2006 Lake Level Chart

[Jack L]

Can anyone tell me why this URL doesn't work?

http://www.des.state.nh.us/Dam/graph/graph2005.htm

Befuddled again. Jack L

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Can't say, it worked for me.

[JTA]

It works for me Jack. Looks like we've got lots of water.

[spotsink]

I've been using this link since the September / October rains and high water.

http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_home/...+Winnipesaukee

It shows a graph of lake level and has a link to a table of lake level data for the last two weeks or so...

[playinghooky]

The link you listed was for the graph for 2005. Here's the link for the 2006 data.
http://www.des.state.nh.us/Dam/graph/graph2006.htm

[GWC...]

Originally Posted by Jack L

Can anyone tell me why this URL doesn't work?

http://www.des.state.nh.us/Dam/graph/graph2005.htm

Befuddled again. Jack L

If you are seeking 2005 data, it works - /graph2005.htm

If you are seeking 2006 data, it works, if you use /graph2006.htm

[Lakegeezer]

Thanks for the new link. I noticed a small problem. In the new 2006 graph, the title for "1982-2005 maximum water level" line was updated to reflect the data from last year, but the line itself does not reflect the higher than ever water levels of 2005. It is still a 1982-2004 line with a 1982-2005 title. We are setting new all time level records now, and more rain is on the way. What a weird winter!

[KEEPER]

Hi folks,

I'm the fellow that has the job (sometimes rewarding, sometimes frustrating - but always interesting) of managing flows for DES in the Winnipesaukee River basin, as well as others around the state.

Lake Geezer is correct, the 82-05 max. water level line did not update to include 2005 data. We're working on the problem and hope to have it fixed soon.

We're doing the best we can to get the lake down in preparation for the spring freshet but we're not getting any help from the weather people. We were right where we wanted to be on the morning of October 9th but...well, you know the rest. Right now we are passing about 1500 cfs at Lakeport and the big lake is still rising slowly. Hopefully, dry weather will prevail and we can ramp flows up a bit as the lower portion of the basin empties out some. Right now both Winnisquam and Silver lakes are quite high and we don't want to add to the problem any more than we are already.

On a related subject, is anyone interested in having one of those massive surplus New Orleans sump pumps installed on their property for a few months? I'd also like to encourage folks to begin pool filling and lawn watering as soon as possible.

Steve Doyon
603-271-1966
sdoyon@des.state.nh.us

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by KEEPER

Hi folks,

I'm the fellow that has the job (sometimes rewarding, sometimes frustrating - but always interesting) of managing flows for DES in the Winnipesaukee River basin, as well as others around the state.
{snip}
Steve Doyon

Let me be the first to say to you and your fellow dam keepers, thanks for a job well done. While there's some occasional whining about lake levels here, we know it's due to frustration with Mother Nature rather than any real complaints on how well the lake level is being managed. These past 6 months must have been a most "interesting" challenge I'll see what I can personally do to help by pumping my basement into my neighbor's basement instead of back into the watershed

[Jack L]

Let me add my two cents to Mee' n Mac. Very nice work for the past three or so years. Don't let frustrations get you down. Be proud of what has been accomplished by your team.

[Skip]

Ditto on what Jack L & Mee-n-Mac previously posted. You'll find the great majority of the fine folks that peruse this site not only appreciate the great work you folks do, but are also keenly interested in how you go about doing it.

I am sure the forum folks out here hope you become a regular poster and keep us up to date on the happenings in your Department!

Thanks for the post Steve, hope to hear from you more often.....

Here's to staying dry

Skip

[KEEPER]

I will try to pop in on the forum once in a while to keep folks posted. Attached is a WORD document (perhaps?) that describes the way we currently manage the basin.

[DRH]

Originally Posted by KEEPER

I will try to pop in on the forum once in a while to keep folks posted. Attached is a WORD document (perhaps?) that describes the way we currently manage the basin.

KEEPER,

Thanks for posting that very interesting information about managing the lake levels and the many factors involved in determining outflows.

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Neat stuff, and dittos on the work you do. I don't think most of us are aware of how many constituents you need to keep happy

[Merrymeeting]

Keeper,

I too would like to add my thanks for the info, and appreciation for how well you have done over the years.

One area of concern I am wondering about. Clearly the lakes are too high this year and need to come down. But now that we finally seem to be reverting to winter and the ice is setting in, what complications will result from lowering the water while the ice is in place/forming.

I know I've heard of problems in years past with the ice pulling things apart as it drops.

This is a dammed if you do, dammed if you don't scenario (pun intended ) You can't leave the level up until April or we'll have floods. But dropping it drastically while the ice is in place has it's problems too.

Thanks!

[Pepper]

Jeepers Creepers Keeper! Yours is one job I would definately not want. Although my job demands that I try to keep a lot of people happy, it's nowhere near as tough a job as yours!

