Low Water Level Warning...

MeredithMan · 09-11-2020, 11:25 AM

Just passing on the notice that came today from Watermark....

Quote:

2nd NOTICE - 2020 Drought Continues!
We continue to experience a “Moderate” drought here in the Lakes Region
and a “Severe” drought in southern New Hampshire.

We are only inches away from the lowest Winnipesaukee
water levels recorded since 1982!!!

As of September 10th, Lake Winnipesaukee is approximately 16 inches below full and most of the other lakes in the Lakes Region are in a similar condition. The present Winnipesaukee level is “average” for November and December!

These are extremely low water conditions for this time of year and we want to make sure our customers don't end up in a bind.

IMPORTANT: For those of you with boatlifts in shallow water, you will need to consider getting the boat off the lift as soon as possible and either putting it away for the season or making other docking arrangements. PLEASE, act soon before there is an issue...

Winilyme · 09-11-2020, 09:43 PM

Precisely what does one do if you’re left high and dry, boat on lift, end of season?

Descant · 09-11-2020, 10:19 PM

Pull the boat and the lift ASAP .LOL. Hope for high water in the spring and a full lake NWZ.

rick35 · 09-12-2020, 07:36 AM

And if you're docking at the town dock at Shep Browns make sure to trim way up. I parked about half way down the dock last night and didn't have much clearance under the prop (and my boat is small). And if big waves hit you will likely bottom out. It's time for the town to do some minor dredging as years of runoff and powering onto trailers has caused it to be seriously uneven. I need to give thanks to DPW as all the broken or missing posts have finally been replaced. If the town won't spend money on improvements they should at least keep what we have usable.

rick35 · 09-12-2020, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winilyme

Precisely what does one do if you’re left high and dry, boat on lift, end of season?

I think that happened in 2016 but I never heard how it was resolved. I remember photos of a stranded boat which I think belonged to someone who had been away and came back to the problem. And I remember hearing about a boat stuck in a boat house. WMUR covered it (low water) so there are probably some videos on YouTube.

upthesaukee · 09-12-2020, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick35

I think that happened in 2016 but I never heard how it was resolved. I remember photos of a stranded boat which I think belonged to someone who had been away and came back to the problem. And I remember hearing about a boat stuck in a boat house. WMUR covered it (low water) so there are probably some videos on YouTube.

We were docking at a private dock in Smith's Cove in Glendale several years ago. We went away for a week, and when we came home we were grounded. Tried to get ungrounded myself to no avail. Called Towboat US (had coverage with them) (Seatow would have done the same thing) and they slowly pulled me back and got me ungrounded. After completing the paper work, I headed to Alton Bay, tied up to the town Docks, got my trailer and pulled the boat. Season over.

Very minor scratches on the bottom.

Dave

Island Girl · 09-13-2020, 06:29 AM

Can you post the images of the lake levels from 2000, 2001, and 2002. I think it was 2000 that the lake was extraordinarily low. I had the image somewhere but cannot find it.

Thanks
IG

MIKE RGR · 09-13-2020, 07:11 AM

Island Girl

This site may be what you are looking for

https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/...vels/index.htm

take care
mike

Island Girl · 09-14-2020, 06:05 AM

I am looking for the year 2000, Bizer chart. Des goes back to 2006., but thanks.

LIforrelaxin · 09-18-2020, 10:41 AM

Oh how these time try us. My favorite time of the year to be at the lake and on the water, and it is getting so low.... I was up here 10 days ago, and things looked alright... And then I saw they opened the dam up another 100 cfs to 350 cfs, and have watched it drop since them. Looking at the level today, I still feel my boat is fine.... But if they lake keeps droping at the rate it has over the last 10 days, I may not be able to leave it in past next weekend.

Oh how I hope at some point today they slow the flow out of the lake... Winnisquam and silver lake are back where they should be so their is now reason to be any higher then the required 250 cfs... now....

MAXUM · 09-18-2020, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Oh how these time try us. My favorite time of the year to be at the lake and on the water, and it is getting so low.... I was up here 10 days ago, and things looked alright... And then I saw they opened the dam up another 100 cfs to 350 cfs, and have watched it drop since them. Looking at the level today, I still feel my boat is fine.... But if they lake keeps droping at the rate it has over the last 10 days, I may not be able to leave it in past next weekend.

Oh how I hope at some point today they slow the flow out of the lake... Winnisquam and silver lake are back where they should be so their is now reason to be any higher then the required 250 cfs... now....

On the plus side I'm pulling my dock this weekend so I only have to get half as wet as I usually do!

The water temps are on their way down... last check it was 68 on Wednesday and it was a cold rainy night last night so it's probably dropped another degree or two.

09-11-2020, 09:43 PM	#2
Winilyme Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Ice in = CT / Ice out = Winnipesaukee Posts: 488 Thanks: 132 Thanked 293 Times in 157 Posts	??? Precisely what does one do if you’re left high and dry, boat on lift, end of season?

09-11-2020, 10:19 PM	#3
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,346 Thanks: 1,339 Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,054 Posts	Hi and dry? Pull the boat and the lift ASAP .LOL. Hope for high water in the spring and a full lake NWZ.

09-13-2020, 06:29 AM	#7
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Hey, Bizer... Can you post the images of the lake levels from 2000, 2001, and 2002. I think it was 2000 that the lake was extraordinarily low. I had the image somewhere but cannot find it. Thanks IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

09-13-2020, 07:11 AM	#8
MIKE RGR Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 26 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Graphs Island Girl This site may be what you are looking for https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/...vels/index.htm take care mike

09-14-2020, 06:05 AM	#9
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	2000 I am looking for the year 2000, Bizer chart. Des goes back to 2006., but thanks. __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

The Following User Says Thank You to MeredithMan For This Useful Post:
ACME on the Broads (09-13-2020)

09-12-2020, 07:36 AM	#4
rick35 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Bear Island/Merrimack Posts: 807 Thanks: 58 Thanked 203 Times in 130 Posts	And if you're docking at the town dock at Shep Browns make sure to trim way up. I parked about half way down the dock last night and didn't have much clearance under the prop (and my boat is small). And if big waves hit you will likely bottom out. It's time for the town to do some minor dredging as years of runoff and powering onto trailers has caused it to be seriously uneven. I need to give thanks to DPW as all the broken or missing posts have finally been replaced. If the town won't spend money on improvements they should at least keep what we have usable.

The Following User Says Thank You to rick35 For This Useful Post:
ACME on the Broads (09-13-2020)

09-18-2020, 10:41 AM	#10
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,871 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	Oh how these time try us. My favorite time of the year to be at the lake and on the water, and it is getting so low.... I was up here 10 days ago, and things looked alright... And then I saw they opened the dam up another 100 cfs to 350 cfs, and have watched it drop since them. Looking at the level today, I still feel my boat is fine.... But if they lake keeps droping at the rate it has over the last 10 days, I may not be able to leave it in past next weekend. Oh how I hope at some point today they slow the flow out of the lake... Winnisquam and silver lake are back where they should be so their is now reason to be any higher then the required 250 cfs... now.... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....