Lake Draw down

Rattlesnake Guy · 09-23-2007, 10:01 PM

Gal and I were at the Belknap Mill on Saturday. (A very interesting piece of history in Laconia) We noticed that the water was barely flowing past the mill. We went up up to the Lakeport dam and as you would expect, it was barley moving as well. Most of what was happening seemed to be going through the turbine building.

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-24-2007, 10:06 AM

Sorry I didn't get the shot of it flowing from the power plant.

Sal · 09-24-2007, 11:46 AM

I noticed on the lake level site, that the level dropped 6 " and then returned to where it was, within an hour or so (http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_inter...+Winnipesaukee)

How the heck did THAT happen?

chipj29 · 09-24-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sal

I noticed on the lake level site, that the level dropped 6 " and then returned to where it was, within an hour or so (http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_inter...+Winnipesaukee)

How the heck did THAT happen?

There was some discussion about that in this thread, starting around post #36.
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ead.php?t=5117

HomeWood · 09-24-2007, 05:04 PM

How do you think the level will be next week? 1st to the 7th?

Weirs guy · 09-25-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeWood

How do you think the level will be next week? 1st to the 7th?

Leave your boat on the trailor and drive it around where you want to fish. No, really. Its that low.

HomeWood · 09-29-2007, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Leave your boat on the trailor and drive it around where you want to fish. No, really. Its that low.

C'mon?? Can't be that bad.

This'nThat · 09-29-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeWood

C'mon?? Can't be that bad.

According to this, the lake is 1.5 feet below full, as of 28 September. This is not a record low; however, it is 1 standard deviation below average for this time of the year. That means that this level is reached once every 6 years or so, or about 3 times over the last 20 years.

Irish mist · 09-29-2007, 07:59 PM

We need some soaking rain.......soon. Too dry out there.
________
VAPORIZER REVIEW

HomeWood · 09-30-2007, 02:58 AM

I went boating here a month ago and the lake was down about 4.5 feet, about 5.5 now and it was fine for my type of boat. 1.5 feet below normal is fine with me. I can float in one foot with the trim up. Thanks for the tip. I'll be up tomorrow.

Weirs guy · 10-01-2007, 12:13 PM

OK, you don't need a trailor, just a shovel to get thru the channel. The mooring at the end of our beach is usually 2 foot over my head, but today if you'd like I can walk out and hand it to you at about chin depth.

SIKSUKR · 10-01-2007, 12:59 PM

I checked the lake level on the channel bridge Wed the 26th and it was exactly 18 inches down from full lake.

macshpman · 10-17-2007, 10:03 PM

Wondering what the lake level currently is at this time. Been holding off on the winterization and hoping to boat one last time before the end of the month.

Grant · 10-18-2007, 09:27 AM

The latest from Bizer's table:

10/04 Thu 2.78 - .40 65 248 CFS
10/11 Thu 2.84 - .26 65 36 CFS
10/18 Thu 2.81 - .37 58 34 CFS

Flow from dam is down to a fine trickle. Any less, and the river will be flowing back into the Lake.

Current levels found here.

Running DES chart found here.

macshpman · 10-18-2007, 10:49 AM

Thanks Grant Looks like Monday may be a decent day. May have to close shop and head to the lake. Yahooooooooooo.

Weirs guy · 10-18-2007, 12:33 PM

Remember, the rivers are at a trickle for down stream damn maintenance (Lakeport Damn is closed). Here in Franklin you can walk across the river and get a toe wet, maybe.

In a week or so when there done the stopper comes back out!

Smith Point · 10-18-2007, 08:07 PM

I would like to know when the people who control the dam will be drawing down the lake?

It is my understanding that the lake is drawn down once every 10 years. But I can’t remember the last time this happened. I can remember walking from our boat house to the dock as a kid (4 feet below normal) so people could work on their crib works, shore line, boat houses, etc.

So can anyone tell me when they plan to do it?

So we as lake front property owners (who pay a premium for our properties) can pull permits in advance to work on our properties

kchace · 10-19-2007, 12:28 PM

I highly doubt this will be happening anytime soon. A drawdown of that magnitude would have significant impact in many areas. For example, the Weirs Channel is only about 5' deep in many spots so it would be essentially dry. I imagine there would be negative environmental impacts as well.

I've been coming to the lake more than 20 years and have never heard of or seen a drawdown any greater than the normal 'low' winter levels we've been seeing. The data on Bizer's lake level page shows data from 1984-2007 and it is clear it has not happened during that timeframe.

Ken

Smith Point · 10-21-2007, 06:45 PM

Ken, I’m telling you that this was a long time ago, in the early 70s
The question still remains, do they draw down the lake every 10 Years? For shore line repairs?

Blue Thunder · 10-22-2007, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smith Point

Ken, I’m telling you that this was a long time ago, in the early 70s
The question still remains, do they draw down the lake every 10 Years? For shore line repairs?

