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thebix · 05-27-2013, 06:55 PM

Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia is owned and run by AEP for hydro power purposes. (It was used as Lake Winnipesaukee to film the movie 'What About Bob')
See http://www.smithmtn.com/about/SmithMountainLake.aspx
It's level is managed over a 2 foot difference, depending on power needs, while its downstream partner Leesville varies over 13 feet!
On a hot Saturday in the summer (like 95-100 most of July, it is Virginia) the level drops by a noticeable several inches, only to be refilled overnight.
Some seasons, when the area suffered droughts but AEP was required to maintain a specific flow downstream, the lake has varied during the year by 5- 8 feet!

05-27-2013, 06:55 PM	#7
thebix Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South Down since 2009. Posts: 97 Thanks: 2 Thanked 32 Times in 23 Posts	Be glad the lake is not primarily for Hydro power. Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia is owned and run by AEP for hydro power purposes. (It was used as Lake Winnipesaukee to film the movie 'What About Bob') See http://www.smithmtn.com/about/SmithMountainLake.aspx It's level is managed over a 2 foot difference, depending on power needs, while its downstream partner Leesville varies over 13 feet! On a hot Saturday in the summer (like 95-100 most of July, it is Virginia) the level drops by a noticeable several inches, only to be refilled overnight. Some seasons, when the area suffered droughts but AEP was required to maintain a specific flow downstream, the lake has varied during the year by 5- 8 feet!