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Post by ready2fish on Sept 29, 2015 16:43:54 GMT -5
Please keep a watch on your boats and jet skis in dock lifts on SML. With all this rain the lake levels are rising fast and even more is expected through the week end. Keep them raised to a safe level and secure them with a dock line just in case.
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Sept 29, 2015 17:11:13 GMT -5
Good points. Also, if you are navigating the lake...... Watch out for the floating forest. Went over Hardy and The BW bridge (834) and both are dumping some serious timber. Mward has pics!
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Post by mwardncsu on Sept 29, 2015 18:04:47 GMT -5
Just got word via BayRoc that AEP is saying the lake will go above 795' (full pond) but they don't have an outlook for how much. For those on the lake, make sure your boats are high enough in your lifts, or if attached to a fixed dock, loosen those dock lines - and secure any items on docks that could float if the water gets too high
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Bert
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Post by Bert on Sept 29, 2015 19:44:53 GMT -5
The water was almost covering the top of the dock at the Hardy ramp just before dark, lots of current flowing.
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Post by jb4sml on Sept 30, 2015 7:25:17 GMT -5
I was watching a reporter from WDBJ7 this morning commenting on Roanoke Department of Public Works as they cleared out a log dam and crap that had caused the water to flow over the bridge. What I found surprising is that they were taking from one side of the bridge and dumping it back into the river on the other side of the bridge. This does not strike me as being a good steward of the river and we all know where it will eventually wind up. I wonder if AEP is aware of this?
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Post by tuscarora on Sept 30, 2015 8:03:40 GMT -5
I've been watching the lake gauge from our away home in central PA. It's good to see things back above normal pond. Last trip down, I ran out of ramp before the boat floated.
One mystery for me: On the lake gauge site (http://www.smithmountainlakelevel.com), there's "Normal Pond" and "Full Pond". I understand that well enough, but can someone tell me what "Sea Doo Floats" signifies? Why is that cursor there at two feet above full pond?
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Sept 30, 2015 8:21:18 GMT -5
can someone tell me what "Sea Doo Floats" signifies? Why is that cursor there at two feet above full pond? I've often wondered the same thing. Sent them a email asking that same question. I will post the response. |
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Post by mwardncsu on Sept 30, 2015 8:41:35 GMT -5
A private owner maintains that website - I expect that the 797' level is the point at which his SeaDoo would float off his lift.
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Post by flyrod on Sept 30, 2015 9:14:58 GMT -5
Just a heads up there is a lot of debris even below the bridge. Saw some big stuff in the main channel around Becky's . Transducer killers for sure. Be careful folks!
Certainly hope that the tropical storm/hurricane tracks east, we don't need another 4 or 5 inches of rain.
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Post by formula180 on Sept 30, 2015 10:55:29 GMT -5
I was watching a reporter from WDBJ7 this morning commenting on Roanoke Department of Public Works as they cleared out a log dam and crap that had caused the water to flow over the bridge. What I found surprising is that they were taking from one side of the bridge and dumping it back into the river on the other side of the bridge. This does not strike me as being a good steward of the river and we all know where it will eventually wind up. I wonder if AEP is aware of this? I would send AEP an email with a link to the TV broadcast if you can find it. In Waynesboro, the Country Club would pile their brush from storms and trimmings on the bank of South River. The next big storm would then dislodge it and wash it down stream providing space for future dumpings. A letter to the Environmental Department got results against the Country Club. I think the city owned the property and shortly thereafter, the property was posted with NO TRESPASSING signs.  