Squam Lake and Lake Winnisquam both had October 12 as the start date on the state's 2026 fall drawdown schedule. Squam keeps dropping through the winter. Its lowest point usually comes in mid to late March. Winnisquam is supposed to start rising again late on October 27.
On Thursday, October 22, that leaves about five days of low water on Winnisquam before the expected rise. After the refill, the two-year cycle means the lake won't be drawn down again for two years.
The Lake Takes Its Cues From Lakeport
Winnisquam is the last lake in a chain. Water leaves Lake Winnipesaukee at Lakeport Dam, runs through Opechee Bay in Laconia, and then goes on into Winnisquam. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services announcement from September 28, 2026, lays out the 2026 timing along that chain:
- October 12: Opechee Bay starts coming down.
- October 14: Winnisquam drops noticeably. NHDES says it takes about two days for Opechee's released water to pass downstream through Winnisquam.
- October 26: Flows at Lakeport Dam go up to refill Opechee.
- Late on October 27: Winnisquam's level should start to rise.
Winnisquam is listed on the state table with an October 12 start, but the level change gets there from upstream. The drop arrives from Opechee, and the rise follows the higher flows out of Lakeport Dam.
Winnipesaukee is upstream of all of it, and it isn't drawn down on purpose. Starting October 12 this year, NHDES cut releases at Lakeport Dam from the usual minimum of 250 cubic feet per second to between 30 and 50 cubic feet per second. That lower flow lasts up to two weeks so crews can maintain the dams and hydropower facilities on the Winnipesaukee River. The department also says that by mid-fall, Winnipesaukee is usually about 15 inches below its springtime full level. Because of the drought this summer, it was already that low when the announcement went out.
Two Feet Here, Five Feet Upstream
Winnisquam's drawdown is set at 2 feet, and the timing is what sets it apart. Opechee goes down more than twice as far over the same two weeks. Here is how the two compare with other lakes in the region on the 2026 schedule:
| Lake | Town on the NHDES table | 2026 start | Drawdown depth | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnisquam Lake | Tilton | Oct. 12 | 2 feet | About two weeks, once every two years |
| Opechee Bay | Laconia | Oct. 12 | 5 feet | About two weeks, once every two years |
| Squam Lake | Ashland | Oct. 12 | 2.5 feet | Lowest point usually reached mid to late March |
| Newfound Lake | Bristol | Oct. 12 | 2.5 feet | Lowest point usually reached mid to late March |
| Webster Lake | Franklin | Oct. 12 | 2 feet | Generally refilled in spring |
The depths on its fall lake drawdown table are measured down from normal full pond, not from wherever the lake is sitting on the start date. The Winnisquam Watershed Network's October 8 update said levels were just above the seasonal average before the drawdown began. The 2-foot figure is a water-level target. It doesn't tell you how much shoreline will show at any one property.
NHDES gives the same general reasons for every drawdown. Lowering a lake protects shoreline property from winter ice damage and leaves room for spring runoff. The two-week Winnisquam drawdown doesn't stay in place through the winter, though. The release gives it one more purpose, and on this lake that's where the timing matters most.
A Window for Shoreline Work, With a Permit Attached
In its 2026 release, NHDES says drawdowns let property owners make any needed repairs to waterfront property, as long as they get a permit from the NHDES Wetlands Bureau first. The bureau's number is (603) 271-2147.
Retaining walls and docks are the structures at risk. When the Laconia Daily Sun covered the 2024 Opechee and Winnisquam drawdown, it explained how. Ice breaks up on the surface, wind pushes the big pieces around, and those pieces can damage both. That year the paper talked with Dan Mattaini, NHDES's Chief Operations and Maintenance Engineer, and he described the season like this:
"It's a pretty standard drawdown this year. It's been very dry the last couple of months."
Two years later, the 2026 release brings up drought again.
If you miss the scheduled window, the next option is slow by design. In the same release, NHDES says New Hampshire Fish and Game recommends that special drawdowns for repairs, such as retaining walls or private boat ramps, happen no more than once every five years. Anyone who wants one should contact the NHDES Dam Bureau right after getting every permit the work requires. That way the department can coordinate it with other projects proposed on the same lake. The release warns that otherwise, a project could face unexpected delays of up to five years.
The state has more detail on its docking structures and shoreline stabilization page. It says new docks need wetlands permits, repairs and changes may need them too, and retaining walls have to meet set requirements. The NHDES docks FAQ for non-tidal waters adds that a repair changing a dock's size, location or configuration requires a wetlands permit. Some repairs to exposed sections may not need one if the lakebed isn't disturbed. The FAQ also links a Permit-by-Notification form for seasonal docks. This is general information, not legal advice. Before you plan any work at the water's edge, check with the Wetlands Bureau or a qualified professional about how these rules apply to your property.
The Drawdown Lines Up With Fall Turnover
The Winnisquam Watershed Network's October 8 update said the lake was moving toward fall turnover. The water was cooling, and the thermocline was sinking as the lake began to mix. Clarity was about average for the season.
WWN's continuous monitoring buoys measure water temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin. Chlorophyll-a is a pigment linked to algae, and phycocyanin is one linked to cyanobacteria. The group said it is especially interested in tracking conditions through this stretch, since turnover and the drawdown are happening together. Weekly updates continue through October, and the buoys keep collecting data through November. WWN is also looking for volunteers for water-quality monitoring and other stewardship work, and sign-up runs through the same current-conditions page.
Where to Watch the Low Water From Public Shoreline
You don't need lakefront property to see the drawdown. These public spots are on Winnisquam:
- Ahern State Park in Laconia. The park covers 128 acres and has 3,500 feet of Winnisquam shoreline. In winter the lot isn't plowed and the gate is closed, but people can still walk in, according to NH State Parks.
- Water Street in Laconia. It's listed as a Winnisquam public access site on the Winnisquam Watershed Network's public access page.
- Leslie E. Roberts Beach and Recreation Area in Belmont. The Belmont town beach was open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this summer, the Laconia Daily Sun reported.
The weekend just before the refill is the Laconia Pumpkin Festival. It runs Friday, October 23, from 4 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The schedule includes vendors, a pumpkin tower, costume parades, a 5K and 10K, and live entertainment.
The Dates Can Still Shift
The October 27 date is a target. NHDES says start dates can move by a few days for operational reasons. It also says this year's drought could push the Opechee and Winnisquam dates later, depending on lake and river levels at the time.
The 2024 schedule ran two days later on every step than 2026's. Opechee started coming down October 14, Lakeport flows went up October 28, and Winnisquam was expected to rise late on October 29. NHDES describes the drawdown as happening every two years, so if the cycle holds, the next one would come in fall 2028. For questions about this year's schedule, NHDES lists Dan Mattaini at the Dam Bureau, (603) 271-8867.
If the drawdown has you thinking about your wall, your dock or the permits on file for your Winnisquam shoreline, Cisneros Realty Group can go through what you're looking at. We'll help you figure out which questions to bring to the Wetlands Bureau before the water comes back. Schedule a Call.
