Your water-level worries are over ...

[mcdude]

Misty:
What a generous offer. Thanks so much! You gotta love this forum! McD

[HotDog]

what is the lake at now (level?)

[secondcurve]

Misty:

Be careful out there, the water is chilling down quickly. Wear your PFD.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Despite MB's generous offer, I made a quick trip to check that our dock hadn't gone "mcdude" on us (it hadn't). Interestingly the water wasn't as high as I had feared. It was only slightly more than last Sunday's level despite the readings at Lakeport. I can only guess the wind was piling up the water last weekend and when it stopped blowing it was replaced by this weeks rise. I put the equivalent of a good NFL defensive line on the dock ala FLL's water weights and so should be OK despite what rain comes in the next few days. I just checked the lake level and it is presently receding (maybe 1" in last 24 hrs) so it appears the tide is headed out (for now ). Looking up and down Alton Bay I could see sticks and logs and miscellaneous flotsam everywhere, big stuff too. No way would I be out at night like I saw 1 person doing. As I passed the "roped off" Alton Bay beach I had a new concept of what a perched beach was. Not one held back by a wall but rather one where the perch swim to sun themselves.

[mcdude]

Mee-n-Mac:
We'd love to see a photo of those perch sunning at the beach. Were they sunning in such a way so as to look like a wall?.....a perched wall? Perhaps a photo along the lines of the one you posted of the spaceship on top of the stone tower so we could all see what this perched beach looks like?

.....and I notice that my formal name "mcdude" (my honest-to- goodness God-given name BTW) has now become a verb. I am honored.

1 mcdude \ mick ~ dewd \ v. [from the Mee-n-Mac dialect] 1: to float away in high water as in flood conditions - as in a permanent or semi-permanent object such as a dock.

Object subject to "mcduding"??????????????

[KBoater]

Does McDude go mcduding down the McDude River??

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by FLboater

Does McDude go mcduding down the McDude River??

I believe only when the water spirit moves him

ps - Good work on Chapter 5. I can see this becoming a school play ...

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by mcdude

Mee-n-Mac:
We'd love to see a photo of those perch sunning at the beach. Were they sunning in such a way so as to look like a wall?.....a perched wall?

I'll see what develops after we get back from taking Pepper's place on NCL. Meanwhile you can see a dock ala FLL, hmmm ... it's been FLL-ized, FLL-ated, FLL-???

[ApS]

It's FLL-rated! (And not too soon...it's been raining steadily since early this morning).

Those following Hurricane Wilma just found out this morning that a series of three new tropical storms are expected to combine and bring bad weather/rain to the Gulf of Maine. I missed whether they are to precede Hurricane Wilma's effects here or follow it. (Thursday's forecast mentioned a Wilma-glance of Cape Cod / Nova Scotia)

My dock is nailed and chained together, so there's no need to buy garbage cans. 'Hope Lakeport is reading these forecasts, though.


With the lake touching the dock, it's a good time to check the "levelness" of our docks. I see Mee'n'Mac's is slightly out of kilter, just as mine is.

With so much ice damage around the lake in 2002 -- and no barges available in June -- I had to fix my dock with levers, hoist-winches, and water pressure. (A water-circulater failed when some object shredded the propeller).

In my case, the ice pushed the near pilings in some. The repair couldn't lower the "near" pilings by very much.

[Lakegeezer]

During that sad boat trip to the launch for the final journey of the year, I got some shots of docks that were looking a bit low. Overall, most folks don't have to worry if the lake doesn't come up more than a few more inches.

[ghfromaltonbay]

Thanks for the picture looking out at Sandy Point. I miss the place already. Heard from our friends on Loon Island that they had to raise the boat house doors a few inches to get them out of the water. Hopefully Wilma won't dump too much more rain on the place.

[upthesaukee]

M-n-M, as I headed out to the dump, er landfill, er transfer station, I did take a look at your docks and the "sentries" were still standing tall early Sunday afternoon.


Special statement on the weather channel relating to Wilma came across the TV this afternoon : Looking at high winds and up to 2-4 inches of rain possible.

I think this link will get us to that statement.

http://www.weather.com/weather/local...from=whatwhere


And I did hear a boat night before last that sounded like it was up on plane leaving Alton bay. With all the junk out there, it would be headway speed and spotlight for me!!!!!

