Flood Watch

Resident 2B · 04-08-2009, 11:06 AM

Adding to the rapid rise in the lake are the high water levels downstream in Silver Lake and Winnisquam forcing the dam operators to reduce Winnipesaukee outflow twice the past two days. Outflow is now at 1,265 CFS, which is down from 1,800 CFS, with the estimated inflow at 3,700 CFS.

The folks at the Dam Bureau are increasing the flow at the Lochmere Dam to 1,900 CFS today and that should reduce the level of Winnisquam a bit. The level at both Silver Lake and Winnisquam will need to drop some before the flow at the Lakeport Dam can be increased.

Looking at the flow rates, until they can increase the Lakeport outflow, we will be adding about 2,500 CFS to Winnipesaukee, which is a lot of water. Winnipesauke will continue to rise until the Lakeport Dam flow can be increased.

What we do not need right now and for the next week is a heavy rain storm. The Friday night into Saturday system looks like it will be heavier in southern New England than in the Lakes Region. It will likely start as snow

in the Lakes Region on Friday night and change to rain on Saturday. If this happens, the snow should absorb a lot of the rain spreading the effects of the system out over several days unless the rain washes away all the snow.

The people at the Dam Bureau have a very tough job doing this balancing act.

R2B

Resident 2B · 04-09-2009, 04:19 PM

The weather system for Friday and Saturday looks to be going mainly south of us with very little rain/snow. The flow at Lakeport has been increased to 1,500 CFS. The lake is now within a tenth of a foot of "full pool" by my gage and it is still rising, but at a much reduced rate.

The increase in outflow and the rather minor rain/snow event for Friday night into Saturday are all good news. However, it looks to me that we will go over "full pool" by some amount.

R2B

gtxrider · 04-13-2009, 01:27 PM

The lake flooding, fire in Alton Bay what's next?

Resident 2B · 04-13-2009, 02:27 PM

There is some good news in that the lake has not flooded yet, and it is looking like we are into a dry spell that should result in a drop in lake level this week. Looking at my dock, I think that drop has already begun.

The lake level was rising rapidly to just about full pool. It then stopped rising and looks to be dropping a bit.

Too bad about the fire in Alton Bay. Tough time, especailly on Easter Sunday.

R2B

04-08-2009, 11:06 AM	#1
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 996 Thanked 314 Times in 164 Posts	Reduced Flow at the Lakeport Dam Adding to the rapid rise in the lake are the high water levels downstream in Silver Lake and Winnisquam forcing the dam operators to reduce Winnipesaukee outflow twice the past two days. Outflow is now at 1,265 CFS, which is down from 1,800 CFS, with the estimated inflow at 3,700 CFS. The folks at the Dam Bureau are increasing the flow at the Lochmere Dam to 1,900 CFS today and that should reduce the level of Winnisquam a bit. The level at both Silver Lake and Winnisquam will need to drop some before the flow at the Lakeport Dam can be increased. Looking at the flow rates, until they can increase the Lakeport outflow, we will be adding about 2,500 CFS to Winnipesaukee, which is a lot of water. Winnipesauke will continue to rise until the Lakeport Dam flow can be increased. What we do not need right now and for the next week is a heavy rain storm. The Friday night into Saturday system looks like it will be heavier in southern New England than in the Lakes Region. It will likely start as snow in the Lakes Region on Friday night and change to rain on Saturday. If this happens, the snow should absorb a lot of the rain spreading the effects of the system out over several days unless the rain washes away all the snow. The people at the Dam Bureau have a very tough job doing this balancing act. R2B

04-09-2009, 04:19 PM	#2
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 996 Thanked 314 Times in 164 Posts	Full pool The weather system for Friday and Saturday looks to be going mainly south of us with very little rain/snow. The flow at Lakeport has been increased to 1,500 CFS. The lake is now within a tenth of a foot of "full pool" by my gage and it is still rising, but at a much reduced rate. The increase in outflow and the rather minor rain/snow event for Friday night into Saturday are all good news. However, it looks to me that we will go over "full pool" by some amount. R2B

04-13-2009, 01:27 PM	#3
gtxrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Piscataway, NJ Posts: 1,030 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 24 Posts	what next? The lake flooding, fire in Alton Bay what's next?

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Resident 2B For This Useful Post:
islandAl (04-09-2009), moose tracks (04-09-2009)

04-13-2009, 02:27 PM	#4
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,358 Thanks: 996 Thanked 314 Times in 164 Posts	There is some good news in that the lake has not flooded yet, and it is looking like we are into a dry spell that should result in a drop in lake level this week. Looking at my dock, I think that drop has already begun. The lake level was rising rapidly to just about full pool. It then stopped rising and looks to be dropping a bit. Too bad about the fire in Alton Bay. Tough time, especailly on Easter Sunday. R2B