Your water-level worries are over ...

[Bizer]

Winnipesaukee rose 1.5" on Friday, 6.8" on Saturday. As of 10 am, Sunday, it has risen more than 2" since this morning's official reading. The 7" rise on Saturday is the largest 1-day rise in my record books surpassing 1984 (4.5"), 1996 & 1998 (5"). The additional 4" that I had predicted yesterday has already occurred and the lake is still rising. Here are the heights for the past three days:

• 3.05' Friday
• 3.18' Saturday
• 3.75' Sunday
• 3.93' as of 10 am Sunday

Rainfall was 1.8" at the Lakeport dam on Friday and a whopping 5.4" on Saturday.

[gtxrider]

Have the animals started pairing up? If the rain you are getting or have gotten is anything like we hade yesterday and last night head for higher ground.

Stay dry and have a peaceful Holiday Weekend!

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Just got back to check on my boat (MVYC). Level looks about 6" from where it was this summer. I'm guessing it's gone up about a foot since we went out last week I guess when all the tributaries finish emptying, we'll be quite a bit higher.

[Lakegeezer]

If you have a boat still in the water and don't trust its bildge pump, check it as soon as practical. Water was sloshing on the floor of my boat this morning and the bildge took 45 minutes to pump out. There was a boat stuck up on the shore along route 25 that was tilted way over and full of water. The little stream that flows along the launch at Lees Mills was running quicker that I have ever seen. A huge log went by, bobbing along with the flow. By mid-afternoon, the ground was starting to absorb the standing water, but it is still spring-like soupy around. Plenty of time to draw down the water again before it freezes.

[Aquadeziac]

My boat at GYC rose almost 8" from the time I left at 11:00 am Sat and when we stopped by at around noon yesterday. The boat is sitting as high as it was two months ago. Just heard more big rains expected again this mid-week. Didn't get a chance to go by the dam in Lakeport. Its going to have to be a slow draw down with Winnisquam, Opeechee, and Silver Lake maxxed out too. Even the Merrimack down here in Concord is swollen bad. Looked off the Sewalls Falls bridge yesterday afternoon and it was a good 3-4 feet higher than normal with raging rapids.

[GWC...]

Another view of the Lake level:

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

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Went down to MVYC today and there is a huge log (or dock piece) right in the main channel. The ducks were enjoying it Lots of floating debris everywhere and the water is really murky. Based on what I've seen on TV about Alstead, I'm not going to complain though. Amazing spikes in the charts GWC linked Based on the waterline marks on the pilings, levels about the same as it was a few months ago.

[GTO]

The waterfall at Mills Fall looked like it does in the spring. Lots of water still filling up the lake. Level went way up in just a couple of days. Better recheck those ropes on the boat if you've made recent adjustment.

[Phantom]

On our final trip under Wier's Bridge mid-day Monday the level indicator appeared to be only an inch (2 at the most) below the "Full Lake" red line.

[John A. Birdsall]

I arrived in Alton bay on Sat night late, looked at my boat on the mooring and their was plenty of freeboard on the transom. Next morning I had the same on the transom, however the new cover on my bowrider, had gone into the boat at the bow. filled to capacity with nice clean water. Had their been much of a wave action I am sure it would be sunk. Pumped it out and when I left on Monday their was enough water in the boat house to put it in. I could not get it half way in before.

My Long ride home I went down 101 and saw the merrimack,,wow was it full in Manchester, and the little side streams all the way were flowing very well.

[Mee-n-Mac]

I'm not sure about the rain we're supposed to get today but it appears the lake has stopped rising and is headed back down. No wonder, if you look at the link below you'll find an amazing amount of water pouring out of Lakeport.


Lake level:
http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_inter...nipesaukee#ops

Dam info:
http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_inter...E=Lakeport+Dam

FYI : If you care to track the waters flow downstream look below. It appears Winnisquam came up 2 ft and has settled back 1 ft. Silver Lake came up 5 ft (!!!!) and has come down 1 ft.

http://www.des.state.nh.us/rti_internal_home/winni.asp

[Fargo]

I checked our boat in the boathouse yesterday and the lake level was fine. Looks like the lake came up 4" last night. Could just barely get the boat out today from under the roof with 1/2" to spare. Glad I checked on it and was able to move it to the outside dock. Hate to be stuck in there for the winter!

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Rattlesnake Guy and I just got back from a crazy trip to the island. As we headed out of Alton Bay the lake was perfectly fine. At the top of the bay it became very windy with the waves becoming pretty big. We both put on our life vests and got ready for a wild ride. The closer to Rattlesnake, the scarier it got. As we rounded the end of the island the waves were huge, so I had R-Guy stop at a friends protected dock and I set out on foot to our place. When I arrived, the panels of the dock were just starting to lift up and settle back in again. By the time I donned my wet suit and vest (Thank goodness I did, I got soaked!) the panels were more than half way out. If we had been just a little bit later they would be gone and a danger to other boaters and property. I tied them down, so even if they come loose, they should not float away.



While out working I noticed many large branches and logs floating by, but there was nothing that could be done. Be careful of debris if you venture out on the water.
There are lots of docks under water on both Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam. Hopefully the water will recede soon.
We were shocked to see how high the water was under Mosquito Bridge over Winnisquam!

