Leesville Lake Outflow Stays Low

By Justin Faulconer, The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va.

Jan. 18–Appalachian Power is keeping outflow from the Leesville Lake dam into the Staunton River lower than normal based on a predicted rainfall deficit.

The company recently notified the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission of the decision, according to a news release. A license that FERC administers allows American Electric Power, Appalachian’s parent company, to use Smith Mountain Lake to generate electricity.

Normally, it would require a normal flow of 650 cubic square feet per second from the lake’s hydroelectric plant, but last year’s drought downscaled the flow to 500 and eventually to 400.

The variances would lift and outflow would resume at normal level when Smith Mountain Lake goes back to 794 feet and spring inflows are able to maintain increased releases for downriver fish spawning. According to the release, the lake’s level Thursday was 793 feet, inflow was 445 cubic square feet per second and outflow from the Leesville dam was 351 feet per second.

The company spoke with area stakeholders and they have all agreed to continue the variance flows, according to Teresa Rogers, Appalachian’s environmental and regulatory affairs supervisor.

The company will also continue monitoring the lake as it gets closer to full pond and possibly exceed 795 feet in anticipation of the spring releases required by agencies for fish spawning. Current flow and elevation readings may be viewed at www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/hydro/Default.asp.

—–

To see more of The News & Advance, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsadvance.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The News & Advance, Lynchburg, Va.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:AEP,