Page 47 - Discover Spring 2021
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a significant heavy weather event. Take a those with cyclonic rotation.
look at your own shoreline. Will you be
The key is staying informed and ahead
contributing to the debris danger?
during potential high water events. You can
- Keep petroleum products and other visit AEP.com and select: “Community”,
environmental hazards secured and above “Recreation & Well Being”, “Learn”,
800 feet Mean Sea Level to prevent and look under “Hydro Plant Levels &
pollutants from getting into the lake. Flows”. You will find SML and Leesville
Lake under “Roanoke River”. Check
- Secure power at your dock and at the
“plant-specific notices” to see what AEP
source before the lake exceeds Full Pond (795
sees and is anticipating. Current and
feet Mean Sea Level). Avoid going on to
historical lake levels can also be found at
your submerged dock. If you must wade out
smithmountainlakelevel.com. Most reports
refrain from touching your boat lifts, dock
reference “Full Pond” so take the time to
floater pipes or other metal to avoid potential
mark that level as your visual reference.
electrical shock issues.
AEP releases alerts through
- High water events drive local TV and radio outlets,
lake water quality down, as well as keeping an
and can inadvertently cause active Appalachian Power
contaminants to enter the Facebook Page if high water
lake. This is a prudent time to is anticipated. It is easy to
avoid direct contact. stay informed.
- Know your boat’s height Okay, so there might be one
and bridge clearance heights (and that’s a big maybe)
compared to actual water negative to living at SML.
level. If a boat floats off its High water events are so
cradle, it can be crushed in few and far between that
your dock’s rafters as the lake rises. This we forget to stay informed and maintain our
requires prior knowledge of your boat’s situational awareness. Maybe keep this issue
clearance, and an early decision to pull your of Discover SML in a handy place, and do
boat out and tie it up to your floater to ride a little pre-planning before the next “creek
out the storm. rises”. Let us take a bigger perspective: for
those who live down stream, SML can be
AEP has historically done a remarkable job
considered a blessing. Our lake has the
of lake level control during heavy weather.
capacity and the capability of holding back
As residents and guests, we must understand
water to protect our neighbors in heavy
that there is a balancing act that has to go on
weather.
during these events to try to keep SML level
in check, while protecting life and property Spring is here and the boating season is upon
downstream through other lakes, developed
us. Boat with awareness and courtesy. Place
areas, and tributaries, starting with Leesville
the safety of yourself and all others number one
Lake. This gets harder when heavy weather
hits east of SML first loading up areas and take pride in sharing our lake. SMLWSC
downstream. It goes without saying: storms
don’t always develop as forecasted, especially
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