Lake level

[flyrod]

Seems like they have drawn the lake level pretty low.  Being sort of new here it is a low as I have seen it in a year or so, anyone know if this is normal?  Still plenty of water to launch my boat but if if we're in the back of a creek I would be worried.

[mwardncsu]

Looks like it is down a bit over a foot from normal pond - just under 793 vs 794.2" (normal pond). A foot flucuation is normal - often that daily in the summer as the drain to generate then pump back. It's been up at full pond (795') so much this winter / spring that 793 can feel low.

www.smithmountainlakelevel.com

Also, this time of year they have to keep so much flow at Brookneal, so it may be that without recent rain they are draining more than normal - but my guess is this is just generation demand given at been streaky at 794 until the last day.

Let's just hope the flow guage at Brookneal isn't broken again like a few years ago. They let too much water out and then we had a semi-dry summer / fall and never recovered until the following January - we were about 5' down then and boats where hanging high and dry.

[striperjohn]

The time we were there 14-21 they raised and lowered the lake just about every day.

[mwardncsu]

I forgot to mention - on the website Is linked you can change the time period and look at historical lake levels - and get a feel for the seasonal patterns

[flyrod]

Thanks that link is helpful.