ROANOKE, Va., Oct.  4, 2007 – Because of the continued lack of adequate rainfall in the Smith Mountain Project watershed, Appalachian Power will again adjust its operations to reduce flow from the Leesville dam and reservoir into the Staunton River.
 
In mid-August the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) authorized a variance of the company’s minimum flow requirements to help slow the lowering of water levels in the hydroelectric project’s reservoirs.
 
That variance was extended by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week from the original modified flow of 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 400 cfs on weekdays. Normal minimum flow is 650 cfs.
 
Weekend recreation flows downriver will also be modified:  650 cfs will be provided at the Long Island, Va., area from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6 ; Sunday, Oct. 7; Saturday, Oct. 13; and Saturday, Oct. 20.  The weekend flow modification from two days to one day is due to the adjusted elevation of Smith Mountain Lake reaching 792 feet.  Weekend recreation flows will be eliminated after Oct. 20 and all daily flows will be at the rate of 400 cfs. 
 
The variance will expire when Smith Mountain Lake returns to an adjusted elevation of 794 feet. 
 
Flow modifications and releases are contingent upon restrictions or requirements caused by extreme weather or other conditions. Changes may be made without notice. Current flow and elevation readings for all hydroelectric generating facilities operated by Appalachian Power and its parent company American Electric Power may be viewed at this Web site: http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/hydro/Default.asp