One conclusion is clear in this year's drought-intensified dispute over water releases at Smith Mountain Lake: Appalachian Power Co. is right to look for a more flexible formula that can take into account historical trends and current conditions.

By Courtney Cutright courtney.cutright@roanoke.com 981-3345 Officials from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality released two reports Wednesday summarizing public comments and suggesting its own changes to a contentious requested water release proposal at Smith Mountain Lake.

By Courtney Cutright courtney.cutright@roanoke.com 981-3345 Stakeholders on both sides of a contentious water-flow issue involving Smith Mountain Lake will meet at the table once more -- this time at an invitation-only meeting that's closed to the public and the media.

Appalachian Power Company Project No.: 2210-169 NOTICE OF APPLICATION ACCEPTED FOR FILING, INTENT TO PREPARE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, SOLICITING MOTIONS TO INTERVENE AND PROTESTS, READY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS, AND SOLICITING COMMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND PRELIMINARY FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS (August 7, 2008) Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.a.

By Bill Reidenbach If you are happy with the way Smith Mountain Lake's water level is managed, end of story. If you don't know how the water level is managed, shame on you. If you want water level managed differently, speak up.