Lake Level

[jeffk]

Winnipesaukee is now 6" over full pool. The dam is only running at 1000 CFS, probably because downstream is already very high as well. At that rate it could take a couple weeks to get rid of the excess 6".

The good thing is that there is almost no rain in the 10 day forecast and maybe if downstream starts to recede, the dam can be opened up further.

[Descant]

The first trip to camp, it's always fun to say: "Wow! Look how high the water is." I wish we could have full pool August 1st instead of June, and keep it up a bit until Oct. 15.

[fatlazyless]

Yeah, my 30' x 5" olde, antique, aluminum dock has always been low to the water, plus it is a vintage 1950's or 1960's aluminum dock dissimilar from any other dock, ever made in the world history of aluminum docks.

If I was to install it into Lake Winnipesaukee today, it will be underwater by about two inches, and will need the hold-down weight of ten 30-lb concrete blocks and a 32-gal trash barrel loaded with water, 256-lbs, to keep it in place from incoming wakes and waves.

Think I will await the lowering of the water level till May 1 before installing it, and start to consider replacing it with a crank-up, elevated in winter, type of aluminum dock that has become very popular on Lake Winnipesaukee in recent years.

[LIforrelaxin]

From the DES web site this morning, there are going to go up to 1300 cfs, and Winnisquam is going to release 1550 cfs....

The dam operators are earning their paychecks this year....

If the weather stays clear this week, hopefully they will be able increase the outflow even further.....

[ApS]

Originally Posted by jeffk

Winnipesaukee is now 6" over full pool. The dam is only running at 1000 CFS, probably because downstream is already very high as well. At that rate it could take a couple weeks to get rid of the excess 6". The good thing is that there is almost no rain in the 10 day forecast and maybe if downstream starts to recede, the dam can be opened up further.

For every inch the lake climbs, lakewater creeps underneath our feet. Clay and topsoil are pulled out to arrive on the bottom as nourishment for algae growth.

[jeffk]

As of this morning, Winnipesaukee is just about at "Full Pool". It has taken 3 weeks to get rid of the excess water. The mean level for this date is about 2" less. So the lake is just about where it typically is for this date. There is only about 1/3 inch of rain in the forecast for the next 10 days. I would expect the Lakeport Dam operators to lower the output, which is currently 1550 CFS, to allow the downstream lakes, which are still quite high, to drop a bit.

[fatlazyless]

On April 26 the NH Marine Patrol issued a no-wake order on Silver Lake in the Winnipesaukee River in Belmont ...... https://nhsp.dos.nh.gov/news-and-med...lake-belmont-1 ..... until the water level drops down to 467.0 feet above sea level.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by jeffk

As of this morning, Winnipesaukee is just about at "Full Pool". It has taken 3 weeks to get rid of the excess water. The mean level for this date is about 2" less. So the lake is just about where it typically is for this date. There is only about 1/3 inch of rain in the forecast for the next 10 days. I would expect the Lakeport Dam operators to lower the output, which is currently 1550 CFS, to allow the downstream lakes, which are still quite high, to drop a bit.

My guess is the current rate of outflow will continue until the lake hits the mean level.... That is the level they aim for because it gives them a decent guardband to work with moving forward.... Hopefully that will happen sometime this week... Now the question become how much can they throttle back the outflow and still keep that level...... hopefully they can get it to a point that allows the lakes down stream to fall as well....

[jeffk]

The operations note today indicate the Lakeport Dam flow will be reduced by 200 CFS a day for the next 3 days ending up at 900 CFS.

Winnisquam is still about 7" over it's normal high level.
Winnisquam Dam output will also be reduced by 600 CFS over 3 days.

Silver Lake dropped several inches today to it's No Wake level and is expected to drop total of about a foot with today's drop plus the next couple of days.

[LIforrelaxin]

Just checked this morning, the lake appears to still be dropping, and they have cut the dam discharge back out of Winnipesaukee, and Winnisquam is starting to re-act and lower itself as well....

Now if we can continue to have dry weather... things will hopefully stabilize, and they will get the dam closed down even more...

[John Mercier]

Raining in Bristol.

[jeffk]

As of this morning, both Winnipesaukee and Silver Lake are within an inch or so of their nominal "high" levels. Winnisquam is still over its "high" level (~5 inches) but at the current rate of decline should drop to it's "high" level sometime next week. We DO expect over an inch of rain next week over a 5 day period, but that should be quite manageable.

