Water levels starting to drop off at Smith Mountain & Leesville lakes

November 12, 2009

Picture of the dam at Leesville Lake.

Appalachian Power says the high water levels at Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes are dropping.

Here is the full news release:

SMITH MOUNTAIN PROJECT LEVELS BEGIN TO DROP; APPALACHIAN POWER CONTINUES MANAGING DAM OUTFLOW

ROANOKE, Va., Nov.13, 2009 – The high water levels at Smith Mountain Project reservoirs have peaked and are now dropping following days of increased inflow from rain-swollen tributaries.

A high water level of 796.93 feet above sea level was recorded this morning at Smith Mountain Lake. The normal full pond level at Smith Mountain Lake is 795 feet as measured at the dam. Leesville Lake never exceeded its full pond level of 613 feet.

Inflow into the project reached its peak yesterday at 1:00 p.m. at 44,209 cubic feet per second (cfs). Today at 6:00 a.m. the inflow had dropped to 23,613 cfs.

Discharge from the Leesville Dam into the Staunton River was at 21,132 cfs.

On Thursday, Appalachian Power began increasing the discharge of water from the Leesville Dam into the Staunton River to create more storage volume in the lower project reservoir. Today, enough water has been removed to allow water from Smith Mountain to be processed into Leesville Lake.

The company continues to monitor downstream river levels and adjust its increased flow from Leesville accordingly to avoid flooding. Appalachian continues to consult with the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Interested persons may view current flow and elevation readings for Smith Mountain Project and other hydroelectric generating facilities operated by Appalachian Power and parent company American Electric Power at http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/hydro .

Smith Mountain Project is a 636-megawatt pumped storage hydroelectric facility located in southwestern Virginia that utilizes an upper reservoir (Smith Mountain Lake) and a lower reservoir (Leesville Lake). Water stored in Smith Mountain Lake passes through turbine generators in the powerhouse to produce electricity and is discharged into Leesville Lake. Most of the water is retained in Leesville Lake and pumped back into the Smith Mountain Lake for re-use. A portion of the water goes through the turbine-generators at the Leesville powerhouse to generate additional electricity and to meet the minimum discharge requirements of the project's FERC license.

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Smith Mountain Lake and the reservoir at Leesville are both full.

According to a news release, "Appalachian Power is increasing the discharge of water from the Leesville Dam into the Staunton River in an effort to create more storage volume in the lower project reservoir."

Members of the Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire and Rescue have been out since early Thursday morning.

They're ready to grab boats that have drifted off, and recommend all owners secure their boats to prevent that from happening.

They're also moving large boats out from under docks with roofs, like at the Bridgewater Marina.

"If this lake continues coming up, it will actually smash the boats up into the roof of the docks," explains crew member Allan Busch.

All lake and river users are asked to use caution when boating, swimming or participating in other recreational activities on or near the project. Boats tied at docks should be properly moored for higher water levels.

UPDATED news release:

UPDATED AT 2:30 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SMITH MOUNTAIN PROJECT LEVELS CONTINUE TO RISE;

APPALACHIAN POWER MANAGING DAM OUTFLOW

ROANOKE, Va., Nov.12, 2009 – The water at Smith Mountain Lake continues to rise above normal levels today as a result of increased inflow from rain-swollen tributaries. The full pond level was also exceeded in the reservoir at Leesville due to rising inflow resulting from rainstorms in the region.

Earlier today, Appalachian Power began increasing the discharge of water from the Leesville Dam into the Staunton River in an effort to create more storage volume in the lower project reservoir. That will eventually allow additional flow from the Smith Mountain Dam into Leesville Lake.

The normal full pond level at Smith Mountain Lake is 795 feet above sea level as measured at the dam. It is estimated to reach about 798 feet sometime this evening based on predictions of continued high inflow from the Roanoke and Blackwater Rivers.

Appalachian urges persons to use caution when boating or participating in other activities on or near the Smith Mountain Project during higher than normal water levels. Boats tied at docks should be properly moored for higher water levels. Lakefront property owners should take whatever action they feel necessary to secure personal property.

The company will monitor downstream river levels and will adjust its increased flow from Leesville accordingly to avoid downstream flooding.

Appalachian continues to consult with the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Interested persons may view current flow and elevation readings for Smith Mountain Project and other hydroelectric generating facilities operated by Appalachian Power and its parent company American Electric Power at this site:

http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/hydro

Elevation information may also be obtained by calling (540) 985-2767.

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Here is the full news release:

SMITH MOUNTAIN PROJECT FLOW LEVELS ADJUSTED, MONITORED; RAIN AND OTHER INFLOW HEAVIER THAN PREDICTED

ROANOKE, Va., Nov.12, 2009 – The normal water level at Smith Mountain Lake has exceeded full pond and the reservoir at Leesville is also full due to heavier than expected and continuing inflow resulting from rainstorms in the region.

After consultation with the National Weather Service and The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Appalachian Power is increasing the discharge of water from the Leesville Dam into the Staunton River in an effort to create more storage volume in the lower project reservoir.

As of 6:00 a.m. this morning, inflow to the Smith Mountain Project was 26,474 cfs and discharge from Leesville was 4,682 cfs. The adjusted reservoir elevation was 795.67 feet. The flow at the USGS gauge at Brookneal on the Staunton River was 15,000 cfs (18.49') and at Altavista 15,200 CFS (15.34').

The company will monitor downstream river levels and will adjust its discharge flow accordingly.

Appalachian urges all lake and river users to be cautious when boating, swimming or participating in other recreational activities on or near the project during higher than normal water levels. Boats tied at docks should be properly moored for higher water levels.

Elevation information may also be obtained by calling (540) 985-2767.

WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Water levels starting to drop off at Smith Mountain & Leesville lakes

Water levels starting to drop off at Smith Mountain & Leesville lakes