If it is low, you are out of luck. People started noting the low water last year in August and we had to deal with it for over 2 months as it got significantly worse.

High water problems are always easier to deal with.....and preferable....
I have always been on the side of keeping the water as high as possible, for as long as possible. But what I have witnessed over the years tells me that maintaining the lake too high at the beginning of the year, can lead to problems in mid summer. There are always going to be years that we see flukes in the weather... last summer's drought for instance..... but than again I have also seen years where their are huge rain storms, that cause the lake to rise suddenly as they work to minimize flooding down stream....

Operating the Dams is challenging.... and mother nature is ultimately in control.....

The good news is the lake is currently nice and full..... I do anticipate that they will soon open the dam a bit more.... to match the pace of water coming into the lake..... Right now I think people are going to get what they are wishing for which is that the lake will be maintained close to full, as long as possible...... but once the lake starts droping their is only so much that can be done, and if mother natures feels like a drought is what she wants.... it could be another rough year.....

[jeffk]

I wonder if a better strategy to lake level management could be applied? For example, if the lake is at a "good" level right now and a big storm is very likely to drop 4" in a week from now, adjust the dam to drop the lake 2" before the storm arrives. After the storm, evaluate how much rain actually fell and continue adjust as needed. If 2" fell, you're done. If 4" fell, you continue for another week. If the storm fizzled out, cut the dam output to minimum to recover the 2", if possible.

There are obviously other factors, like if the lake is already too low, just wait. It the lake is already too high, maybe dump more than half the expected amount. Also, maybe the target "good" levels need to be reexamined; a slower drawdown at first, and then faster at the end.

You can still get burned by extremes, like the last two years, but maybe the impact could be reduced.

[Descant]

JeffK makes some good points. Somehow, DES seems afraid to let the lake go a little bit above full. Understood, as when we're way above full there can be shore damage, and everything downstream is likely high too. The difficulty in part of this is the saturation factor of the watershed. Half a dozen sensors located 0.5 -1.0 miles upgradient from the lake might give some indication. When the watershed is saturated; 0.5" of rain can translate to 2" increase in lake level, but it is some days later, not instant. We need high water right after ice out so debris can blow to shore and be stranded as the lake drops to full. To me, that is key: "Drops to full" not full and goes lower.
Some Forum members watrch the DES lake level apge and report it. Thank you. A weekly report from DES saying "The outflow for the coming week willl be "x" and here's the plan:...would help understand as opposed to just watching and wondering "Why did they do that?"

[jeffk]

One of the issues in determining what to do about the lake level is the general impact of rain/no rain and subsequent drought conditions.

Right now the US drought map shows the lakes region in Severe drought.
Historic impacts of this level of drought have been:
Fish kills occur; wildlife move to farms for food
Golf courses conserve water
Producers begin feeding cattle; hay prices are high
Specialty crops are impacted in both yield and fruit size
Trees are brittle and susceptible to insects
Warnings are issued on outdoor burns; air quality is poor
Water quality is poor; groundwater is declining; irrigation ponds are dry; outdoor water restrictions are implemented
This seems NOT to fit current conditions.

In fact, even the historic results of Moderate drought and even Abnormally Dry seem not to significantly apply, except perhaps that groundwater levels are on the low side in some areas.

If we can't accurately determine the conditions, our expectations and choices will not line up with reality.

As to adjusting the dam output, we are currently about 1 1/2" above Full. We are expecting about .6" in rain tomorrow. Just a rough estimate, but, with the ground still fairly damp from the spring melt, that will probably raise the lake another 1 1/2" to a total of 3" over Full. That is usually when people start mentioning problems. The dam is still running at minimum. Maybe it is past time to open it up a bit (700 cfs?) in anticipation of the rain coming tomorrow and drop it back in a few days to maintain the level at just slightly over full for the time being, maybe until the end of June.

I respect that dam management is not as straightforward as 1 + 1 = 2 but it seems we are too reactionary instead of anticipatory.

[kjbathe]

There are so many factors in play that it's actually pretty impressive that the level can be managed as effectively as it is.

One example is last Tuesday night's rain. I don't recall it being heavy or long and on Wednesday morning the docks at Goodhue were dry. Mid day, they had maybe a half inch over them. At end of day, maybe a half an inch more again.

