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For Immediate Release
Date: June 14, 2010
Contact: Pam Dinkle
Lake Management and
Project Coordinator
Telephone: (540) 721-4400
E-mail: pamdinkle@sml.us.com
The Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission (TLAC) reports that treatment for Curlyleaf pondweed, an aggressive, non-native aquatic vegetation is expected to begin the week of June 21. Herbicide treatments in several areas identified with Curlyleaf pondweed infestations will be made at that time. Last year, 18 acres of Curlyleaf pondweed infestations were treated throughout the Lake.
Since 2002, TLAC has managed a successful program of treating aggressive non-native aquatic vegetation in Smith Mountain Lake. The Counties of Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania have provided the funding for this year’s invasive aquatic vegetation treatment program.
Bob Camicia, Chairman of TLAC’s Environmental Committee reported that TLAC has requested approval from Appalachian Power Company’s new permit program for their 2010 herbicide treatments. All herbicide treatment in Smith Mountain Lake must be applied by a contractor licensed for herbicide application by the State of Virginia. TLAC has awarded this year’s treatment contract to Skip’s Aquatic Solutions.
The Curlyleaf pondweed areas will be treated with a contact herbicide which has water use restrictions for three days. The herbicide is EPA approved for this specific purpose and does not harm fish. Notifications of the planned treatment and restrictions are being sent to property owners who live in the areas being treated.
TLAC encourages residents who see any aquatic vegetation in the lake to contact the SML Association’s Weed Hotline at 719-9333. Resident reports of aquatic vegetation are reviewed through this volunteer endeavor. All identifications of aggressive non-native aquatic vegetation are forwarded to TLAC for treatment consideration.
Pam Dinkle, Lake Management and Project Coordinator for TLAC, noted that for the convenience of residents, a listing of the areas scheduled for treatment will be available on their website, www.sml.us.com. Residents are invited to check the website regularly for updates about this year’s vegetation program.
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Press Release
Date: May 14, 2010
Contact: Pam Dinkle, Lake Management and Project Coordinator
Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission
721-4400, pamdinkle@sml.us.com
The Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission (TLAC) announces an Adopt-a-Buoy program for the 57 shoal and rock buoys on Smith Mountain Lake. The Adopt-a-Buoy volunteers will be asked to monitor a shoal or rock buoy which they can see from their home and notify TLAC if it is missing or has been damaged.
Stan Smith, TLAC’s Navigation Committee Chairman stated that this new program will complement their ongoing Adopt-a-Light program which was begun in 1996. Smith noted that “the program has been very successful and currently has 129 “adopters” who monitor the majority of the 159 lighted navigation markers on the lake”. These volunteers notify TLAC when a navigation aid light is malfunctioning.
For more than 15 years, TLAC was responsible for the maintenance of over 200 navigation aids on the lake. Due to the diligence of the volunteer “adopters” most outages/malfunctions were repaired within 48 hours noted Pam Dinkle, TLAC’s Lake Management and Project Coordinator. She added that “the assistance of the volunteers continues to be invaluable. Their diligence in promptly reporting malfunctions greatly assists with safety on the lake.”
The responsibility for most of the navigation markers became Appalachian Power Company’s on April 1, 2010. In an effort to assist all who use the lake and because of the priority of safety on the lake, TLAC has determined it is in the public’s best interest to continue its role of handling the outage and malfunction reports and to enhance the current Adopt-a-Light program. TLAC will forward reports of malfunctions to APCO immediately.
All residents noting a malfunctioning navigation marker should call TLAC to report the problem. TLAC is pleased to continue to offer this service to the community and appreciates the help of residents with this continued effort to keep Smith Mountain Lake safe.
Residents who can see a shoal or rock marker buoy from their homes and are willing to “adopt” the buoy(s) are invited to call TLAC at 721-4400 to register as the official adopter.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE EXPECTED TO EXCEED FULL LEVEL TODAY
ROANOKE, Va., Jan. 25, 2010 – Smith Mountain Lake in Southwestern Virginia is expected to exceed full-pond level today as a result of high water inflows from weekend rains.
