lake level - Page 2

NHskier · 09-07-2025, 04:59 PM

Most recent DES report for Lakeport:

Winnipesaukee Operations
Saturday, September 6, 7 AM readings

The level of Lake Winnipesaukee is 502.24 (504.32 is full level).
The flow rate is 250 cfs.

That’s 25 inches down from full!

Asloren1 · 09-08-2025, 07:42 AM

I think that’s a typo on the operations update page - based on the chart data, it should be 502.74 not 502.24 (see image).

If it was 502.24 then that would be a dramatic drop from the recent measurements

ishoot308 · 09-08-2025, 09:03 AM

Pulled the pontoon and the Jet Ski over the weekend. Water was getting too low for the Jet Ski lift and the bow of the pontoon was starting to get too close to the bottom with only 4" + or - of water. With no rain in the forecast whatsoever for the next 10 days, it only made sense to do it now.

We have room for one boat at our dock so the Eastern will be staying in until we close camp late October / early November.

Short boating season this year thanks to Mother Nature!

Dan

camp guy · 09-08-2025, 10:07 AM

Sad day, I'm sorry, Dan.
David

WinnisquamZ · 09-08-2025, 10:36 AM

Never a sad day when one’s on the lake

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

tis · 09-08-2025, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Pulled the pontoon and the Jet Ski over the weekend. Water was getting too low for the Jet Ski lift and the bow of the pontoon was starting to get too close to the bottom with only 4" + or - of water. With no rain in the forecast whatsoever for the next 10 days, it only made sense to do it now.

We have room for one boat at our dock so the Eastern will be staying in until we close camp late October / early November.

Short boating season this year thanks to Mother Nature!

Dan

We had the same issue.

LIforrelaxin · 09-08-2025, 01:49 PM

Ok so the first time I am not missing the lake, I would have pulled my boat already..... Down here in Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard is full down less the half a foot, do to a unbelievable wet summer..... And at this point, we have survived the hottest part of the year, and now we are entering the enjoyable summer season.... so time for some boating....

I know I know not nice, but I just can't help it...... I miss New England and the lake.... but right now, with the low water not as much......

ishoot308 · 09-08-2025, 06:36 PM

As of today, the lake is 18 3/4” below full pool….

Dan

ApS · 09-08-2025, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Never a sad day when one’s on the lake

A neighbor's wake boat is off its hydraulic lift and out at the mooring. This mooring has kept his Jet-Ski safe all summer.

Sue Doe-Nym · 09-08-2025, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Pulled the pontoon and the Jet Ski over the weekend. Water was getting too low for the Jet Ski lift and the bow of the pontoon was starting to get too close to the bottom with only 4" + or - of water. With no rain in the forecast whatsoever for the next 10 days, it only made sense to do it now.

We have room for one boat at our dock so the Eastern will be staying in until we close camp late October / early November.

Short boating season this year thanks to Mother Nature!

Dan

Very sad day for you. We had to pull boat and jetskis the last day of August. Makes me sad for everyone who ordinarily enjoys September on the water…it’s a great time of year…..peaceful, not crowded, warm water, just perfect. Hopefully next season’s lake level won’t be a repeat of 2025. 🤞

jeffk · Yesterday, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

As of today, the lake is 18 3/4” below full pool….

Dan

Just for clarity, the 40+ year mean (i.e."normal") level of the lake is 11" less than full pool at this time of year. The excess drop is 7 3/4". Bad enough, but not almost 19".

Biggd · Yesterday, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffk

Just for clarity, the 40+ year mean (i.e."normal") level of the lake is 11" less than full pool at this time of year. The excess drop is 7 3/4". Bad enough, but not almost 19".

Is this looking at the glass "half full" as opposed to "half empty"?

ishoot308 · Yesterday, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffk

Just for clarity, the 40+ year mean (i.e."normal") level of the lake is 11" less than full pool at this time of year. The excess drop is 7 3/4". Bad enough, but not almost 19".

As I stated, the lake is almost (18 3/4") below "full pool"...Full pool being elevation 504.32' I did not say from normal...Since "normal" is an average and fluctuates year to year and "full pool" is a given and determined elevation, most people only care about how low the lake is from full...at least I do.

Next years "average" will be lowered when they include this years low water level...

Dan

Descant · Yesterday, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Ok so the first time I am not missing the lake, I would have pulled my boat already..... Down here in Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard is full down less the half a foot, do to a unbelievable wet summer..... And at this point, we have survived the hottest part of the year, and now we are entering the enjoyable summer season.... so time for some boating....

I know I know not nice, but I just can't help it...... I miss New England and the lake.... but right now, with the low water not as much......