The corruption in that town would fill a book. ............................................................. Waynesboro, Virginia August 21, 2007 Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 629 East Main Street P. O. Box 1105 Richmond, Virginia 23218 Dear Sir: It has come to my attention and concern about the dumping of waste materials into the South River. These waste materials mainly include leaves and grass clippings of the individuals that live along the river. While some of these people probably don’t know any better, others could care less about the environment. One of the biggest offenders is the Waynesboro Country Club on Meadowbrook Road. They have an area that is across the road from the country club and on the down river side and adjacent to the creek that runs into the river. Brush and other waste material such as leaves are deposited on the river bank. When the river floods, the material is washed away. When you think about it, they are saving thousands of dollars a year by not deposing of the material in the proper manner. This has been going on since the mid 1950’s as I can remember. I have wondered why someone hasn’t done anything about it in the past but the politics in the city is overwhelming. Best regards, Yours in Service Anonymous .......................... |
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Oct 1, 2015 6:58:07 GMT -5
A private owner maintains that website - I expect that the 797' level is the point at which his SeaDoo would float off his lift. Yup Response from the site Back in the fall of 2004 when two Hurricanes dumped a bunch of rain on Roanoke, the lake level rose to over 797 feet. My Sea Doo (jetski) floated off of its lift (which is dock-mounted), and drifted down Gills Creek. Many other PWCs floated off of their lifts, as did some boats. (This was the event that prompted me to start this website.) Since my lift is typical of those at the lake (it holds the Sea Doo about a foot above the dock), it's a good reference point. So "Sea Doo Floats" really means "Sea Doo Floats off its lift". |
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Post by deerview on Oct 1, 2015 10:15:05 GMT -5
I was up to the lake this morning to take my boat in for repair. I came up the lake from Craddock Creek and had no issues. I did run into some junk in the water near Becky's. There is a tree floating at the mouth of the creek and some other junk nearby. Someone told me the lake has dropped about a foot since last night. If that is the case, it has risen about 5 feet since about 10 days ago. They told me when they got up to the lake last night, it was at the bottom of our docks. When I left at 8:00am, it was about a foot lower. I am sure APCO is going to try to get it as low as possible with anticipation of much more water coming down.
The boat ride was nice, but I only saw a few boats out fishing and no traffic. A little wet, but a nice ride up the lake.
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Post by mwardncsu on Oct 1, 2015 12:37:16 GMT -5
The chart shows the levels - we got just below 792 and then it came up a bit - and with all the rain we came up to just below 795 - so 3'. Yes - looks like they are trying to get as much water downstream as possible to make room for what is coming.
ReadytoFish sent me a pic from R47 this am with trash all the way across the channel. Also head of a bunch below Indian. It's coming that way.
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Post by formula180 on Oct 1, 2015 14:14:03 GMT -5
Bedford County has a good mapping system for checking the flood plane if you are buying a home or lot on the lake. I am amazed at the number of homes that are in the flood plane. I have to wonder how they get insurance and assume they pay a high price or have no flood insurance. We haven't had a hurricane in central VA for a long time. I remember Agnes and the amount of rocks and gravel washed down stream from the mountains. The river bed of South River in Waynesboro accumulated two to three feet in some places and deep holes of ten feet were now only six feet or less. In 2011, they removed the Rife Loth dam on South River under the influence of Trout Unlimited and the promises of a Blue Ribbon trout stream. While there were many people against the removal and no facts were presented, politics ruled the day and the dam was removed with some difficulty. See Mark Millers pictures documenting the removal: PicturesThe VA Fly Fishing Festival was held there for a number of years but has now moved to Meadows Park near Richmond. The real problem is not water temperature but the lack of water in the dry summer months needed to sustain trout habitat which was known back in the 50's when the Game Department stopped stocking trout by the middle of July. It will be interesting to see how much damage the hurricane will cause since the dam has been removed. More rock and gravel will wash further down stream and fill in the river bed in the city causing more businesses to be flooded out. Here is an article loaded with big promises that will not be filled: South River runs free |
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Post by striperjohn on Oct 1, 2015 14:40:08 GMT -5
Weather channel now predicting 6-8 inches of rain from 70 miles west of roanoke to norfolk during 24 hour period Saturday. Stated some areas may get up to 20 inches!
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The corruption in that town would fill a book.