Smith Mountain Lake expected to rise 3 ft. above full pond due to heavy rain

ROANOKE, Va. (WSET) --Appalachian Power, operator of the Smith Mountain Project hydroelectric facility in southwest Virginia, is advising property owners and visitors that the Smith Mountain Reservoir will exceed its full pond level by three feet Friday morning.

Normal full pond level at Smith Mountain Lake is 795 feet.

The project’s lower reservoir, Leesville Lake, has a full pond level of 613 feet.

Based on updated river predictions from the National Weather Service and continued rainfall, Smith Mountain reservoir will reach an elevation of 798 feet, or three feet above full pond. Allowing the reservoir to exceed full pond will assist in preventing additional flooding downstream.

The new anticipated pond level is typically one foot above the height of a stationary dock.

Property owners are encouraged to remove unsecured items from the lower levels of their docks and relocate any items along the shoreline.

You can find current lake levels and inflow/discharge information online here.