My numbers are estimates. It was just neat to observe how a rain I didn't see the night before had the docks properly under water an afternoon later.

[jeffk]

So, here we go.

As of Wednesday afternoon, rain is starting and is forecast to continue for the next 10 days, dropping about 3" total by May 9. We are 2.5" over Full Pool. The dam, at it's current 250 cfs will dump about 1" by may 9. That gives us 2.5 +3 -1 = 4.5" over Full Pool by May 9th and that doesn't account for the fact that the runoff is likely to dump MORE than the measured rainfall. 4.5" over Full Pool WILL be a problem. And dumping water downstream at the end of the rain will be a problem because they will all be full by then as well.

NOW is the time to open the dam to 500 cfs (or a bit more) and leave it that way until the rain stops and reassess. That would drop an additional 2+" by May 9 and lessen the impact. Then leaving it open at that level to deal with runoff. The goal would be to maintain Full Pool and perhaps an inch or two more as reserve for possible summer dryness.

This is proactive planning. If the rain doesn't happen as forecast, once the level drops to Full Pool, back off the dam flow.

[Biggd]

A lot of rain fell yesterday, that should alleviate some of the drought situation!

[jeffk]

Yup.

And the lake is now about 6 1/2 inches over full pool and still rising.
The Lakeport dam is still at minimum, 250 CFS.

[John Mercier]

Is that because of downstream levels?

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Is that because of downstream levels?

It may be NOW, but they could have proactively started dumping water a week ago when this big storm system became apparent. They could have gone into the storm down a couple of inches and then kept, slowly, dumping water to keep the levels a inch or two above full pool and less problematic.

Now, it will be harder to do that and I suspect the lake will continue to rise from the runoff of this 3+" rainstorm.

[NHskier]

Looks like the outflow was bumped up to 600cfs today.

[jeffk]

It's good that they are doing something. At that rate, it will take about 10 days to dump the 3" of water that just fell. Hopefully we won't get any more heavy rain during that time.

After Memorial Day, boat traffic will pick up and the consequences of having a significantly too full lake will rise.

[phoenix]

I was sent a couple pictures of a Meredith marina and their dock are underwater

[tis]

It really is high, very high!!

[NHskier]

The dam release level is now at 1050cfs, so the operators are definitely responding to the higher level.

[garysanfran]

Could the release not have been tied to the weather forecast? That rain was no surprise. It was forecast.

Decades of experience did not predict this level?

I think this is the third year in a row with excessive high water at the beginning of the season and last year not enough at the end.

Is this mismanagement?

[John Mercier]

I guess it depends on how they define beginning and end.

The AMA races that led to Bike Week, and the archived footage tells the story of what they hoped would be the ideal, were brought in to cover a period before the start of summer and boating season.

So back then, they defined it more around July 1st; and conceived the end to be Labor Day.

They may now be focused with Memorial Day weekend being the opening, and - forgive me as I am not attempting to insult anyone - Columbus Day being the end.

Between that shift, dealing with unprecedented change in the surround landscapes ability to hold and retain rainfall, and the addition of the build out of the downstream Lake Winnisquam and Silver Lake; probably not as simply as we all make it out.

[jeffk]

We went out yesterday for the first time because valet service at the marina started. There were a lot of boats out (with resulting boat waves and, with high water levels, possible shore erosion). Valet ends in mid October and lower water levels are becoming problematic around then. Mid May to mid October probably defines the boating "season". Of course there are some boats on the lake anytime it isn't frozen.

For people who have homes on and around the lake, June and September are also great times to be up for the weekends and using their boats before the summer crowds.

The crazy busy times on the lake are July & August because it is warm (both air and water) and schools are out so people take family vacations and are here all week, not just on weekends. Personally, I don't boat on summer weekends unless I am out for an early morning breakfast before the crowds are out.

In my mind, the "beginning" of lake activity is around now, especially on weekends, ramping up to peak levels by the end of June. Things ramp down on the lake through September, with the "end" in mid October, again, especially on weekends.

[John Mercier]

Well, hopefully they have this under control to some degree by next weekend.