Thanks for providing the information, and keeping us up to date. Hope you'll join in on many of the various discussions here, and join this happy, wacky family we've got here.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Welcome to the forum Keeper!
Thanks for the job you do. You’re more appreciated than you know.
Maybe the Babes on Sleds should just be dancing for cold weather now, not snow?

[KEEPER]

One area of concern I am wondering about. Clearly the lakes are too high this year and need to come down. But now that we finally seem to be reverting to winter and the ice is setting in, what complications will result from lowering the water while the ice is in place/forming.

Honestly, we'll be lucky to get the lake down more than a few inches from where it is today (503.76), which is only 7 inches below our June 1st full lake target - and that's only if it stays cold and keeps snowing. Inflows along the river system remain high, as does Winnisquam and Silver Lake, but as they fall off a bit we are likely to add more flow from Lakeport.

As far as additional shoreline damage that may be caused by a small drop in the lake level, I would expect much.

[Island Girl]

On the Winnipesaukee Dataphone at the Lakeport Dam (603-527-0071). ... one of the speakers gives the lake temp along with all the other information and the other does not.. who can I talk to to get the lake temp always included in the message?

Thanks... and welcome Keeper

[KEEPER]

Island Girl

We'll try to make sure that all of our dam operators report the lake temp on the phone message in the future. I understand that Bob Fay, the primary operator, reports this to the Citizen each day also.

[webmaster]

Originally Posted by KEEPER

We'll try to make sure that all of our dam operators report the lake temp on the phone message in the future.

Thanks for that KEEPER. I have recorded the water temp. from the dataphone for the last 6 years (http://www.winnipesaukee.com/tempcal) and there are always gaps when Bob is not doing the reporting.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by KEEPER

"...Inflows along the river system remain high, as does Winnisquam and Silver Lake, but as they fall off a bit we are likely to add more flow from Lakeport.

As far as additional shoreline damage that may be caused by a small drop in the lake level, I would expect much..."

Excerpted from today's Citizen:http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...048/-1/CITIZEN:

"...The Department of Environmental Services regulates the water that flows down the Winnipesaukee River. If Silver Lake floods, its because DES wants us to flood. They are not incompetent, shrewd perhaps, but not incompetent. It's all about cash."

Huh?

(And please don't shoot the messenger).

[66WINN]

Thanks Keeper. I found the articles both informative and fascinating.

[Sandy Beach]

Originally Posted by KEEPER

I will try to pop in on the forum once in a while to keep folks posted. Attached is a WORD document (perhaps?) that describes the way we currently manage the basin.

Thank you Steve. The WORD documents worked just fine here. Interesting information. I appreciate your sharing that with us.

It is nice to know that you will be checking in on the forum once in a while. Welcome KEEPER.

Sandy

[spotsink]

Can anyone say why the graph at "Bizer's Lake Level" site has not updated the last two weeks? The data ponits are there for February but the graph line is still in January...

[Lake Lady 6]

As far as additional shoreline damage that may be caused by a small drop in the lake level, I would expect much.

Keeper, did you really mean "I would expect much" or, hopefully, "I would not expect much"?

[Bizer]

Originally Posted by spotsink

Can anyone say why the graph at "Bizer's Lake Level" site has not updated the last two weeks? The data ponits are there for February but the graph line is still in January...

In response, I've updated Bizer's lake graph. When the lake is normal, the graph is only updated every 3-4 weeks. When the lake is not normal (as it is now), I try to update it more frequently.

[spotsink]

Originally Posted by spotsink

Can anyone say why the graph at "Bizer's Lake Level" site has not updated the last two weeks? The data ponits are there for February but the graph line is still in January...

The graph has not updated again - with three weeks of March data posted the graph line is still in February.

At least the level is "almost normal" now and outflow at the dam is a lot less. With less than normal snow melt expected this spring due to the lack of snow perhaps everyone in the Winnipesaukee watershed will enjoy a break from higher than normal water levels.

[Merrymeeting]

If you mean the graph in the reply above, that is just a snapshot image from Bizer's website. It will not update.

However, if you go to the links or Ice-Out pages on this site, you will find links to the Bizer pages where the live updates occur. I checked it yesterday and it had been updated just that day.

As for the water levels, I've concluded that the dam operators have one of the most thankless tasks in this part of the world. A month ago we were all worried about the lake being too high. Now, with no snow cover to melt, early open water to speed evaporation, and no serious precipiation behind or in the future, we might soon be talking about too little water.

But, it is New England. Who knows what April will bring?

[ITD]

The data look current to me, try hitting your refresh button. Looks like the level is right where it is supposed to be for this time of year. Good job keeper.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by ITD

Looks like the level is right where it is supposed to be for this time of year.

That would be true if there was normal snow cover, or even some snow cover, but with virtually nothing in the hills, we're headed for low lake conditions this Spring unless we get above normal rains.

[Lakegeezer]

Agree with Orion. The water table is lower than it has been since the fall - but then it has been abnormally high all winter. We're probably OK, and with any spring rains, the lake level will be normal. Has anyone noticed that lake looks more tannic than normal. Maybe a dry spring would help clear it a bit.