We get a drawdown 2 out of every 9 years. November 1st will see Sebago Lake 5.5 feet below full pond. Good thing there's not too much boating as there are navigational hazards galore.

kchace · 10-22-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smith Point

Ken, I’m telling you that this was a long time ago, in the early 70s
The question still remains, do they draw down the lake every 10 Years? For shore line repairs?

Well I'd say the answer has to be no. On Bizer's website under lake level, you can see what the levels have been for every year since 1984 and none go bascially out of similar ranges. If there was a major drawdown, it would show as a line much lower than all the rest.

Ken

09-24-2007, 10:06 AM	#2
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Flowing at a Trickle - Thankfully Sorry I didn't get the shot of it flowing from the power plant.

09-29-2007, 07:59 PM	#9
Irish mist Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 686 Thanks: 128 Thanked 85 Times in 49 Posts	We need some soaking rain.......soon. Too dry out there. ________ VAPORIZER REVIEW Last edited by Irish mist; 02-27-2011 at 10:59 PM.

10-01-2007, 12:13 PM	#11
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	OK, you don't need a trailor, just a shovel to get thru the channel. The mooring at the end of our beach is usually 2 foot over my head, but today if you'd like I can walk out and hand it to you at about chin depth. __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

10-01-2007, 12:59 PM	#12
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	I checked the lake level on the channel bridge Wed the 26th and it was exactly 18 inches down from full lake. __________________ SIKSUKR

10-17-2007, 10:03 PM	#13
macshpman Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern NH Posts: 32 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Starting to have withdrawals Wondering what the lake level currently is at this time. Been holding off on the winterization and hoping to boat one last time before the end of the month.

09-23-2007, 10:01 PM	#1
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	Gal and I were at the Belknap Mill on Saturday. (A very interesting piece of history in Laconia) We noticed that the water was barely flowing past the mill. We went up up to the Lakeport dam and as you would expect, it was barley moving as well. Most of what was happening seemed to be going through the turbine building.

09-24-2007, 11:46 AM	#3
Sal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 311 Thanks: 103 Thanked 169 Times in 53 Posts	big dip in the level I noticed on the lake level site, that the level dropped 6 " and then returned to where it was, within an hour or so (http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_inter...+Winnipesaukee) How the heck did THAT happen?

09-24-2007, 05:04 PM	#5
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	How do you think the level will be next week? 1st to the 7th?

09-30-2007, 02:58 AM	#10
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	I went boating here a month ago and the lake was down about 4.5 feet, about 5.5 now and it was fine for my type of boat. 1.5 feet below normal is fine with me. I can float in one foot with the trim up. Thanks for the tip. I'll be up tomorrow.

10-18-2007, 09:27 AM	#14
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,504 Thanks: 382 Thanked 231 Times in 125 Posts	The latest from Bizer's table: 10/04 Thu 2.78 - .40 65 248 CFS 10/11 Thu 2.84 - .26 65 36 CFS 10/18 Thu 2.81 - .37 58 34 CFS Flow from dam is down to a fine trickle. Any less, and the river will be flowing back into the Lake. Current levels found here. Running DES chart found here. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

10-18-2007, 10:49 AM	#15
macshpman Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern NH Posts: 32 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks Thanks Grant Looks like Monday may be a decent day. May have to close shop and head to the lake. Yahooooooooooo.

10-18-2007, 12:33 PM	#16
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Remember, the rivers are at a trickle for down stream damn maintenance (Lakeport Damn is closed). Here in Franklin you can walk across the river and get a toe wet, maybe. In a week or so when there done the stopper comes back out! __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

10-18-2007, 08:07 PM	#17
Smith Point Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Smith Point/ Bangor ME Posts: 195 Thanks: 198 Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts	I would like to know when the people who control the dam will be drawing down the lake? It is my understanding that the lake is drawn down once every 10 years. But I can’t remember the last time this happened. I can remember walking from our boat house to the dock as a kid (4 feet below normal) so people could work on their crib works, shore line, boat houses, etc. So can anyone tell me when they plan to do it? So we as lake front property owners (who pay a premium for our properties) can pull permits in advance to work on our properties

10-19-2007, 12:28 PM	#18
kchace Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Brookline and Moultonborough NH Posts: 100 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I highly doubt this will be happening anytime soon. A drawdown of that magnitude would have significant impact in many areas. For example, the Weirs Channel is only about 5' deep in many spots so it would be essentially dry. I imagine there would be negative environmental impacts as well. I've been coming to the lake more than 20 years and have never heard of or seen a drawdown any greater than the normal 'low' winter levels we've been seeing. The data on Bizer's lake level page shows data from 1984-2007 and it is clear it has not happened during that timeframe. Ken

10-21-2007, 06:45 PM	#19
Smith Point Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Smith Point/ Bangor ME Posts: 195 Thanks: 198 Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts	Ken, I’m telling you that this was a long time ago, in the early 70s The question still remains, do they draw down the lake every 10 Years? For shore line repairs?