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Rattlesnake Guy and I took a field trip to a few dams today.

Lakeport

Lakeport II

Northfield/Tilton

Franklin

[Live Free or Die]

What a flow, I have never seen the dams running like that.....

[mcdude]

Hi RG:
Very nicely done mini-movies! Were those taken with your digital cam? McD

[Rattlesnake Gal]

I used my DiMAGE A2. (Not the video camera.) The files were much larger and better quality, but smaller files are easier for members to view.
During the commercials on Desperate Housewives, I kept running to the computer to try and upload the video to the site, without avail. At 11:00 pm R-Guy came to the rescue. The files were too large and not the right type, so he resized them. That didn't work either, so he let me upload them to his site. He is so good to me. (Unfortunately that will expire soon. )
Can video be uploaded on the forum?

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Saturday afternoon as we were heading out, we noticed many docks that have been winched up before the water level increased so dramatically. They have many posts that are in the water. Will we see more wreaked docks in the spring than usual or perhaps Wilma will make this fall debris?
Be careful everyone.

[GWC...]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Can video be uploaded on the forum?

How would you classify these? Is IG able to assisst?

http://www.rattlesnakecam.com/steamboat.htm

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

M-n-M, as I headed out to the dump, er landfill, er transfer station, I did take a look at your docks and the "sentries" were still standing tall early Sunday afternoon. {SNIP}

Thx for the check-up ! We're back from evading Wilma down Bermuda-way and will recheck this next weekend (also time to put the Mee'n'Mac away). Some other friends closed up their place this past weekend and dropped by our place. Dock hadn't "mcduded" due to Wilma remants so we're safe (for now). Forecast is good for this week though I do wonder if they'll get the lake down before it starts freezing Should get some interesting lake pics during the farewell cruise.

[hiker47]

Has the Lake level decreased enough that docks can be raised for the winter?
My dock on Morrison Cove had about six inches of water over the deck two we and about three inches last weekend. Has the Lake level decreased four inches in the last week? Also, I'm told a Mr. Fay in is charge of regulating the Lake level. What are his qualifications? Is he a cerftified hydrologist? Is a NH State employee or does he work for the owners of the dam? There are legal questions of responsibilty for damages to property if there is any negligence on the part of the dam owners or if those making dcisions are not qualified. No one has asked these questions or answered them, to the nest of my knowledge. I would like to have these answers if anyone on line can assist.
Thanks. doc

[Island Girl]

Bob Fay does an outstanding job operating that dam. If you watch the water levels, weather and all that goes into filling and emptying the lake you will see that he is eminently qualified. I am amazed that the lake is as well controlled as it is given all the migigating factors. He can't control 10-12 inches of rainfall and all the runoff.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by hiker47

Has the Lake level decreased enough that docks can be raised for the winter?
My dock on Morrison Cove had about six inches of water over the deck two we and about three inches last weekend. Has the Lake level decreased four inches in the last week? Also, I'm told a Mr. Fay in is charge of regulating the Lake level. What are his qualifications? Is he a cerftified hydrologist? Is a NH State employee or does he work for the owners of the dam? There are legal questions of responsibilty for damages to property if there is any negligence on the part of the dam owners or if those making dcisions are not qualified. No one has asked these questions or answered them, to the nest of my knowledge. I would like to have these answers if anyone on line can assist.
Thanks. doc

Bob Fay is a state employee with the NH Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by hiker47

Has the Lake level decreased enough that docks can be raised for the winter?
My dock on Morrison Cove had about six inches of water over the deck two we and about three inches last weekend. Has the Lake level decreased four inches in the last week? Also, I'm told a Mr. Fay in is charge of regulating the Lake level. What are his qualifications? Is he a cerftified hydrologist? Is a NH State employee or does he work for the owners of the dam? There are legal questions of responsibilty for damages to property if there is any negligence on the part of the dam owners or if those making dcisions are not qualified. No one has asked these questions or answered them, to the nest of my knowledge. I would like to have these answers if anyone on line can assist.
Thanks. doc

Link to previous post w/dam info, lake level ...

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...22551#poststop

[GWC...]

Originally Posted by hiker47

I would like to have these answers if anyone on line can assist. Thanks. doc

Rob has been a damn operator for decades.

If you really need answers, then contact the state.