[jeffk]

As of today, the levels of Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam, and Silver Lake are all close to their normal high levels and their Means for this time of year. About 1 3/4 inches of rain is predicted over the next 10 days but that should not be a big problem to manage unless the rain continues at high rates past then. Lakeport Dam ouput is at a fairly sedate 700 CFS.

[rick35]

My knees tell me that the lake level is going down fast. Getting in and out of the boat is becoming more difficult especially at the Meredith docks which is always tough this time of year. In contrast the Shep Browns docks are just right but it is also the reason the dock is frequently under water in May. Just for kicks I checked the Weirs observation levels for the past few years and we're about 5 inches lower than last year but consistent with 2022.

9/8/
2024 503.2 ft
2023 503.5
2022 503.3
2021 503.6

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by rick35

My knees tell me that the lake level is going down fast. Getting in and out of the boat is becoming more difficult especially at the Meredith docks which is always tough this time of year. In contrast the Shep Browns docks are just right but it is also the reason the dock is frequently under water in May. Just for kicks I checked the Weirs observation levels for the past few years and we're about 5 inches lower than last year but consistent with 2022.

9/8/
2024 503.2 ft
2023 503.5
2022 503.3
2021 503.6

My knees are telling me, winter's coming.

[Garcia]

Originally Posted by rick35

My knees tell me that the lake level is going down fast. Getting in and out of the boat is becoming more difficult especially at the Meredith docks which is always tough this time of year. In contrast the Shep Browns docks are just right but it is also the reason the dock is frequently under water in May. Just for kicks I checked the Weirs observation levels for the past few years and we're about 5 inches lower than last year but consistent with 2022.

9/8/
2024 503.2 ft
2023 503.5
2022 503.3
2021 503.6

I thought my knees were telling me I'm getting old and carrying too much weight. Glad it's just the lake level!

[rick35]

Originally Posted by Garcia

I thought my knees were telling me I'm getting old and carrying too much weight. Glad it's just the lake level!

That too! My wife has had one knee replacement and is thinking she may need the other done. After we went into town for lunch the other day she said that would be her last time to town by boat this season. It's just too much of a step.

[Descant]

In the 50's we had a custom made step stool with a long handle so you could reach over the boat gunwale to retrieve it once you were on board. I have seen similar in retirement communities where the tall handle was used for balance as you step up into bed.

[rick35]

Thanks for the idea. While shopping for one of those I found a narrow step stool that will fit in the walk through. And it's taller. The other option is a folding plastic step but there's nothing to hold onto. Too bad Amazon doesn't deliver to the island.

[Descant]

My daughter has a folding plastic step stool in her boat. It breaks if you jump instead of easing onto it gradually, or if you put weight on your toe in the middle instead of flatfoot to spread the load. It will slide if the surface is wet and you don't step squarely.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by rick35

Thanks for the idea. While shopping for one of those I found a narrow step stool that will fit in the walk through. And it's taller. The other option is a folding plastic step but there's nothing to hold onto. Too bad Amazon doesn't deliver to the island.

Taylor makes some really great boat steps! I have the two step design in my Eastern and have had it for years. Works great! Very rugged and sturdy! The also have a handrail accessory you can add to the side...

https://www.taylormadeproducts.com/p...fe-dock-steps/

Dan

[rick35]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Taylor makes some really great boat steps! I have the two step design in my Eastern and have had it for years. Works great! Very rugged and sturdy! The also have a handrail accessory you can add to the side...

https://www.taylormadeproducts.com/p...fe-dock-steps/

Dan

I've seen those but it's too big for my boat. Thanks.

[tummyman]

We bought this as we had no way to get down from the side of our boat. Works fabulous. Can hold up to 500 pounds, etc. etc. Everyone in the family uses it and it is also a spare seat for one of the grandkids. Tip it upside down and it can be used as a tote.


https://www.zoro.com/vestil-1-step-p...ctid=248708719

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by rick35

That too! My wife has had one knee replacement and is thinking she may need the other done. After we went into town for lunch the other day she said that would be her last time to town by boat this season. It's just too much of a step.

That's why I got rid of my bowrider and bought a pontoon. It's much easier, at our age, for my wife and I to get in and out of and much easier to take care of.