Click here for my pictures taken today of the waves and high water.

[DRH]

Great photos, RG. They really show how rough the lake was today. Sleepers Island is giving us some protection from the biggest waves, but even over here near Minge Cove many waves were rolling right over a number of docks today.

We recorded a wind gust of 42 mph at 11:37am this morning, and the wind is still howling tonight as well.

[DRH]

High winds continued to blow overnight. We recorded a gust of 43 mph at 2:50am this morning. At 8:30am today (Monday) the winds are down quite a bit, but we're still getting occasional high gusts.

[spotsink]

Has the lake level stabilized yet? or is it still rising. I was on the lake yesterday and was surprised to see how high the water was - almost over the dock at Pier 19 and part of the Tuftonboro public pier had water washing over it. With the wind out of the NW the waves were breaking on to the docks... Hopefully we will have a few days without rain and they will get the level back down to where it should be this time of year.

[kchace]

Originally Posted by spotsink

Has the lake level stabilized yet? or is it still rising. I was on the lake yesterday and was surprised to see how high the water was - almost over the dock at Pier 19 and part of the Tuftonboro public pier had water washing over it. With the wind out of the NW the waves were breaking on to the docks... Hopefully we will have a few days without rain and they will get the level back down to where it should be this time of year.

It will take much more than a few days to get the lake back down to where it should be at this time of year. In fact I notice that they have backed off on how much water they are releasing at Lakeville - no doubt to lessen the strain downstream until more can drain off down there.

Ken

[BroadHopper]

The lake was pretty wild Sunday between the high water and winds. As RG photo shows, the Broads was not the place to go boating.
I only ventured between Sleepers and Minge Cove and it was bad enough. The docks at the marina were just above water. A few boats were not maintained recently and were listing in the rear. I hope the marina staff notify the owners. One boat was listing very badly and I took it upon myself to see if I could do something temporarily. I notice the owner had shut off both batteries and the bilge pump was not operating. I switch to battery one and the bilge pump instantly came to life. A lesson to learn for all the newbies.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

"...While out working I noticed many large branches and logs floating by, but there was nothing that could be done. Be careful of debris if you venture out on the water..."

1) As the lake level retreats [this week ], those branches and logs will be lodging themselves "high" around the lake . Staying relatively dry over winter, they can be "mobile" again at ice-out, 2006.

(2005 was bad enough for debris. Picture is of 20-minutes-worth of pulling debris. Seat cushion is for scale).

2) If you have dock-ice circulators, check them for branches lodged in them. Winnipesaukee Aquatherm advises that underwater branches cause most circulator failures.

[KBoater]

RG,
Was it a Wavy crazy day in the Broads or was it a Crazy Broad in the Broads? Glad you made it round trip.

[mcdude]

Originally Posted by FLboater

RG,
Was it a Wavy crazy day in the Broads or was it a Crazy Broad in the Broads? Glad you made it round trip.

Luckily it was not a crazy broad fallen INTO the waves!!!!

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

1) As the lake level retreats [this week ], those branches and logs will be lodging themselves "high" around the lake . Staying relatively dry over winter, they can be "mobile" again at ice-out, 2006.

(2005 was bad enough for debris. Picture is of 20-minutes-worth of pulling debris. Seat cushion is for scale).

I can only hope it retreats (some) this week ! Imagining the number of dock failures from the high water + wind + waves, ice out 2006 will be a banner year for debris. We seemed to have collected a lot of froth, pine needles and small twigs so far these past storms. Well those and one signed Kent Hrbek baseball, which seems in good shape after it's swim

[spotsink]

It is interesting to see that this thread has come full circle - from a lake so low... to a lake too high... I noted this evening that the DES chart had the lake toppng the 505 foot make for the first time... but also that the outflow at the dam has been dramatically increased. Most likely in an effort to draw the level down some before the rains that are forecast for this weekend. Our dock was 6" above water when I was there on Sunday and the lake has risen 3" since then... with luck nothing has floated away yet... we will be closing up this weekend and so will put the worries of high water behind us until spring... best of luck to all who still have boats and docks in...

[19MileBaylover]

We're heading up to the bay this weekend, hopefully to close up shop. Thanks to all for posting about the lake level. We were up there last weekend and the water was up to the bottom of the dock; probably over the top now if the latest postings are accurate. Hope the boat's still there.
Came up two weeks ago to see the water level rise over 12 inches in 48 hours; incredible. Perhaps the authorities will be posting a lake-wide no-wake zone as they did a few years ago.
Anyway, did some quick (very quick) math, and came up with a little over one-and-a-half TRILLION gallons of water needed to bring the 72 square miles of lake up one foot. Lots of electricity in there for the taking when they let it out.

[Island Girl]

I just wanted to thank Bizer for the frequent updates to his lake level chart during this very unusual October. It helps a lot to see the levels and the comparisons to other years.... and the link to the State's lake level chart.

Thanks again, I for one appreciate your work!

IG

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

If you have a boat still in the water and don't trust its bildge pump, check it as soon as practical.

Anyone who has lifts for boats or PWC's should check on them.
You might come back and find your boat has sailed without you!

[DRH]

I like your new avatar, RG!!