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#1 |
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I just noticed that the water is nearly up to the bottom of my dock. Then I checked and levels are at 504.07 today (12/28/22). Don’t they usually have the lake levels much lower this close to the freeze?
https://www4.des.state.nh.us/rti_data/WEIN3_TABLE.HTML |
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#2 |
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There was a lot of rain in the last few weeks. This has raised the lake level by almost a full foot. The stream behind my house was higher last weekend than it's been in probably 5 or 6 years. It was almost overflowing the banks. It's now back to being just a stream.
I would guess the level will start to drop again soon. Dave
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#3 |
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Take a look at the Bizer chart:
http://www.bizer.com/bztnews.htm#lakelevel oh, and the "they" that control lake level is actually a "she" AKA Mother Nature Alan |
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It can be a complicated calculation. Also to be considered: how saturated is the watershed before it freezes, how much rain, how much snow, what is the snow pack in February/March, which downstream dams will be lowered for repairs, etc, etc. Regardless, there's a bit of a SWAG in there anyway.
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#6 |
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The water level is exactly where it should be for this time of year.
Dan
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#8 | |
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If your dock is almost underwater now, you have serious issues as the current lake level is still below "full pool". What do you do during the months of June and July when the lake is at full pool?? ![]() ![]() Dan
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Checking this morning, the lake is almost back to its "typical" Fall level of 503.1'. It is at 503.2', just over an inch "too high". Another couple days and that will be gone. It took about a month to drain off the excess foot of water. We are expected to get a little rain over the next 10 days but that should be manageable with little effort. They haven't dialed back the dam output yet, still about 1600 CFS but that will probably drop later this week.
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The lake is now down to its "typical" Fall/Winter level. The dam output has been reduced to 1300 CFS and will probably be reduced further. We are expecting continued warm temps (melt water) and 1/4 inch of rain in a couple days so they may wait a bit before reducing dam output to the low levels typical of winter.
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#11 | |
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To the extent that weather conditions allow, the lake level is managed between elevations 503.00 and 503.50 during this period by releasing water at a rate that can be fully utilized by the downstream hydropower plants (250 to 1,050 cfs). This is done to facilitate shoreline property maintenance. If deemed appropriate, and based upon basin conditions and weather forecasts, levels will be allowed to climb above this range to prevent releases at Lakeport from exceeding 1,050 cfs. When the level begins to encroach on the full summer elevation (504.32), releases will be increased beyond the capacity of the hydropower plants to make lowering the lake level the first priority. DES also endeavors to reach a target level of approximately 502.80 on December 31st, which is approximately six inches above the full drawdown depth of two feet. The water stored in this remaining six-inch band is release during the coldest months of January and February. January 1st through May 31st To the extent that weather conditions allow, water is released from Lakeport Dam to reach the full 2-foot drawdown (502.32) in the lake by about the end of the first week of March. The actual depth of the drawdown varies from year to year depending upon meteorological conditions; including prevalent base flow rates and snowpack. From March through May 31st the lake level is allowed to climb as snowmelt, soil moisture and lake ice conditions allow. Discharges at Lakeport Dam are made based on both actual and predicted weather events. Ideally, flows will be maintained between 500 and 1,050 cfs throughout the period. During extremely cold periods, flows lower than 500 cfs cause frazzle ice to form along a steeply sloped reach upstream of Franklin center, causing maintenance problems and reduced turbine efficiency at the local hydropower stations." https://www4.des.state.nh.us/rti_hom...E=Lakeport+Dam |
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It just hasn't reached the 504.32 to open the spillway.
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According to this chart https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files...-graph2023.pdf
the lake is 3/4 of a foot above normal for this time of the year. What I don't understand is why there is not a greater release to bring the level down to average for this time of the year. If the lake freezes at this level, it will do damage to shore structures like cantilevered docks. |
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With this year's weather they may be less worried about ice damage in the near future and more interested in maintaining a slower flow for hydropower purposes. |
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daveschappell (01-06-2023) |
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With the recent rain, the lake water level is now above the average for this time of year though still below the "full pool" level. I'm sure the dam operators will be adjusting the outflow accordingly as they have done so well for many many years...
Dan
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The dam operators started upping the flow around December 21st and have continually increased it, to 1500 CFS as of today. Water levels are still a foot over typical for this time of year. I would expect that the high dam rate will continue for over a couple weeks, full outflow (1900 CFS?)) can drop the lake an inch a day. So over 16 days to drop the lake a foot at the 1500 CFS rate. Of course that doesn't account for and significant rain we may get in that time.
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#19 |
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I looked this morning the flow is at ~1650 cfs.... give it a few days the lake will go down....
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#20 |
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I looked this morning and the lake is re-acting to the increased flow....
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Definitely an unscientific observation. Waukewan’s outflow to Winni at Mills Falls has decreased this week.
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#22 |
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Since Jan 5 when the dam was opened to ~1500 CFS the lake level has dropped about 2 inches. New water from rain or runoff can counter the dam release. It's a slow process to get the level down.
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