Asleep At the Dam?

T.H.E. Binz · 05-18-2011, 02:34 PM

Didn't the Lakeport dam operator look at the weather forecast for this week? My neighbor's dock is about to float away and so will several others. The Marine Patrol should issue a no-wake for this weekend like they had to do last time the lake was several inches above full lake elevation.

BroadHopper · 05-18-2011, 03:22 PM

He has a tough job. He has to consder the Opechee, Winnisquam and Silver Lakes that the water flows into. As well as the communitees along the Winnipesaukee River, such as Laconia, Tilton and Franklin.

I believe no-wake was ordered on Silver Lake a short time ago.

Even if the dam is wide open, there can only be so much water that can flow over the dam.

I have faith in the way the govt controls the dam. My boat is docked on the river in Lakeport!

tis · 05-18-2011, 05:34 PM

Yes, the water has come up quite a bit in the last couple of days!

Lakesrider · 05-18-2011, 05:37 PM

The water is getting up there. Only about 4 inches below my docks, but water is not going into the basement like it does when the lake is really high in the Spring some years. I noticed a few docks that had Barrels on them. Most likely filled with water for weight to keep the docks down..
Heck of a week.

DRH · 05-18-2011, 06:34 PM

According to Bizer's website (www.bizer.com), the lake is only about 4 inches above normal as of Monday 5/16.

trfour · 05-18-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.H.E. Binz

Didn't the Lakeport dam operator look at the weather forecast for this week? My neighbor's dock is about to float away and so will several others. The Marine Patrol should issue a no-wake for this weekend like they had to do last time the lake was several inches above full lake elevation.

Just a reminder that The LakePort dam operators have a much larger responsibility than Lake Winnipesaukee, when flood conditions can effect all of those directly down river through a large part of our State.
For those that didn't copy all of the snow and wet weather that we got over the 2010-2011 winter months, ( and it ain't over yet ), either.

For any of those who would like to complain about our Lakeport dam operators, just take a look down river from here at what they are having to deal with.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/articl...ss-1384369.php

Oh how kids love to complain!

No fine print interpretation needed.

Terry
____________________________________

Bear Island South · 05-19-2011, 05:50 AM

05/18/2011 16:00 504.63

I don't think 504.63 is any cause for concern at this point, maybe if it gets over 505, even then I don't think you will see a "no wake on the lake"

Rattlesnake Guy · 05-19-2011, 07:17 AM

It is an impossible job to do perfectly. Imagine if they had pre drained the lake and we had a dry spring and summer. We would then be unhappy with the lack of water. The Bizer graph that DRH linked looks like nothing extraordinary is going on.

Rattlesnake Gal · 05-19-2011, 07:26 AM

I'm finding it frustrating that the Lake Winnipesaukee Lake Level Data graph hasn't been updated since Monday. Maybe it is being updated, but they forgot to update the date at the bottom?

Yesterdays Current Watershed Operations Information stated the following:

Winnipesaukee

The level of Lake Winnipesaukee is at 504.62. The discharge at Lakeport Dam is 816 cfs, but will be increased today to 985 cfs.

Slickcraft · 05-19-2011, 07:54 AM

Expecting the Lakeport dam operator to make short term adjustments to lake levels is like giving someone a paper cup to lower the water level in an Olympic size pool while it is still raining.

As noted they are limited in what they can release because of lakes downstream. Even at full release the lake level would only drop one inch a day if there were zero inflow. In periods of extended rain and high inflow levels like now there is no physical way to keep the lake level from rising as inflow far exceeds maximum outflow. And, yes, what is going on now is pretty normal.

Late last summer with a month of almost no rain there was a chorus of complaints that the level was too low. In the end Mother Nature is in control here. That Bizer historical chart shows what we as users of the lake should expect over time and plan accordingly.

Grant · 05-19-2011, 08:02 AM

Anyone with complaints should speak with the party in charge of the rainfall.

SIKSUKR · 05-19-2011, 12:56 PM

Hey Terry,shouldn't it be "we have the best DAMN operators here"?

SAMIAM · 05-19-2011, 05:36 PM

Winnisquam is quite high, also...........with all this rain it's going to be a while getting rid of all the water. Guess we all have to be patient.

trfour · 05-19-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Hey Terry,shouldn't it be "we have the best DAMN operators here"?

Ya, but I modified my spell checker so as to prevent cuss words!

Belmont Resident · 05-20-2011, 05:22 AM

Perfect example. You have to weight in everything. They can not just drop the lake level because a few people have issues with the water level.
Flooding comes with owning a home in a flood zone and you cannot blame the operators of the dam. They cannot and should not flood all of Winnisquam and the lakes down stream just to lower Winni.
That is what flood insurance is for.