I think these updates on Lake Ray Hubbard belong in the new paid members only section.

John Mercier · Yesterday, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffk

Just for clarity, the 40+ year mean (i.e."normal") level of the lake is 11" less than full pool at this time of year. The excess drop is 7 3/4". Bad enough, but not almost 19".

Is that the target? 11" below full pool at this time of year?

BillTex · Yesterday, 11:23 AM

As noted earlier, we are on another ( very nearby) dam controlled lake and are not having any of these issues.
Kind of curious isn’t it?

John Mercier · Yesterday, 12:03 PM

Which lake?
Is it part of the Winnipesaukee Watershed?

It may have a different management system based on those specific needs.

jeffk · Today, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Is that the target? 11" below full pool at this time of year?

It is my understanding that they use the 40+ year mean as a guideline to aim for. Other factors also weigh in. For example, in the Spring, downstream flooding concerns may cause the dam management to let the lake to go higher than the "target". They draw down starting in June to gradually prepare for Spring snowmelt and rain but that is done over 6 months and may deviate for a while and recover later.

It is a good question if the mean, which reflects past management choices of the dam and the weather, is a "good" target. However, if not, what should it be? Any changes would have both positive and negative impacts in a complex system. Further, we are accommodated to the current system. We usually know what to expect and, mostly, how to deal with it.

There are also lots of stakeholders in the dam management decisions, with sometimes conflicting needs. Any changes might fix some problems and create even bigger ones, some we don't envision with consequences that could be hard to fix. Any discussions would involve people who have a stake in the outcome that could push the outcome in a specific direction that, overall, would satisfy them but cause an uproar after the full impact of any changes are felt. A "political" decision made now might be a bad one 2 years from now. Even turning it over to "experts" might fail to understand all factors.

That doesn't mean we should be paralyzed, just cautious.

09-07-2025, 04:59 PM	#101
NHskier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 294 Thanks: 45 Thanked 37 Times in 34 Posts	Most recent DES report for Lakeport: Winnipesaukee Operations Saturday, September 6, 7 AM readings The level of Lake Winnipesaukee is 502.24 (504.32 is full level). The flow rate is 250 cfs. That’s 25 inches down from full! __________________ NHskier

09-08-2025, 07:42 AM	#102
Asloren1 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 16 Thanks: 16 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	I think that’s a typo on the operations update page - based on the chart data, it should be 502.74 not 502.24 (see image). If it was 502.24 then that would be a dramatic drop from the recent measurements Attached Images

09-08-2025, 09:03 AM	#103
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,341 Thanks: 2,412 Thanked 5,336 Times in 2,085 Posts	Boats Pulled Pulled the pontoon and the Jet Ski over the weekend. Water was getting too low for the Jet Ski lift and the bow of the pontoon was starting to get too close to the bottom with only 4" + or - of water. With no rain in the forecast whatsoever for the next 10 days, it only made sense to do it now. We have room for one boat at our dock so the Eastern will be staying in until we close camp late October / early November. Short boating season this year thanks to Mother Nature! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

09-08-2025, 10:07 AM	#104
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,195 Thanks: 303 Thanked 529 Times in 296 Posts	lake level Sad day, I'm sorry, Dan. David

09-08-2025, 01:49 PM	#107
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,895 Thanks: 1,042 Thanked 897 Times in 529 Posts	Ok so the first time I am not missing the lake, I would have pulled my boat already..... Down here in Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard is full down less the half a foot, do to a unbelievable wet summer..... And at this point, we have survived the hottest part of the year, and now we are entering the enjoyable summer season.... so time for some boating.... I know I know not nice, but I just can't help it...... I miss New England and the lake.... but right now, with the low water not as much...... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

09-08-2025, 10:36 AM	#105
WinnisquamZ Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2,105 Thanks: 214 Thanked 675 Times in 448 Posts	Never a sad day when one’s on the lake Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

09-08-2025, 06:36 PM	#108
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,341 Thanks: 2,412 Thanked 5,336 Times in 2,085 Posts	Lake Level As of today, the lake is 18 3/4” below full pool…. Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
LIforrelaxin (Yesterday), tummyman (Yesterday)

Yesterday, 11:23 AM	#116
BillTex Senior Member Join Date: May 2024 Location: Freedom (state of mind) Posts: 72 Thanks: 14 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts	As noted earlier, we are on another ( very nearby) dam controlled lake and are not having any of these issues. Kind of curious isn’t it?

Yesterday, 12:03 PM	#117
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,513 Thanks: 3 Thanked 621 Times in 512 Posts	Which lake? Is it part of the Winnipesaukee Watershed? It may have a different management system based on those specific needs.