[WinnisquamZ]

Just drove back from MA. Merrimack River is full


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[jeffk]

Yes, it spiked 4 - 7 feet, depending where it is measured, right after the rainfall.
Winnisquam and Silver Lake are also over their "normal high" levels.

This is what makes dumping water from Winnipesaukee problematic AFTER a big rainfall.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by jeffk

The crazy busy times on the lake are July & August because it is warm (both air and water) and schools are out so people take family vacations and are here all week, not just on weekends.

In recent years the lake traffic has slowed down significantly by the 3rd and 4th week in August. The kids seem to go back to school a lot earlier than we did when I was younger. I have had a weekly rental on the lake for 20 years and those last two August week are always slow to fill.

I remember school starting after Labor Day, but, I am old!

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Just drove back from MA. Merrimack River is full


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I drove by Hampton beach today and that was full too!

[fatlazyless]

"Drought conditions in New Hampshire ... http://www.weather.gov/media/gyx/DGT...X_05142026.pdf .... will continue even after recent beneficial rains."

So, why is this? With all this recent rain it sure seems like the drought should be ovuh!

[garysanfran]

Has there been a management change in recent years controlling this?

Since 1961, I don't remember, ever, this problem. Once in, late 90's, early 2000? And three times in a row now?

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

"Drought conditions in New Hampshire ... http://www.weather.gov/media/gyx/DGT...X_05142026.pdf .... will continue even after recent beneficial rains."

So, why is this? With all this recent rain it sure seems like the drought should be ovuh!

Soil retention and water table.

Soil after a drought have trouble absorbing water and tend to more run-off.

The recent events tend to be more like flash floods rather than slow steady events.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

Has there been a management change in recent years controlling this?

Since 1961, I don't remember, ever, this problem. Once in, late 90's, early 2000? And three times in a row now?

Not that I can place my finger on. But that would be the problem.
The schedule needs to adapt to a modern format; and deal with changes in the surrounding land usage that increases the run-off into the lakes.

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

Has there been a management change in recent years controlling this?

Since 1961, I don't remember, ever, this problem. Once in, late 90's, early 2000? And three times in a row now?

The problem is largely weather dependant. Last year we had two months without almost any rain. You can't REACT your way out of that. Given that we had recent experiences with low water, dam management could have PROACTIVELY retained more water, keeping the lake more full through June and even into July, instead of waiting to start shutting down the dam towards the end of June. We probably dumped about 10" of water in June and early July that should have been retained. It wouldn't have eliminated the problem but would have lessened the impact at the end of the summer.

This year we just got a multiday storm of over 3 inches of rain. We KNEW it was coming and that the lake was OVERfilled already but nothing was done, PROACTIVELY, to dump some of the water while downstream water levels were low.

I can remember 2 years in the early 2000s that had several major storms in a row that pushed the Merrimack up almost 20 feet and over its banks in Hudson. My back yard along the river was flooded. The outlet from my house footing drains near the river were underwater and I started to get some water in my basement because they couldn't drain around the house. The lake was very high. I'm not sure much could have been done about that. Sometimes Mother Nature is tough to live with.

[The Real BigGuy]

I get a kick out of lake level discussions. We are either beating up the guys who control the dam because the water is too high or too low.

If the open the dam in anticipation of a big storm event and it doesn't happen seems to be happening quite often over the past several years) we yell "mismanagement" because there isn't enough water in the lake. If they keep the dam closed because a storm is supposed to miss us and it doesn't we yell mismanagement because there is too much water in the lake.

Talk about a thankless job!

[Descant]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

I get a kick out of lake level discussions. We are either beating up the guys who control the dam because the water is too high or too low.

If the open the dam in anticipation of a big storm event and it doesn't happen seems to be happening quite often over the past several years) we yell "mismanagement" because there isn't enough water in the lake. If they keep the dam closed because a storm is supposed to miss us and it doesn't we yell mismanagement because there is too much water in the lake.

Talk about a thankless job!

Isn't that the way government is supposed to work? You only need to please 51% because you already have a monopoly--you don't need to increase market share.

[Smith Point]

Do you think they should impose a no-wake order for Memorial Day weekend? The water is really high, we are good on Smith Point but other places the end of Alton Bay, the weirs channel, back bay, ellacoya, boat ramps around the area etc. Could Incounter significant damage. Before you get your "balls in a bunch" I know that most of these places are a no-wake Zone already but it could definitely impact Shoreline owners with a dock or a Boathouse.