Swanpoint guy · 05-21-2011, 08:15 AM

Need help from the experienced folks. With the high water level our dock deck is close to floating off. Any simple ideas for keeping it in place short of taking the deck off?

DRH · 05-21-2011, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanpoint guy

Need help from the experienced folks. With the high water level our dock deck is close to floating off. Any simple ideas for keeping it in place short of taking the deck off?

A pretty effective solution to this problem is to put several full-size plastic trash barrels on your dock and fill them with water. The added weight should prevent the dock from floating and when the lake level subsides just tip the barrels over and dump out the water.

John A. Birdsall · 05-21-2011, 12:02 PM

the fill the barrels seem to work for my neighbor, just make sure you take the water out of the lake, It will lower the level of the lake while it holds your dock. If you keep the water till Aug. you will raise the level of the lake when we need it.

Rattlesnake Guy · 05-21-2011, 01:50 PM

We have a great solution that we have used for the last 5 years. We used to tie the panels to the frame with rope which is a real pain.

We got some good quality torx (Star) bit screws which are intended for composite type decking. We put one screw in the middle of each panel into the wooden frame. The head is below the surface so no one injures their feet during swimming etc. The torx head is great because it won't strip out. It is easy to find in the hole even if you can't see it., We reuse the same screw in the same hole for several years. We put them in when we put the panels in and take them out when we put the dock up.

This technique has worked on the broads when the docks were 6 inches under water. I would not use a sheet rock screw as they are much more brittle.

We also employ the barrel full of water to hold the entire structure down. We have one on now. (Tied to the post with ropes)

Merrymeeting · 05-21-2011, 05:32 PM

The good news I can offer is that there is no extra flow coming into Alton Bay from the Merrymeeting River.

The state did work on the public boat ramp on Merrymeeting last Fall. As a result, Merrymeeting Lake was at a very low level all winter. The dam folks recently put in the final boards to raise the level to normal for us.

The lake is not yet at full level so there is no water coming over the dam and into the sluice-way leading to the river. So, the normal flow from the Merrymeeting River into Alton is reduced... for now.

Jonas Pilot · 05-21-2011, 05:42 PM

Thanks MM. How's the new launch ramp?

Merrymeeting · 05-22-2011, 07:18 AM

I haven't used it but it looks good. They still need to install the docks.

Pictures here. www.mmlake.org

LIforrelaxin · 05-23-2011, 12:26 PM

This rise in lake level is no worse then most years.... The dam operators are working on the issue, there was increase in out flow several times last week, and it looks like there was another one today... Out flow is at around 1600 cfs....

Now people need to think about the alternatives... they dam operators could have looked at the rain foretasted and open the dam up to 1600 cfs as it is now as a precaution, but what if all the rain didn't happen?

Yes it stinks that they have to react real time, and can't keep the lake perfect. but managing a like the size of Winni. isn't easy.... and in my estimation, to many docks where build figuring on 504.32 feet as full lake... which is true, but people should have safe guarded some more... my dock isn't in real trouble until 505 feet... and then it is only at the floor boards. Yep I put cinderblocks down every year... and then take them off.

One would think after watching this lake for many years, people would realize that up 505 ft in the spring isn't all that unusual....

Pricestavern · 05-23-2011, 05:56 PM

"Yep I put cinderblocks down every year... and then take them off."

We loop stainless steel chain down underneath the deck frame to keep the dock platform sections from floating away.

Merrymeeting · 05-23-2011, 06:17 PM

On my daily run along a segment of the road that goes around Merrymeeting, I was struck by the number of mountain streams that are still at full flow into the lake. Most of these streams are dry for much of the year. But they are flowing full force right now. The lake water is much darker than normal with all the leaf tannins being washed in.

I also drove out past the Merrymeeting River yesterday. Despite my earlier post about the level of the lake, the river appears to be near high level. So there is not a lot of capacity left upstream, and the inflow is significant.

Hopefully this rain pattern stops soon.

trfour · 05-24-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

On my daily run along a segment of the road that goes around Merrymeeting, I was struck by the number of mountain streams that are still at full flow into the lake. Most of these streams are dry for much of the year. But they are flowing full force right now. The lake water is much darker than normal with all the leaf tannins being washed in.

I also drove out past the Merrymeeting River yesterday. Despite my earlier post about the level of the lake, the river appears to be near high level. So there is not a lot of capacity left upstream, and the inflow is significant.

Hopefully this rain pattern stops soon.

After melting it all down over an entire winter, I like The Dam Operators, what we get! Wise?... Now, and by all means support whom ever you will. Mother Nature Rules Over Here... Get over It!... Dish-TV was never created to cut expenses, as we have all found out!... As an alternative, the closer we can get to including Mother Nature will bring Us all to a more pleasant understanding of where we really are!... The more we can, and 'DOO and understand, the LESS She Will try to increase the price that everyone of US pays Every Day Here...
Another rant, By trfour, although Fort/Worth listening to! We've been through a few twister's along the way, Earthquakes, and landed on my own Butt, more than once!..

