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thebix · 09-09-2009, 01:08 AM

Take a look at Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford / Franklin counties, Virginia.

This is 'Lake Winni, south'. Remember the Bill Murray / Richard Dreyfuss 1991 movie, 'What About Bob'? Takes place on Lake Winni, but actually filmed at SML.

I've spent the last 8 summers there.

It's a pumped storage hydro power project, build and run by the electric power company.
Their permit requires a certain water flow downstream, even if drought conditions result in less water entering the lake. So in the southwest Virginia droughts of 2007 and 2008 the levels dropped by the end of the summer (into October, summer lasts longer there!) 3-4 feet!

Had to set the boat lift on the bottom to get the boat off. And hope the level didn't drop too much while we were out.

And when there is demand for hydro power the level can drop a foot during the day! (HOT July weekends, 90+, create huge electric demands). The pumped storage part refills the lake overnight, so Sunday AM the level is almost back to the Saturday AM level.

So a day-to-day fluctuation of a foot or more is common!

See this link to the water levels:
http://www.smithmountainlakelevel.com/SMLLevelWeb.exe

Change the first date to 2006 and see how it dropped 3-4 feet from full pond in past years.
2009 has been kinder.
Then set the dates for say Sept 5 - 9, and see how it fluctuates up to a foot in one day.

09-09-2009, 01:08 AM	#14
thebix Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Down since 2009. Posts: 101 Thanks: 2 Thanked 34 Times in 25 Posts	Too Low? Be glad for what you have! Take a look at Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford / Franklin counties, Virginia. This is 'Lake Winni, south'. Remember the Bill Murray / Richard Dreyfuss 1991 movie, 'What About Bob'? Takes place on Lake Winni, but actually filmed at SML. I've spent the last 8 summers there. It's a pumped storage hydro power project, build and run by the electric power company. Their permit requires a certain water flow downstream, even if drought conditions result in less water entering the lake. So in the southwest Virginia droughts of 2007 and 2008 the levels dropped by the end of the summer (into October, summer lasts longer there!) 3-4 feet! Had to set the boat lift on the bottom to get the boat off. And hope the level didn't drop too much while we were out. And when there is demand for hydro power the level can drop a foot during the day! (HOT July weekends, 90+, create huge electric demands). The pumped storage part refills the lake overnight, so Sunday AM the level is almost back to the Saturday AM level. So a day-to-day fluctuation of a foot or more is common! See this link to the water levels: http://www.smithmountainlakelevel.com/SMLLevelWeb.exe Change the first date to 2006 and see how it dropped 3-4 feet from full pond in past years. 2009 has been kinder. Then set the dates for say Sept 5 - 9, and see how it fluctuates up to a foot in one day.