Freedom–April 2, 2016–Reports of actual experience in 2016 with snowmelt, rain, high lake level and ice-out are hard to believe but they are no joke. It was an easy winter with light snow and very few really cold days. Boat activity on Broad Bay started Easter Sunday.

Reported lake level during this winter has been over the summer level of 407.25′ several times including March 20. Yes, both dams have been wide open since last fall.

Official Ice Out reports are now published:

Winnipesaukee: Declared “Ice Open” at 11:30 a.m. on March 18, 2016.

Freedom Mill Pond: Declared, “Ice Out” on March 14, 2016. (This is the first year of a new activity for the Village Store.)

Ossipee Lake:  Declared “Ice Out” at 10 a.m. on March 28, 2016. (This is the official date when no ice could be found on the lake and bays. As for the north end of Broad Bay, viewed from my dock on March 20, 2016 there was no visible ice. However, there was new skin ice for a few hours the next morning.

That noisy powerboat was back making circles at 5 p.m. yesterday.

The ticks are back but no black flies yet.

Bob Smart