To All Of The Complainer's out here, you ain't seen noth'in yet!

Loving and pushing 70, although this may be more than my speed limit.
Terry

LIforrelaxin · 05-24-2011, 10:58 AM

Right now the data shows that Winnipesaukee, is leveling off and maintaining...

unfortunately more rain is in the forecast as of right now.

05-18-2011, 02:34 PM	#1
T.H.E. Binz Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith & Chadds Ford, PA Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Asleep At the Dam? Didn't the Lakeport dam operator look at the weather forecast for this week? My neighbor's dock is about to float away and so will several others. The Marine Patrol should issue a no-wake for this weekend like they had to do last time the lake was several inches above full lake elevation.

05-18-2011, 03:22 PM	#2
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,570 Thanks: 3,204 Thanked 1,101 Times in 793 Posts	Dam operator He has a tough job. He has to consder the Opechee, Winnisquam and Silver Lakes that the water flows into. As well as the communitees along the Winnipesaukee River, such as Laconia, Tilton and Franklin. I believe no-wake was ordered on Silver Lake a short time ago. Even if the dam is wide open, there can only be so much water that can flow over the dam. I have faith in the way the govt controls the dam. My boat is docked on the river in Lakeport! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-18-2011, 06:34 PM	#5
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,201 Thanked 675 Times in 178 Posts	According to Bizer's website (www.bizer.com), the lake is only about 4 inches above normal as of Monday 5/16. __________________ DRH

05-19-2011, 05:50 AM	#7
Bear Island South Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southboro, MA Posts: 579 Thanks: 75 Thanked 384 Times in 170 Posts	DES lake level 05/18/2011 16:00 504.63 I don't think 504.63 is any cause for concern at this point, maybe if it gets over 505, even then I don't think you will see a "no wake on the lake"

05-19-2011, 07:26 AM	#9
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	Lake Level I'm finding it frustrating that the Lake Winnipesaukee Lake Level Data graph hasn't been updated since Monday. Maybe it is being updated, but they forgot to update the date at the bottom? Yesterdays Current Watershed Operations Information stated the following: Winnipesaukee The level of Lake Winnipesaukee is at 504.62. The discharge at Lakeport Dam is 816 cfs, but will be increased today to 985 cfs.

The Following User Says Thank You to BroadHopper For This Useful Post:
Waterbaby (05-21-2011)

05-18-2011, 05:34 PM	#3
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,697 Thanks: 751 Thanked 1,452 Times in 1,009 Posts	Yes, the water has come up quite a bit in the last couple of days!

05-18-2011, 05:37 PM	#4
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	The water is getting up there. Only about 4 inches below my docks, but water is not going into the basement like it does when the lake is really high in the Spring some years. I noticed a few docks that had Barrels on them. Most likely filled with water for weight to keep the docks down.. Heck of a week.

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to DRH For This Useful Post:
PapaDon (05-24-2011), Rattlesnake Guy (05-19-2011), Redwing (05-19-2011)

The Following User Says Thank You to trfour For This Useful Post:
Newbiesaukee (05-21-2011)

05-19-2011, 07:17 AM	#8
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	It is an impossible job to do perfectly. Imagine if they had pre drained the lake and we had a dry spring and summer. We would then be unhappy with the lack of water. The Bizer graph that DRH linked looks like nothing extraordinary is going on.

05-19-2011, 07:54 AM	#10
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,296 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,080 Times in 952 Posts	Mother Nature is in charge Expecting the Lakeport dam operator to make short term adjustments to lake levels is like giving someone a paper cup to lower the water level in an Olympic size pool while it is still raining. As noted they are limited in what they can release because of lakes downstream. Even at full release the lake level would only drop one inch a day if there were zero inflow. In periods of extended rain and high inflow levels like now there is no physical way to keep the lake level from rising as inflow far exceeds maximum outflow. And, yes, what is going on now is pretty normal. Late last summer with a month of almost no rain there was a chorus of complaints that the level was too low. In the end Mother Nature is in control here. That Bizer historical chart shows what we as users of the lake should expect over time and plan accordingly.

05-19-2011, 08:02 AM	#11
Grant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pennsyltuckey, Tuftonboro, Moultonborough Posts: 1,499 Thanks: 374 Thanked 229 Times in 123 Posts	Anyone with complaints should speak with the party in charge of the rainfall. __________________ "When I die, please don't let my wife sell my dive gear for what I told her I paid for it."

