BackBay in Wolfeboro

[targabill]

Hi All,
I have an opportunity to use a dock this coming summer in the Back Bay of Wolfeboro and I was wondering if anybody knows the area.. What is the water quality like, is it good for swimming, clear water, boating. I see it a bit shallow!!

Thanks much,
-Bill

[chachee52]

Not sure about the swimming part, I've never seen people swimming back there, but they used to have a ski course and jump back in the day, and I wouldn't see why you can't swim there.
I haven't been back there in years because of the bridge. So you have to make sure your boat will be able to get out of the bay. Last time I went back we had a 17 ft 4-Winns and at high water there were times that I was a couple inches from the wind shield.

[tis]

They do waterski back there so they are swimming. Back Bay has never been noted for its cleanliness as it used to have a lot of the town sewer in it in past days. I would not swim there but it has improved. They used to have a lot of milfoil and have been treating that so not sure how bad it is now.

[TheTimeTraveler]

I think the biggest obstacle to the Back Bay is the bridge. Just be sure to use it during low tide so you have better clearance

[thinkxingu]

It's not "good boating" back there, nor would I classify it as a good place to swim.

It's a nice place to dock, though, as it's much more protected than the main bay and there's lot of good boating/swimming not far from there.

The key is whether you'll be able to access it (with the bridge) reliably.

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[The Real BigGuy]

The bridge actually presents 2 issues. First, the water to bridge height others have mentioned. Second, the water depth under the bridge at low water in the fall. It cost me a prop (while trimmed up) a number of years ago.


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[targabill]

Originally Posted by tis

They do waterski back there so they are swimming. Back Bay has never been noted for its cleanliness as it used to have a lot of the town sewer in it in past days. I would not swim there but it has improved. They used to have a lot of milfoil and have been treating that so not sure how bad it is now.

Thanks,
OK, The sewer thing doesn't sound like fun, But that must of been 30-40+ years ago?? And there is a river feeding it by the Old Mill,Falls. So you would think that's been flush out by now!! No Pun!!

There was also some property Back there I was thinking about??

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by targabill

Thanks,
OK, The sewer thing doesn't sound like fun, But that must of been 30-40+ years ago?? And there is a river feeding it by the Old Mill,Falls. So you would think that's been flush out by now!! No Pun!!

There was also some property Back there I was thinking about??

There are areas in and around the back bay that were so polluted they had to fill it in. To this day areas around some of the walking trails cannot be excavated due to the possible release of contaminants…

Dan

[targabill]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

There are areas in and around the back bay that were so polluted they had to fill it in. To this day areas around some of the walking trails cannot be excavated due to the possible release of contaminants…

Dan

Thanks, Kinda deflated my thinking about buying a house back there!! It also seams what ever pollution in the water is flowing out to Wolfeboro Bay as there is a pretty significant river flow into the Back Bay..

I appreciate the comments and History Lesson..

[Descant]

Several years ago (2016?) I watched a dive team working near the town docks in Back Bay removing milfoil with a DASH boat. Water quality didn't seem to be a concern. There was a Selectwoman in a kayak with them to pick up any stray fragments. I think milfoil grows better in a silt bottom than rocky or sandy, and I understand there is a certain amount of residue (sawdust?) from the mill.

[targabill]

Originally Posted by Descant

Several years ago (2016?) I watched a dive team working near the town docks in Back Bay removing milfoil with a DASH boat. Water quality didn't seem to be a concern. There was a Selectwoman in a kayak with them to pick up any stray fragments. I think milfoil grows better in a silt bottom than rocky or sandy, and I understand there is a certain amount of residue (sawdust?) from the mill.

Hmm, Does anybody know "Who" water quality/tester type person I might call to get the real lowdown on how the water quality is now?

[tis]

Originally Posted by targabill

Thanks,
OK, The sewer thing doesn't sound like fun, But that must of been 30-40+ years ago?? And there is a river feeding it by the Old Mill,Falls. So you would think that's been flush out by now!! No Pun!!

There was also some property Back there I was thinking about??

I don't think they actually had the town sewer run in there but I think there was a pipe under the water and people said it often leaked or whatever. I would think now it has to be much cleaner. If you can afford a house out on the main lake I would buy there. But if not, Back Bay does give you access to the lake and it's pretty to look at. I can tell you it's much improved from what it was and I think it will get better. In the old days in back of Harvest Market was the old dump.

[webmaster]

[WinterHarborGuy]

Summer of 2021, most boats that dock in Backbay couldn’t get under the bridge due to very high water levels. As I recall, it was a problem for a good 2/3 (?) of the season.