[WinnisquamZ]

Don’t think they will and with the weather looking like trash will help keeping the boat traffic lite


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[Smith Point]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Don’t think they will and with the weather looking like trash will help keeping the boat traffic lite


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But last weekend was pretty nice wasn't it

[Lakes Region Guy]

I find it interesting going back and reading some of the early posts and see how wrong some of the experts were. For those of us who have been around the lake for 50 plus years will remember that PSNH used to control the dams. There were very few problems then. The problems came when the state took over the dams.
And speaking of erosion problems with the lake level. Think of how the native Americans fell when the settlers built the lakeport dam and raised the lake level up 5-7 ft. No more fishing weirs and Long Island was probably not an island.

[Smith Point]

It doesn't get much better.

[John Mercier]

I doubt we need worry.

https://nhdes.rtiamanzi.org/stations

[LoveLakeLife]

Originally Posted by Lakes Region Guy

I find it interesting going back and reading some of the early posts and see how wrong some of the experts were. For those of us who have been around the lake for 50 plus years will remember that PSNH used to control the dams. There were very few problems then. The problems came when the state took over the dams.

And speaking of erosion problems with the lake level. Think of how the native Americans fell when the settlers built the lakeport dam and raised the lake level up 5-7 ft. No more fishing weirs and Long Island was probably not an island.

I think the Indians must have lamented the loss of Witch Island!


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[garysanfran]

A neighbor of mine pointed out that the increased construction and building is causing a decrease in natural vegetation, which absorbs lots of rain, and thus increasing run-off.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

A neighbor of mine pointed out that the increased construction and building is causing a decrease in natural vegetation, which absorbs lots of rain, and thus increasing run-off.

Absolutely right. I thought about that, but I think of the vegetation cycle on Welch Island where I am most familiar. At the turn of the century (1900) the island was mostly bare of the "big" trees DES likes to see in their shorefront plans. People used to go berrying there and sheep grazed on the island in the summer. That stopped, and, by the Hurricane of 1938 there was considerable vegetation growth, and, as with a lot of the land around the lake, the blow down was harvested. In the 50's lots were sold with 100' frontage. Many camps had gravity drains ending in dry wells between the camp and the shore. Of course, the outhouses were farther back, behind the camp so that was not an issue. Septic systems really started appearing after 1960 when PSNH brought power to the island and water could be pumped up grade to a septic/leach system. I remember an annual trek up to Green's Basin and Hansen's Cove. The expectation then was that there would be no development of any magnitude north of the Hole In The Wall. Just too far away from everything.
So, look at it all now. Blame it all on Eisenhower and his dream of an interstate highway system, with at least one mile out of five suitable for use as a runway in time of war. Fortunately, island residents are seasonal, so the runoff probably isn't as severe as it is where shorefront condos significantly reduce the ability of the land to absorb precipitation. C'est la vie.

[John Mercier]

Seasonality of the occupants doesn't change the hardscape and simplified root system of the vegetation.

I alluded to this in my post on 5-17 at 9:59pm.


Also, the interstate has been around for decades; but in the late 80s I could travel from Belmont to Holderness on a weekend and hardly see any traffic.
I think it is our (NH) promoting recreation rather than industry and agriculture that made us a Bedroom State.

[jeffk]

"Lake Winnipesaukee does not have a single source; it is a naturally glacially formed body of water primarily fed by ancient underground springs and dozens of relatively small streams and tributaries.

Primary Inflows: Eighty-three relatively small streams and rivers drain into the lake's massive 215,133-acre watershed. Major inflows include the Gunstock, Merrymeeting, Melvin, and Red Hill Rivers."

I have heard that the primary water input to the lake is the underground springs.

While there has certainly been a lot of development along the shoreline and immediately nearby, the watershed extends out for miles and development away from the lake is, relatively, much less. The streams that feed the lake are probably still delivering the same amounts of water although that overall amount is probably impossible to know.

Shoreline runoff has definitely increased. What it's overall volume contribution to lake level is, is speculation.

