NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FASTEST GROWING ONLINE NEWSPAPER

Low water in lakes spurs call for caution among boaters

Comment Print
Related Articles
The Sophie C. aground near Loon Island in Meredith. (Courtesy photo)

In the wake of recent groundings of two commercial cruise vessels on Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire safety officials are cautioning boaters of historically low water levels due to this summer's drought conditions exacerbated by last winter's lack of snowfall.

On Thursday the cruise ship MV Mt. Sunapee became grounded atop water intake pipes that service the Mount Sunapee Ski Area's snow making system, while on Friday the mailboat Sophie C, a 76-foot-long motor vessel, ran aground in the area of Loon Island in Meredith in a normally traveled, navigable channel. There were no injuries in either incident and all passengers and crew were safely evacuated.

But both groundings underscore the need for the boating public to be vigilant during these last few weeks of summer when navigating the waters of lakes that normally see higher water levels at this time of year.

The New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol said in a press release on Friday that the low water is evident in many of the state's waterbodies, though levels vary drastically by region.

"Submerged hazards that are not typically of concern under normal water conditions should be taken into consideration when operating a vessel," the press release noted. "The Marine Patrol urges boaters to use caution when navigating in unfamiliar areas and always have proper safety equipment on board, including navigational charts when available."

Read more from:
Top Stories
Tags:
None
Share:
Comment Print
Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: