Thread: Water Levels
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Old 04-09-2021, 08:56 AM   #16
LIforrelaxin
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Originally Posted by CowTimes View Post
Way too early to be concerned about the lake level in my view, for a few reasons. The lake is exactly at average level for this time of year (https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files...-graph2021.jpg). And while we seem to be a little dry based on the same chart (about 3 inches below average year-to-date precipitation for this time of year), the NOAA long-range forecast has us with likely above-average rain for the next couple weeks and normal precipitation in the longer 3-month term. Considering April is generally a pretty wet month and rain is already forecast for next week (plus the “above-average” NOAA predictions), I think we’ll be in good shape.

The lake is only 7 inches below full lake level, which is right where it is on average this time of year. In the spring where the ground is still fairly saturated, it only takes 1 inch of rain to raise the lake 5 inches (per NH DES watershed website), which is part of the reason the lake increases so much in April/early May every year. Remember, ice-out was early this year, so it shouldn’t be surprising that folks think the lake seems low for boating season—it is, but that’s normal for early April.

If you look at the DES chart, the lowest the lake has ever been on May 1 (the data goes back to 1982), was 503.5 (so about 10 inches below full lake). We’re 3 inches above that now. We’re not so unseasonably dry to think that the lake will be anything other than around full the normal time of year by mid-May/June 1.
So actually this is the perfect time to be concerned about lake level. While I share your view that the lake is right where it should by based on Statistical data, I do not share your view that we are in great shape....

- The ground in the area is not saturated to normal levels
- we are still in the recovery phase of last years drought
- While they can give predictions of rain, that doesn't mean it is going too
- Not only do we have to be concerned with Winnipesaukee, but we need to look at the entire watershed itself....
-- other lakes are are not as full as they should be. Which means at some point their inflow into Winnipesaukee will get cut back. To preserve their lake levels. (MerryMeeting, Waunkewan, Kansakta)
- People still need to open there camps and start drawing from the lake and Water table in the case of wells, which does and will have an effect.

If you go look at the DES website and the lake level at the Weirs, it is actually starting to fall again... and the Dam is only at the minimum out flow....This is not Normal at all for this time of year.... Normally they are releasing more water, to keep the lake from rising to fast.
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Last edited by LIforrelaxin; 04-09-2021 at 01:49 PM.
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