I think the dam could be managed smarter. Given the fickleness of mother nature, it's never going to be a perfect process but the extremes could be smoothed out. First principle, you can't make it rain so we should retain more water, longer, SHORT of bad shoreline erosion levels, to anticipate the possibility of a couple of months of dry weather. Second principle, we need to anticipate major storms and drawdown enough ahead of the the storm so it doesn't rise the lake to exceed levels that cause shoreline erosion. Dam response AFTER the storm is complicated by downstream conditions.

[John Mercier]

The streams would either be consistent (underground) or part of the surface run-off that is affected by development - not just along the shoreline.

Changing acreage from deep rooted pasture grass to more hardscape with development and shallow rooted turfgrass also increases the run-off to those streams and into the lake.

[LIforrelaxin]

The lake level jumping, is a direct reflection of the dam operators doing just what people have been fussing for.

The lake was full, the dam was held at the minimum output.... A down pour happened, run off increased, and they couldn't open the dam fast enough, with out causing issues down stream....

I saw this coming, they can't hold the lake at full pool, with out risking high water.....

[ApS]

Originally Posted by jeffk

"Lake Winnipesaukee does not have a single source; it is a naturally glacially formed body of water primarily fed by ancient underground springs and dozens of relatively small streams and tributaries.

Primary Inflows: Eighty-three relatively small streams and rivers drain into the lake's massive 215,133-acre watershed. Major inflows include the Gunstock, Merrymeeting, Melvin, and Red Hill Rivers."

I have heard that the primary water input to the lake is the underground springs.

While there has certainly been a lot of development along the shoreline and immediately nearby, the watershed extends out for miles and development away from the lake is, relatively, much less. The streams that feed the lake are probably still delivering the same amounts of water although that overall amount is probably impossible to know.

Shoreline runoff has definitely increased. What it's overall volume contribution to lake level is, is speculation.

I think the dam could be managed smarter. Given the fickleness of mother nature, it's never going to be a perfect process but the extremes could be smoothed out. First principle, you can't make it rain so we should retain more water, longer, SHORT of bad shoreline erosion levels, to anticipate the possibility of a couple of months of dry weather. Second principle, we need to anticipate major storms and drawdown enough ahead of the the storm so it doesn't rise the lake to exceed levels that cause shoreline erosion. Dam response AFTER the storm is complicated by downstream conditions.

Is the dam under some control 24 hours a day?

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by ApS

Is the dam under some control 24 hours a day?

Define control?

Is someone right there ready to make adjustments? No
is the out flow and lake level being monitored and data available? Yes

Typically they will not adjust it more then once or twice a week. In extreme conditions they will review and adjust daily, but that is rare.....

[TiltonBB]

Many years ago, because of the trouble boaters have navigating the Weirs Channel during times when the dam is at a high discharge rate, I spoke to the people in charge in Concord.

I suggested turning up the flow from 10 PM until 8 AM when there was minimal boat traffic and slowing the discharge rate down during the day.

The answer I got was "we can't, we don't work nights".

[jeffk]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Define control?

Is someone right there ready to make adjustments? No
is the out flow and lake level being monitored and data available? Yes

Typically they will not adjust it more then once or twice a week. In extreme conditions they will review and adjust daily, but that is rare.....

They have just adjusted it upward every day from May 15 - May 21, starting at 250 CFS to 1500 CFS. It can't be changed 24 hours a day but daily is obviously possible.

In this instance, the lake peaked due to the rainstorm at about 8" over full on May 18 and has now dropped about 1 1/2 inches. It will take about another 5 days at the current rate of 1500 CFS to get down to a "manageable" 2" over full pool.

We are due another 1/2 of rain on Sun/Mon.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Many years ago, because of the trouble boaters have navigating the Weirs Channel during times when the dam is at a high discharge rate, I spoke to the people in charge in Concord.

I suggested turning up the flow from 10 PM until 8 AM when there was minimal boat traffic and slowing the discharge rate down during the day.

The answer I got was "we can't, we don't work nights".

I remember when they had someone living in that white cottage above the dam during the summer controlling the dam and other duties. Did they stop doing that?

[TiltonBB]

I found the problem! This isn't helping the Winnipesaukee lake level go down.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I found the problem! This isn't helping the Winnipesaukee lake level go down.