05-19-2011, 12:56 PM	#12
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Hey Terry,shouldn't it be "we have the best DAMN operators here"? __________________ SIKSUKR

05-19-2011, 05:36 PM	#13
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,673 Times in 584 Posts	Winnisquam is quite high, also...........with all this rain it's going to be a while getting rid of all the water. Guess we all have to be patient.

05-20-2011, 05:22 AM	#15
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	Look at down south. Perfect example. You have to weight in everything. They can not just drop the lake level because a few people have issues with the water level. Flooding comes with owning a home in a flood zone and you cannot blame the operators of the dam. They cannot and should not flood all of Winnisquam and the lakes down stream just to lower Winni. That is what flood insurance is for.

05-21-2011, 08:15 AM	#16
Swanpoint guy Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CT & Moultonboro NH Posts: 27 Thanks: 14 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Dock floating away Need help from the experienced folks. With the high water level our dock deck is close to floating off. Any simple ideas for keeping it in place short of taking the deck off?

The Following User Says Thank You to DRH For This Useful Post:
Swanpoint guy (05-21-2011)

05-21-2011, 12:02 PM	#18
John A. Birdsall Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 599 Thanks: 27 Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts	hold the dock the fill the barrels seem to work for my neighbor, just make sure you take the water out of the lake, It will lower the level of the lake while it holds your dock. If you keep the water till Aug. you will raise the level of the lake when we need it.

The Following User Says Thank You to John A. Birdsall For This Useful Post:
gf2020 (05-23-2011)

05-21-2011, 01:50 PM	#19
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	We have a great solution that we have used for the last 5 years. We used to tie the panels to the frame with rope which is a real pain. We got some good quality torx (Star) bit screws which are intended for composite type decking. We put one screw in the middle of each panel into the wooden frame. The head is below the surface so no one injures their feet during swimming etc. The torx head is great because it won't strip out. It is easy to find in the hole even if you can't see it., We reuse the same screw in the same hole for several years. We put them in when we put the panels in and take them out when we put the dock up. This technique has worked on the broads when the docks were 6 inches under water. I would not use a sheet rock screw as they are much more brittle. We also employ the barrel full of water to hold the entire structure down. We have one on now. (Tied to the post with ropes) Attached Images

05-21-2011, 05:32 PM	#20
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	The good news I can offer is that there is no extra flow coming into Alton Bay from the Merrymeeting River. The state did work on the public boat ramp on Merrymeeting last Fall. As a result, Merrymeeting Lake was at a very low level all winter. The dam folks recently put in the final boards to raise the level to normal for us. The lake is not yet at full level so there is no water coming over the dam and into the sluice-way leading to the river. So, the normal flow from the Merrymeeting River into Alton is reduced... for now.

05-21-2011, 05:42 PM	#21
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	Thanks MM. How's the new launch ramp?

05-22-2011, 07:18 AM	#22
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	I haven't used it but it looks good. They still need to install the docks. Pictures here. www.mmlake.org

The Following User Says Thank You to Merrymeeting For This Useful Post:
Jonas Pilot (05-22-2011)

05-23-2011, 12:26 PM	#23
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,867 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	This rise in lake level is no worse then most years.... The dam operators are working on the issue, there was increase in out flow several times last week, and it looks like there was another one today... Out flow is at around 1600 cfs.... Now people need to think about the alternatives... they dam operators could have looked at the rain foretasted and open the dam up to 1600 cfs as it is now as a precaution, but what if all the rain didn't happen? Yes it stinks that they have to react real time, and can't keep the lake perfect. but managing a like the size of Winni. isn't easy.... and in my estimation, to many docks where build figuring on 504.32 feet as full lake... which is true, but people should have safe guarded some more... my dock isn't in real trouble until 505 feet... and then it is only at the floor boards. Yep I put cinderblocks down every year... and then take them off. One would think after watching this lake for many years, people would realize that up 505 ft in the spring isn't all that unusual.... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

05-23-2011, 05:56 PM	#24
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 388 Thanks: 135 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Holding Down the Dock "Yep I put cinderblocks down every year... and then take them off." We loop stainless steel chain down underneath the deck frame to keep the dock platform sections from floating away.

05-23-2011, 06:17 PM	#25
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	On my daily run along a segment of the road that goes around Merrymeeting, I was struck by the number of mountain streams that are still at full flow into the lake. Most of these streams are dry for much of the year. But they are flowing full force right now. The lake water is much darker than normal with all the leaf tannins being washed in. I also drove out past the Merrymeeting River yesterday. Despite my earlier post about the level of the lake, the river appears to be near high level. So there is not a lot of capacity left upstream, and the inflow is significant. Hopefully this rain pattern stops soon.

05-24-2011, 10:58 AM	#27
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,867 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	Right now the data shows that Winnipesaukee, is leveling off and maintaining... unfortunately more rain is in the forecast as of right now. __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....