Current estimates show the high water level could reach about one foot above normal. The normal full pond level at Smith Mountain Lake is 795 feet as measured at the dam.
Lakeside residents and businesses should take necessary precautions.
On Friday, in anticipation of predicted rainfall, Appalachian Power began increasing the discharge of water from the Leesville Dam into the Staunton River to create more storage volume in the two project reservoirs.
The company will monitor inflows and downstream river levels and adjust its flow from Leesville accordingly to avoid flooding. Appalachian continues to consult with the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Current flow and elevation readings for Smith Mountain Project are available 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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SMITH MOUNTAIN PROJECT LEVELS BEGIN TO DROP
APPALACHIAN POWER CONTINUES MANAGING DAM OUTFLOW
ROANOKE, Va., Nov.13, 2009 -The high water levels at Smiith 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.
For Immediate Release
Date: July 24, 2009
Contact: Pam Dinkle
Lake Management and Project Coordinator
Telephone: (540) 721-4400
E-mail: pamdinkle@sml.us.com
The Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission (TLAC) reports that treatment for Hydrilla, an aggressive non-native aquatic vegetation will begin next week. Since 2002, TLAC has managed a successful program of treating aggressive non-native aquatic vegetation in Smith Mountain Lake. Last year, 56 acres of Hydrilla infestations were treated throughout the Lake.
All herbicide treatments in Smith Mountain Lake must be applied by a contractor licensed for herbicide application by the State of Virginia. TLAC has awarded this year’s treatment contract to Professional Lake Management (PLM) Corporation.
The area behind Crazy Horse Marina (between the marina’s gas docks and the back of the cove) is expected to be treated during the week of July 27th with a systemic herbicide. Certain restrictions apply when systemic herbicides are used, most specifically in regards to the use of treated water for irrigation purposes. Irrigation is prohibited for the first 7 days after each of the two (or possibly three) treatments, which will be approximately four weeks apart. Every effort has been made to notify all residents that live within the area to be systemically treated, by letter. Anyone who lives in this area, who has not been contacted, should call TLAC at 721-4400 for additional information and to be added to the contact list.
Other areas of Hydrilla are expected to be treated with a contact herbicide throughout August. The contact herbicide has no water use restrictions, noted Bob Camicia, Chairman of TLAC’s Environmental Committee. The herbicide is EPA approved for this specific purpose and does not harm fish. At the time of treatment, a neon green notification sign will be posted to several docks in each treatment area.
Pam Dinkle, Lake Management and Project Coordinator for TLAC, noted that for the convenience of residents, a listing of the areas scheduled for treatment will be available on their website, www.sml.us.com. Residents are invited to check the website weekly for updates about this year’s vegetation program.
For Immediate Release
Date: June 12, 2009
Contact: Pam Dinkle
Lake Management and Project Coordinator
Telephone: (540) 721-4400
E-mail: pamdinkle@sml.us.com
The Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission (TLAC) reports that treatment for Curlyleaf pondweed, an aggressive non-native aquatic vegetation will begin the week of June 15. Herbicide treatments in several areas identified with Curlyleaf pondweed infestations will be made at that time. Last year, 21 acres of Curlyleaf pondweed infestations were treated throughout the Lake.
Since 2002, TLAC has managed a successful program of treating aggressive non-native aquatic vegetation in Smith Mountain Lake. The Counties of Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania have provided the majority of the funding for TLAC’s invasive aquatic vegetation treatment program.
Any herbicide treatment in Smith Mountain Lake must be applied by a contractor licensed for herbicide application by the State of Virginia. TLAC has awarded this year’s treatment contract to Professional Lake Management (PLM) Corporation.
The Curlyleaf pondweed areas will be treated with a contact herbicide which has no water use restrictions, noted Bob Camicia, Chairman of TLAC’s Environmental Committee. The herbicide is EPA approved for this specific purpose and does not harm fish.
Pam Dinkle, Lake Management and Project Coordinator for TLAC, noted that for the convenience of residents, a listing of the areas scheduled for treatment will be available on their website, www.sml.us.com. Residents are invited to check the website weekly for updates about this year’s vegetation program. The site also includes information about the native and non-native aquatic vegetation found in SML.
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