Waukewan is over full, as of last weekend I had no beach, first time in 12 years that I've been there.

[WinnisquamZ]

Personally I would prefer full over low


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[retired]

How is the high lake level affecting boat traffic under the Wolfeboro bridge to Back Bay? Can any boats get under without scraping the underside of the bridge?

[Lakes Region Guy]

besides waukewan and kanasatka what other lakes and ponds drain into winnipesaukee?

[Lakes Region Guy]

Originally Posted by retired

How is the high lake level affecting boat traffic under the Wolfeboro bridge to Back Bay? Can any boats get under without scraping the underside of the bridge?

Bizer map says the bridge clearance is 4.2 ft at full lake level. Since we are about 6 " above that the clearance is only going to be 3.6ft or about 43". I don't think many boats can get under the bridge.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by retired

How is the high lake level affecting boat traffic under the Wolfeboro bridge to Back Bay? Can any boats get under without scraping the underside of the bridge?

Well, if you do get under there then you'll likely have a good and easy selection of all the chewed bubble gum that's been applied there over the years....

[The Real BigGuy]

One thing people forget when they talk about keeping the lake level high is that the outfall from Winni feeds lakes and rivers downstream. These have residents who want workable waters levels so they can recreate. Right now it might not make much of a difference but as we move forward in the “season” holding water in Winnipesaukee means lower water down stream.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by Lakes Region Guy

besides waukewan and kanasatka what other lakes and ponds drain into winnipesaukee?

Lees Pond does, but it is pretty small - less than 200 acres

[thebix]

Originally Posted by Lakes Region Guy

besides waukewan and kanasatka what other lakes and ponds drain into winnipesaukee?

Lake Wentworth through Crescent Lake in Wolfeborough

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Lakes Region Guy

besides waukewan and kanasatka what other lakes and ponds drain into winnipesaukee?

Merrymeeting Lake into Alton Bay.

Alan

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Lakes Region Guy

besides waukewan and kanasatka what other lakes and ponds drain into winnipesaukee?

Not a pond, but the Gunstock River is a fourth order stream and shoreland protection applies. Same with Merrymeeting in Alton.

[TiltonBB]

NO WAKE ORDER – SILVER LAKE IN BELMONT

BELMONT, N.H. – Pursuant to NH RSA 270:132, the New Hampshire State Police - Marine Patrol has instituted a No Wake order on Silver Lake in Belmont. This order will remain in effect until the lake level drops below 467.0 feet above sea level. The gauge at the Department of Environmental Services, Silver Lake Station will be used to make this determination.
The Marine Patrol urges all boaters throughout the state to be aware of their wakes and use caution when operating in channels or close to shore

[jeffk]

And because of that, the Lakeport dam has scaled back the outflow to prevent making the downstream situation worse. Winnipesaukee is now about 6" over full and will drain more slowly until the downstream water recedes. The options are limited at this point.

[TiltonBB]

One picture is from September 2025. The other is from today. I have a new aluminum dock ready to go but it should be a lot easier when the lake level drops.

[TiltonBB]

After the storm. Everything would have been fine if the water was lower.

[tis]

Sorry about your dock. That wind was just awful. My iris got blown over, my little tomatoes are leaning, a big box of toys on the beach got blown over-never happened before. Thank goodness no major issues, we were lucky.

[ishoot308]

Wow Tilton, Thats awful! Sorry about your damage! Saw a couple places here on Welch that have similar damage but not nearly as bad as yours!

Hopefully after this weekend things will settle down a bit…

Dan

[fatlazyless]

Laconia and Sanbornton received 3.20-inches rain on Saturday, May 30 according to WMUR rainfall by NH towns. This is big rain.

Rains Gods were targeting Silver Lake in Tilton which is not a lake but is a large wide area in the Winnipesaukee River, the dammed-up outflow from Lake Winnipesaukee that flows down between the dam in Laconia and the dam in Franklin, NH and into the Merrimack River.

[Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance]

We have been getting quite a few calls and emails this week and there has been surge of discussion about lake levels and the possibility of a no-wake order, so I wanted to share a few facts for context.