If you are afraid of personal contact, then write DES in Concord for a response.

[hiker47]

DHR / GWC
Thank you for the information. I have no complaints with Mr. Fay, I just wanted to know his qualifications. As a NH State employee I am sure he is qualified as a hydrologist or supervised by one.

If anyone knows the Lake level at the present time (Is it down further from the weekend), I would appreciate that. I'd like to raise my dock before it winter freeze but I guess it would be cold this weekend either way. Thanks. doc

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by hiker47

If anyone knows the Lake level at the present time (Is it down further from the weekend), I would appreciate that.

At this moment the lake level is 504.70 feet. It seems to be down maybe 2 inches from this weekend. Exactly 1 week ago it was 505.08 ft so it's dropped 0.38 ft or ~4.5 inches since then. If you wish to see how high the lake was when you last saw it look at the table below and do your own computations ...

http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_data/wein3_TABLE.HTML

[fatlazyless]

Methinks it is time to dump the water out of those trash cans and to start using them for leaf hauling. Looks like the water level is back to early June levels so it's about time to get out and go boating again. Unless, you have to rake leves or shovel slush. Driving up the hill to WV was a slippery slushy mess tonight. Methinks it's time to load the bags of sand into the back of the old pickup...even though winter is still a month or more away. Water, water & more water but never even considered getting any flood insurance. Totally not needed on the big lake. It never floods over!

[ApS]

I suspect a hydrologist would know that development is a significant contributor to the rapid Winnipesaukee water level increases.

For centuries, the forests have acted like a sponge to keep the velocity of rain runoff moderated. (Providing us a clean, clear, "Class A" lake. Now it's a "B" -- and there is no "Class C").

Things have changed in the last 20 years: When you build houses, garages, mini-warehouses, dry boat-storage facilities, then pave over woodlands for parking lots, ditches, new roads, culverts and driveways, the velocity of rain runoff has to increase. The rapidity-extremes and height-extremes of the lake's rise are affected, but also the quality of water feeding into it.

That is why this thread got posted (Who's in Charge?) in General Discussions.

There don't appear to be adequate state guidelines in temporarily trapping / sequestering runoff (which resulted in both of my neighbors' leachfields being washed into the lake following rainfall from the development "upstream").

Earlier this season, photos were placed here concerning backyard "roaring rapids". I wonder what's upstream from there?

Originally Posted by GWC...

"...Rob has been a dam operator for decades..."

Would that include 1984 and 1998? (No-wake, high water)?

[spotsink]

Judging by the rate they have been able to draw down the lake over the last few weeks, and providing we do not have any more extreme rainfall events, it looks like it will be late December before they will have the lake down to the customary winter level. I wonder if they will be able to accomplish this before the ice sets in. And what are the effects downstream of the huge out flow at the dam for such an extended period? It will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks and months.

[RumGuy]

I would THINK that as long as they got the water levels down before ICE OUT, the damage would be kept minimal. They should be able to run off more water even after some ice has set in. The down side to that would be possible hollow spots in the ice, and uneven surfaces, making for dangerous snowmobiling.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

...
Earlier this season, photos were placed here concerning backyard "roaring rapids". I wonder what's upstream from there?...

That was probably my photos and comments. Upstream from my house are four houses, a fire pond with a house on its banks, a couple of homes near Alton Mt Road, then the state forest and land on the mountains behind the town of Alton.

In order for trees and grasses to absorb water, there has to be some absorbtion capability in the soil. With the volume of rain we had, twice, that capability was eliminated, and all that could happen is a run off to the lowest point in the neighborhood...which in this area happens to be Lake Winnipesaukee.

Has building increases, use of phosphates near the lake and its tributaries, and increased boat traffic contributed to the clouding of the lake. I'm sure it has. However the amount of rain we incurred in the area in a very short period of time would have overwhelmed the land regardless.

And having three years in the last 25 or so with "record" high lake heights is simply Mother Nature's way of reminding us of who's really in charge!

[johnegordon]

Thank you all for the information on the lake situation, and particularly for the web sites with lake levels.
I'm in Rochester, NY, 8 hours from Wolfeboro, and without knowing lake levels, I don't know when I can begin dock repairs.
No point in coming to look at a submerged dock.
I see that the levels are dropping slowly, but we're sending some more rain your way.
Thanks again