Low Winni Water Level

jeffk · 04-28-2023, 05:58 AM

It's great that the dam operators realized that they need to dump some water. I suspect they have been constrained by downstream flooding concerns. Winnisquam is over its normal high level and Silver Lake is full.

At the current dam flow rate, ~640 CFS, it will drop Winnipesaukee (VERY rough calculation based on the max 1920 CFS rate dropping the lake about an inch per day) about 1/3 inch a day, taking about a week to drop the extra couple inches in the lake right now.

The problem is, the next week is predicted to be VERY rainy, with almost 3 inches of rain forecast. With runoff, that could raise the lake 6 inches, or more. That puts us into possible "No Wake" considerations. With the downstream impacted by the rain as well, the Lakeport dam operators are constrained as to how much they can dump. An additional 6 inches of water could take an additional 6 weeks to drain at the current flow rate. Addition Spring rain over that 6 weeks could complicate things even more.

The dam operators have limited choices right now.

Blame Mother Nature. Let the moaning and groaning begin.

04-28-2023, 05:58 AM	#8
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,245 Thanks: 216 Thanked 483 Times in 277 Posts	It's great that the dam operators realized that they need to dump some water. I suspect they have been constrained by downstream flooding concerns. Winnisquam is over its normal high level and Silver Lake is full. At the current dam flow rate, ~640 CFS, it will drop Winnipesaukee (VERY rough calculation based on the max 1920 CFS rate dropping the lake about an inch per day) about 1/3 inch a day, taking about a week to drop the extra couple inches in the lake right now. The problem is, the next week is predicted to be VERY rainy, with almost 3 inches of rain forecast. With runoff, that could raise the lake 6 inches, or more. That puts us into possible "No Wake" considerations. With the downstream impacted by the rain as well, the Lakeport dam operators are constrained as to how much they can dump. An additional 6 inches of water could take an additional 6 weeks to drain at the current flow rate. Addition Spring rain over that 6 weeks could complicate things even more. The dam operators have limited choices right now. Blame Mother Nature. Let the moaning and groaning begin.