Version 4 of Winnipesaukee/Garmin is now available. 

Bizer has increased its $100 REWARD to $250.

Bizer's goal is to find and chart EVERY shallow area of Lake Winnipesaukee.  If you can find a place that's less than six feet deep that Bizer has failed to mark in blue, Bizer will give you a reward of $250.00. 

• The six foot depth is based on a fall lake level of 503.1 feet.  During periods of lower-than-normal water levels (e.g. summer of 1999), the depths must be adjusted.
• Bizer backs its depth information with cash. The only guarantee that Duncan Press makes is: if there is a problem, they will replace the chart. 

No correction to Bizer's map is too small.  We don't care how trivial it is.  Maybe you know of a new No Rafting zone.  Maybe you know of a restaurant accessible by boat that recently opened (or closed).  Maybe you know of a new road that's not on our chart.  Maybe you know of a new cell tower (or other prominant object on land) that is visible from the lake. (Some people navigate by taking bearings on land objects).  email us at winni@bizer.com. We really do want to make this a perfect product.  With your help, we might just do it.

Lake Winnipesaukee's surface level is measured in feet. Readings are made daily by the New Hampshire Department of Water Resources. The datum (zero point) is 500 feet above sea level. Median heights are based upon data from 1984 through 2006. As a rule of thumb, assume: High Tide: June;   Low Tide: February.  Temperature, (F), readings are taken at the Lakeport Dam about one foot below the surface.

The below historical statistics are updated periodically: normally weekly or whenever the lake level changes unexpectedly by more than three inches. 

 2011    Actual  Deviation    Outflow at
 Date    Height  from Norm   Lakeport Dam
-----     ----     --.--  TEMP ---- ---
09/01 Thu 4.18     + .60   72   820 CFS
09/08 Thu 4.38     + .98   71   893 CFS
09/15 Thu 4.14     + .76   71  1471 CFS
09/19 Mon 3.90     + .59   67  1425 CFS The lake level and water temperature have fallen substantially in 4 days.
09/22 Thu 3.81     + .53   66  1389 CFS
09/29 Thu 3.60     + .39   68  1326 CFS
10/03 Mon 3.89     + .69            CFS
10/06 Thu 3.85     + .71   62  1351 CFS
10/13 Thu 3.77     + .68   62    63 CFS
10/20 Thu 4.07     + .88   58    54 CFS
10/27 Thu 3.97     + .80   55  1168 CFS
11/03 Thu 3.83     + .74   51  1282 CFS
11/10 Thu 3.54     + .44   51  1332 CFS
11/17 Thu 3.58     + .51   50   975 CFS
11/24 Thu 3.53     + .48   45   962 CFS
12/01 Thu 3.60     + .45   46  1324 CFS
12/08 Thu 3.60     + .35   45  1473 CFS
12/15 Thu 3.68     + .54   43  1490 CFS
12/22 Thu 3.45     + .42   40  1470 CFS
12/29 Thu 3.37     + .33   38  1467 CFS

 2012    Actual  Deviation    Outflow at
 Date    Height  from Norm   Lakeport Dam
-----     ----     --.--  TEMP ---- ---
01/05 Thu 3.14     + .07   36  1438 CFS
01/12 Thu 3.02     - .01   35   668 CFS
01/19 Thu 2.93     + .06   35   668 CFS
01/26 Thu 2.96     - .02   35   415 CFS
*--------------------------------------

 

For height above sea level, add 500 feet
Click here for NH DES graph of the last two weeks.

Notes:

• The flow is the amount of water leaving Lake Winnipesaukee at the Lakeport Dam.  It is measured in cubic feet per second (CFS).  To put this in perspective, 1920 CFS is enough to fill about 45 swimming pools each minute.  For a period of 24 hours, 1920 CFS yields 1.24 billion gallons, or enough water to lower the level of Lake Winnipesaukee one inch. The flow fluctuates depending on the time of year and the lake's height.  The long-term average is about 550 CFS. 
• Bridge heights reported on Bizer's chart assume a full lake level of 4.3 feet.  To calculate today's bridge clearance for any bridge on Lake Winnipesaukee, add 4.3 feet to the height shown on Bizer's chart.  Then subtract the most recent lake surface-level reading to obtain the actual clearance of any bridge.  For example: to compute the clearance of the Long Island Bridge on 17-Apr-00, add the published bridge clearance (7.7 feet) to the full lake reading of 4.3 feet to get a subtotal of 12.0 feet.  Now subtract the April 17th surface-level reading of 4.1 feet to get the actual clearance of 7.9 feet.

