lake level

Descant · 09-02-2025, 11:58 AM

Generally, tghe DES goal is to be full pool in early June. For me, I'd aim for full pool mid to late July. Then evaporation and 250 CFS outflow would bring us down to a reasonable level (say 6-8" below full on Labor Day, and slow release until Columbus Day. Some years ago I had a related dsiscussion with the dam bureau manager. I suggested that people are now paying substantial sume for their boiats and they have a reasonable expectation of use in the fall, after Labor Day. His response was "Oh. We never thought about that. We always think boating ends on Lablr Day."
A 10 day forecast, in my mind, is relatively meaningless. We have records going back decades and should be managing based on those averages. I think that is mostly what DES does.
On the bright side, no rtain means little surface water run off and less septic leaching. We haven't heard much about beaches closed for e coli and cyanobacteria this year.

09-02-2025, 11:58 AM	#11
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,448 Thanks: 1,373 Thanked 1,649 Times in 1,077 Posts	Generally, tghe DES goal is to be full pool in early June. For me, I'd aim for full pool mid to late July. Then evaporation and 250 CFS outflow would bring us down to a reasonable level (say 6-8" below full on Labor Day, and slow release until Columbus Day. Some years ago I had a related dsiscussion with the dam bureau manager. I suggested that people are now paying substantial sume for their boiats and they have a reasonable expectation of use in the fall, after Labor Day. His response was "Oh. We never thought about that. We always think boating ends on Lablr Day." A 10 day forecast, in my mind, is relatively meaningless. We have records going back decades and should be managing based on those averages. I think that is mostly what DES does. On the bright side, no rtain means little surface water run off and less septic leaching. We haven't heard much about beaches closed for e coli and cyanobacteria this year.