I have a friend who pulled his boat from his slip and trailered it that season. I assume that was common. I think he has a 21’ bow rider.

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by targabill

Hmm, Does anybody know "Who" water quality/tester type person I might call to get the real lowdown on how the water quality is now?

Your best bet may be to take a bottle of water out of the Back Bay (or chunk of ice) and send it in to the State for testing......

[targabill]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

Your best bet may be to take a bottle of water out of the Back Bay (or chunk of ice) and send it in to the State for testing......

I'm glad you didn't say, Take a water bottle and drink it... And if I don't grow a third arm it should be OK...

[Susie Cougar]

I’m not sure why you feel so strongly about this area. Do you have to be in Wolfeboro? Have you checked out other towns? What exactly are you looking for? I know many people on here could help you.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by targabill

Hmm, Does anybody know "Who" water quality/tester type person I might call to get the real lowdown on how the water quality is now?

There are a couple of contaminate types, floaters & sinkers (I.e., heavier than water & lighter/same SG as water). Your usual water testing lab will find floaters but sinkers tend to sink into bottom sediments. The type of testing most of us think of (water sample testing)usually won’t find these as they tend to sink into the sediment and accumulate. Most communities/companies/individuals don’t want to test sediments in an area like Back Bay because if they find something they have to clean it up. VERY EXPENSIVE!


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[radar4401]

Hi, I have lived in Wolfeboro for 20+ years and keep track of a lot of what goes on. I would suggest that you call the Town Managers office and ask if they have done a water quality assessment of back bay. I've talked with them about several issues over the years and have always gotten straight answers. I know that there was a lot of pollution many years back but that was a long time ago. Wolfeboro takes pollution very seriously and is doing its best to correct any problems. Many projects have been completed to alleviate any known sources of pollution.

[tis]

Targabill. I sent you a pm.

[targabill]

Originally Posted by Susie Cougar

I’m not sure why you feel so strongly about this area. Do you have to be in Wolfeboro? Have you checked out other towns? What exactly are you looking for? I know many people on here could help you.

Hi Susie, Well was planning on using a dock there 1st and looking at a piece of property there.. Not at all tied to it, just looking for a Lake Front Property. Anybody selling??

[Susie Cougar]

How much are you looking to spend? And does it have to be lakefront or can it be lake access?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

There are a couple of contaminate types, floaters & sinkers (I.e., heavier than water & lighter/same SG as water). Your usual water testing lab will find floaters but sinkers tend to sink into bottom sediments. The type of testing most of us think of (water sample testing)usually won’t find these as they tend to sink into the sediment and accumulate. Most communities/companies/individuals don’t want to test sediments in an area like Back Bay because if they find something they have to clean it up. VERY EXPENSIVE!

Seems like Wolfeboro's Back Bay area had numerous pollution problems.

I can't recall whether it was PCBs or a radiation hazard, but it was "solved" by paving an immense parking lot over it.

[Heaven]

In any case, it is a very mucky bottom. Very shallow around the back, I don't know how you'd swim well except from a boat. Go to the bench at Back Bay Park, right there it looks ok.

[Rob M]

The pollutants in the bay are a thing of the past. On a calm day the water is quite clear, but with wind or boat traffic the silty bottom gets stirred up and the water becomes quite murky.

You can typically get under the bridge with smaller boat, I go under with my bass boat and 18 foot Bayliner with out issue, unless the water is unusually high. There is a great restaurant/bar on the bay that you can dock at, and a Water Ski Slalom course for the school.

There is one house at the very North End of the bay with a small beach that kids swim at, but the bay is shallow and silty so it does not make for a great swimming destination.

On the upside, once you go north of the Marina, the bay is typically very quiet.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Rob M

The pollutants in the bay are a thing of the past.

Not really...As Tis and APS stated above the entire area behind the Harvest Market was never cleaned up...it was filled and covered up as it would of been too costly to clean so the pollutants are still there, maybe in limbo, maybe not. I do know that area cannot be excavated at least not without massive and expensive precautions.

Dan

[targabill]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Not really...As Tis and APS stated above the entire area behind the Harvest Market was never cleaned up...it was filled and covered up as it would of been too costly to clean so the pollutants are still there, maybe in limbo, maybe not. I do know that area cannot be excavated at least not without massive and expensive precautions.

Dan

Just an FYI, I talked to Lake Winnipesaukee Association and they told me they test the water in the Back Bay 2 times per month and there is no problem swimming in there. The biggest problem is runoff from people fertilizing there lawns, and that the same all over the lake.