Dam Updates

Saturday, July 20, 2024

On July 9, 2023, flooding in southern New Hampshire washed out the dam that creates Forest Lake here in Winchester, N.H.

The FLIA, HL Turner, and NH DES Dam collected data, conducted evaluations, and looked at short term plans for 2023,  as well as interim plans for 2024.  Long term plans for 2025 are clear  and remain the reconstruction of the dam. This event has done nothing to  change the overall goal of renovating the dam. That work continues. 

The weeks that followed were filled with paperwork, meetings, emergency  permits,  decision making, and site work.  NH DES Dam, the FLIA and the  Town of Winchester understand the value and importance of Forest Lake as  a recreational asset to all of us on the lake, the campground and  everyone in the community. Other divisions of DES like Watershed  Management are already weighing in to help advise us and support  decision making. The FLIA will move with hast to develop plans and  execute them.  However, there are rules and laws, and we will follow  them, crossing T’s and dotting I’s. 

Planning  is already underway. Timing for all future actions is unknown at this  time.  Updates will be issued periodically over time.

A reminder to please stay off the dam and the construction road or we will be posting no trespassing signs. 

We know everyone wants a close look. 

This is not a safe place to be walking around. Also, we have  neighbors, and they are running out of patience having folks walk  through their yards all day. It is bad enough that Tim and I have to be  over there a great deal with contractors, please do  not add to the nuisance factor.

Number one question we receive is what about next summer.

We want to be very clear about what is happening. Details have not been finalized with the state and will not be until mid-winter when the next set of permits are signed off. Permits are on hold at the moment due to some re-engineering  being addressed. That said the goal to reinstate the water height for  next summer remains top priority for everyone involved. 

Sandbar at the headwater of the outlet. 

Right now, that sandbar is the only thing keeping the lake at this  current level. It is a natural dam helping to protect our water level.  Under normal conditions there would be twenty-five inches  of water flowing over that sandbar and kayak and boat passage would be  fine. There is no plan to dredge that, any part of the outlet or the  dam pond.

Kayaking or canoeing under the Rt 10 bridge.

Please stop going under the bridge. You cannot paddle back out. People have tried and they all have to portage the kayaks up and  over Rt 10 through the boat launch. We have a sign on the bridge hanging  down to the water saying stay out. Please do not put yourself at risk.

Water Testing

The Forest Lake Improvement  Association did some water testing on Forest Lake. The three samples  came  back with good results.  E-coli testing allows for 88 parts as the  cutoff for swimming.  The samples came back 9, 6, & 3.  All water  has some level of e-coli. This lake looks good right now.

Dam Activity

We had a very productive meeting with H.L. Turner. They had been notified of the issues within 24 hours of the breach, as was the state dam bureau. They came prepared. This is the second emergency they have been involved with this season. Experience is always a good thing in a case like this. After debris was removed from the site, work was completed to begin the cut-off walls for the new dam using sheet pilings. This is not an extra effort because the cut-off walls are part of the new design. In short, we will use part of the new design to create our 2024 summer solution for normal water levels. Super sacks were lifted into place to protect the left shoreline from further collapse and loss and reinforce the pilings during high water conditions. These super sacks will eventually be relocated and become part of the work site coffer dam.

Cost

One question we have been frequently asked; “ will this add cost to the overall project”. Yes, it will. But  we do not have much of a choice. The engineers are trying to employ  tactics that will be redundant to the needs of the final construction  program, such as using and re-using super sacks.  Sheet pilling cut off walls that will be part of the 2024 summer  solution and part of the final design. A construction road that evolves  into a rip rap retention wall.

Goal

Our goals remain unchanged. Create a 2024 solution for normal  lake levels and begin final construction of the new dam in September  2024. The experts on our team believe these are reasonable goals and achievable.