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.

Smith Mountain Lake residents have one last chance to have their voices heard on Appalachian Power's water release protocol. The State Water Control Board will meet Oct. 16 in Richmond to hear citizen input and to make a decision on Department of Environmental Quality's water release proposal.

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.

Former Western Branch landmark Cosmos Diner is at its new home in Moneta at Smith Mountain Lake in western Virginia. Soon to be the diner part of Mayberry Drive-In and Diner, the structure was trucked across the state from Chesapeake.

Appalachian Power has received an extended variance to release less water from the Smith Mountain Project into the Staunton River. The variance, granted by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, allows Appalachian to release a minimum average outlfow of 400 cfs, rather than 650 cfs.