![]() |
![]() |
|
Home | Forums | Gallery | Webcams | Blogs | YouTube Channel | Classifieds | Calendar | Register | FAQ | Donate | Members List | Today's Posts | Search |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Wolfeboro, NH
Posts: 48
Thanks: 26
Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts
|
![]()
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 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Alton Bay
Posts: 5,559
Blog Entries: 2
Thanks: 2,411
Thanked 1,922 Times in 1,064 Posts
|
![]()
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
__________________
I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!! |
![]() |
![]() |
The Following User Says Thank You to upthesaukee For This Useful Post: | ||
daveschappell (12-28-2022) |
![]() |
#3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Welch Island and West Alton
Posts: 3,239
Thanks: 1,183
Thanked 2,017 Times in 923 Posts
|
![]()
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 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,088
Thanks: 1,237
Thanked 1,536 Times in 994 Posts
|
![]()
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.
|
![]() |
![]() |
Sponsored Links |
|
![]() |
#6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,983
Thanks: 2,306
Thanked 4,985 Times in 1,932 Posts
|
![]()
The water level is exactly where it should be for this time of year.
Dan
__________________
It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!! ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 518
Thanks: 62
Thanked 42 Times in 23 Posts
|
![]() Quote:
Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
__________________
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,983
Thanks: 2,306
Thanked 4,985 Times in 1,932 Posts
|
![]() Quote:
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
__________________
It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!! ![]() Last edited by ishoot308; 01-17-2023 at 12:56 PM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Center Harbor
Posts: 1,143
Thanks: 203
Thanked 424 Times in 242 Posts
|
![]()
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.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Center Harbor
Posts: 1,143
Thanks: 203
Thanked 424 Times in 242 Posts
|
![]()
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.
|
![]() |
![]() |
The Following User Says Thank You to jeffk For This Useful Post: | ||
daveschappell (02-17-2023) |
![]() |
#11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,078
Thanks: 2
Thanked 537 Times in 442 Posts
|
![]() Quote:
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 |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,078
Thanks: 2
Thanked 537 Times in 442 Posts
|
![]()
It just hasn't reached the 504.32 to open the spillway.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 790
Thanks: 236
Thanked 635 Times in 230 Posts
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 171
Thanks: 50
Thanked 82 Times in 40 Posts
|
![]()
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. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,919
Thanks: 197
Thanked 601 Times in 405 Posts
|
![]() Quote:
Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app |
|
![]() |
![]() |
The Following User Says Thank You to WinnisquamZ For This Useful Post: | ||
daveschappell (01-06-2023) |
![]() |
#16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gilford, NH and Florida
Posts: 2,921
Thanks: 654
Thanked 2,166 Times in 908 Posts
|
![]() Quote:
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. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
The Following User Says Thank You to TiltonBB For This Useful Post: | ||
daveschappell (01-06-2023) |
![]() |
#17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,983
Thanks: 2,306
Thanked 4,985 Times in 1,932 Posts
|
![]()
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
__________________
It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!! ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post: | ||
daveschappell (01-06-2023), Descant (01-06-2023), upthesaukee (01-05-2023), winniwannabe (01-05-2023) |
![]() |
#18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Center Harbor
Posts: 1,143
Thanks: 203
Thanked 424 Times in 242 Posts
|
![]()
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.
|
![]() |
![]() |
The Following User Says Thank You to jeffk For This Useful Post: | ||
daveschappell (01-06-2023) |
![]() |
#19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee
Posts: 2,836
Thanks: 1,019
Thanked 884 Times in 517 Posts
|
![]()
I looked this morning the flow is at ~1650 cfs.... give it a few days the lake will go down....
__________________
Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island..... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee
Posts: 2,836
Thanks: 1,019
Thanked 884 Times in 517 Posts
|
![]()
I looked this morning and the lake is re-acting to the increased flow....
__________________
Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island..... |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Meredith, NH
Posts: 209
Thanks: 200
Thanked 49 Times in 40 Posts
|
![]()
Definitely an unscientific observation. Waukewan’s outflow to Winni at Mills Falls has decreased this week.
__________________
Thanks, Loub52 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#22 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Center Harbor
Posts: 1,143
Thanks: 203
Thanked 424 Times in 242 Posts
|
![]()
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.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
|
|