First, it's important to note that the Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance does not manage lake levels. Water level management is overseen by the NHDES Dam Bureau, which operates the Lakeport Dam and balances conditions on Winnipesaukee with downstream impacts throughout the Winnipesaukee River system. For more info for those factors visit:

https://www.winnipesaukee.org/the-issues/lake-level/

As of June 1, Lake Winnipesaukee was approximately about 6.6 inches above the full lake level of 504.32 feet. While that is certainly elevated, it remains below levels reached during other notable high-water years.

One common misconception is that there is a specific lake-level threshold that automatically triggers a no-wake order. To my knowledge, no such threshold exists. In 2024, New Hampshire passed HB 1360, which gives the Commissioner of the Department of Safety authority to establish temporary no-wake zones during emergencies caused by weather or environmental conditions. The law does not identify a specific lake elevation that automatically triggers those restrictions.

For historical context, a lakewide no-wake restriction was issued on Winnipesaukee in July 1998 when the lake reached approximately 505.53 feet. In May 2006, a lakewide restriction was not implemented when the lake reached approximately 505.45 feet. Likewise, during the flooding events of 2023, state officials encouraged boaters to operate at headway speed and minimize wakes, but a formal lakewide no-wake order was not issued.

Lake level management is also more complex than simply opening the dam further. NHDES must balance conditions on Winnipesaukee with downstream flooding concerns, hydropower obligations, fisheries, Silver Lake water levels, wastewater treatment requirements, loon nesting habitat, lake trout spawning habitat, and other operational constraints.

Regardless of whether a formal no-wake order is in place, high water does increase the potential for shoreline erosion. That's why it's especially important for boaters to be mindful of their wake near shorelines, docks, wetlands, and other vulnerable areas.

For anyone interested in a deeper dive into the recent conditions and the history of lake level management, we recently wrote an article for the Laconia Daily Sun that summarizes much of this information:

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/boat...770e76186.html

[jeffk]

A good review of many of the issues surrounding the water level of Lake Winnipesaukee.

The problem still is that the lake level is being managed REACTIVELY and once a high water level exists, it usually exists everywhere, and all the conditions that prevent the Winnipesaukee water level from being lowered are in play.

This is not too surprising since it is being managed by a government agency and government usually is reactive instead of proactive.

Water level targets are NOT being planned based on the possibility that rainfall may NOT occur as normal. If it doesn't show up, we can't manufacture water. We are at a dead end, as happened last year.

Drawdown is NOT being down in anticipation of significant rainfall events. We are in the current situation because we had a 3+" rainstorm event and have not been able to recover from that because we keep getting more rain. If we had dumped water a week before that storm, say 3" or so, when downstream was not already full, we would be only a few inches over full which is not as big a problem.

Predicting rainfall is tricky. Instead of 3"s falling, maybe only 1" could have come down. If the level had been dropped ahead of the storm, then the lake might now be slightly below full. That wouldn't have been a problem. Then, hang on to that water level unless rain actually happens, NOT lower the level according to a 40 year average that is, on a year to year basis, NOT average very often.

We need more PROACTIVE management to keep the lake from getting overfull and from going well below minimal levels.

[garysanfran]

I'd be curious to know about insurance claims during this discharge mismanagement. Third year in a row. I bet those companies are not happy.

[John Mercier]

Are the level fluctuations on Winnipesaukee lower than fluctuations on Sebago or Champlain?
What about Newfound or Sunapee?

[chachee52]

I think that it's funny how everyone is blaming the water management. I remember this same criticism last spring that "it was too high for my dock and boat" then when it was back to "normal" and we didn't get any rain all summer, the same people were "the dam got mismanaged and now the water is too low". It's not an exact science.
Way back in the day, there was no damn and the lake level was high and then it was low. Who did people complain abut then?
It is what it is, they are doing the best that they can.
I have a bumper sticker that someone gave me from England and I have it on my wall at work: Keep Calm and Carry On

[Merrymeeting]

Merrymeeting Lake, which is a significant contributor to the Winnipesaukee watershed, has actually been below full pool all spring. It just reached full pool this week after the last boards were put in at the dam. So the good news for Winni folk is that at least Merrymeeting is contributing minimally to the Winn inflow.

(FWIW, the level at Merrymeeting is controlled by Fish & Game due to the Powdermill Fish Hatchery being just downstream)