---

Additions & corrections to Bizer's eighth edition Winnipesaukee chart:

The map grid is enclosed in [brackets]

• Jun-2011 - Conway's Bait and Tackle next to Lake Kanasatka is no longer in business.  On Bizer's chart, eliminate the "B" symbol 1 mile ENE of Center Harbor.[E-0] 
• Jun-2011 - The Owl's Nest Restaurant in Alton is no longer accessible by boat.  On Bizer's chart, eliminate the "R" symbol next to the words, "Spring Haven".[H-12] 
• Apr-2011 - Paugus Bay Sporting goods is no longer in business.  On Bizer's chart, eliminate the "B" symbol on the eastern side of Paugus Bay.[L-7] 
• Apr-2011 - A new cell tower is visible from the lake about 2000 feet northeast of Melvin Village Marina at N43°-41.161' - W071°-17.691'.  If you wish to mark this on your chart, this is about 9mm (3/8") above the gas symbol at Melvin Village Marina.[A-7] 
• Oct-2010 - South and east of Fish Island are four red-and-white buoys.  The westernmost of these four buoys was reset in a new position about 80m (260 ft) southwest of its previous location.  Its has moved to N43° 36.510' - W071° 22.316'.  On the chart, this is about 2mm, or about 1/16th inch.[G-8] 
• Sep-2010 - The Barber's Pole, a decorative buoy-like wooden cylinder, which was placed about 150m northeast of FL#17 (light #17) was missing.[D-10]  It is unknown whether it is to be replaced. 
• SEP-2010 - Effective 01-Sep-10, the speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee shall be reasonable and prudent under existing conditions, but shall not exceed (1) 30 miles per hour during the period from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise; and (2) 45 miles per hour at any other time. (RSA 270-D:2(X)(b)) 
• JUL-2010 - The lights on the Long Island Bridge have been replaced.  There are now three lights, red-green-red, with the green light in the center of the channel.[D-6]  Previously, they were five lights, red-red-red-green-red, as indicated on Bizer's chart. [D-6] 
• JUL-2010 - It has been reported to Bizer that Senter Cove in Moultonboro is now a NO-WAKE area. [E-3] 
• Jun-2010 - The ice cream shop in Center Harbor that closed in 2007 has reopened.  Dewey's Ice Cream Parlor and Cafe also sells sandwiches and salads. [F-0] 
• Jun-2010 - Silver Sands Marina no longer sells gas, no longer has pump-out, and no longer has a convenience store.  Gas is available at Mountain View Yacht Club, also in Sanders Bay.  [J-8]
• Jan-2010 - The M/S Mount Washington will be sailing to Meredith and Center Harbor in 2010.  Service to these two ports was suspended in 2009. 
• Aug-2009 - The Silver Sands Motel now allows boat launching at their facility. As of this date, the fee is $20. [J-8]
• The No-Rafting area in/at/near Advent Cove in Meredith was omitted from publication. [G-3]  
• The No-Rafting area in/at/near East Cove on Long Island was omitted from publication. [D-8]  
• The No-Rafting area in/at/near Buzzel Cove was omitted from publication. [B-4]  
• Jun-2009 - Boat launching is not longer available to the general public at Ames Farm Inn [Grid H-12 on Bizer's chart].
• The speed limit on Winnipesaukee shall be 45 MPH during the day and 25 MPH at night.  This information is not on the chart because the original law expired at the end of 2010.  (A law keeping the 45 MPH daytime limit and making the night speed limit 30 MPH was made permantent effective 01-SEP-10)
• Bizer has been informed that the boat launch at Pier 19 is open to the public. [B-9] 

All updates are in Bizer's 8th edition.  The map grid is enclosed in [brackets].

• Sep-08 - Effective 2009, the speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee shall be 45 miles-per-hour (MPH) during the day and 25 MPH at night.
• Jul-08 - Bizer has been informed that Downing's Landing at the southern end of Alton Bay does NOT sell gasoline.
• May-08 - I noticed that the Burger King, accessible by boat in Paugus Bay, is no longer in business.
• Jul-07 - A boater has reported that the C-Map cartridge of Winnipesaukee has incorrectly labeled light #26 as light #53.  Light #53 is correctly labeled. 
• Jul-07 - The Marine Patrol has notified Bizer that Buzzel Cove in Moultonborough has been designated a NO-RAFTING area.
• May-07 - A new No-Rafting area has been added in/at/near Advent Cove in Meredith. 
• May-07 - Green buoys named, "See 150", have been placed exactly 150 feet from the following docks: Alton, Center Harbor, Glendale, Meredith, Tuftonboro, and Wolfeboro.  They are to assist boaters in judging distances.
• May-07 - It has been reported that the following places to eat (by boat) are no longer in business: The ice cream shop next to Coe House, Center Harbor; The LakeSide Deli, Meredith
• Apr-07 - Service and repairs are no longer available in Center Harbor. 
• Sep-06 - It has been reported that the C-Map chip of Winnipesaukee has incorrectly colored (or swapped) the two buoys east of Twin Islands in Moultonboro Bay.
• Sep-06 - A boater has reported an uncharted rock west of the northern end of Joes Island in Moultonborough Bay. On Bizer's chart, this is near the "h" in "Smith Cove". Bizer intends to visit this location during September, 2006.
• Aug-06 - In an effort to assist boaters in judging distances, green & white buoys have been placed exactly 150 feet from the piers at Wolfeboro, Alton, Meredith, and Center Harbor.