ROANOKE, Va., Oct.18, 2011 – Appalachian Power, a unit of American Electric Power (AEP), has announced that the water level of its Claytor Lake hydroelectric facility in Pulaski County will be lowered three feet below full pond for nine days beginning early next month to allow shoreline maintenance.

In collaboration with Friends of Claytor Lake (FOCL), Pulaski County and various state agencies, Appalachian will conduct the “drawdown” of the reservoir to allow area residents and volunteers an opportunity for dock and shoreline stabilization construction or maintenance.

The drawdown will begin November 9, 2011.  The lake elevation will be lowered one foot per day to 1843 feet by 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 12.  Appalachian will begin refilling to full-pond level of 1846 feet on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 5 pm.  During the drawdown, the reservoir may fluctuate between 1842 and 1843 feet.  

The speed of refilling will be affected by water inflow conditions.

Appalachian Power and FOCL encourage residents, homeowners associations and others to organize cleanup activities during this drawdown period.   A permit from Appalachian is required to install new shoreline stabilization structures. Property owners should contact Appalachian’s Wayne Alexander (wmalexander@aep.com) or Teresa Rogers (tprogers@aep.com) for a permit application or for answers to whether a permit will be needed.   Dock expansions or modifications may require a permit from Pulaski County. 

It will be important to monitor how the drawdown is being utilized by lake residents.  FOCL should be contacted at info@focl.org to provide a description of the work completed during the drawdown or residents should return the postcard FOCL provided in its last newsletter.  If mussels are encountered along the shoreline during the drawdown, residents or workers should gently pick them up and place them in the water along the water’s edge.  These efforts should also be reported to FOCL.

Persons at the lake during the drawdown period should use caution.  Lower water levels can create boating or swimming hazards from submerged obstacles.

Lowering of the reservoir and maintenance of the 1843-foot level are subject to external factors such as extreme weather or river conditions.    Appalachian and FOCL will announce changes to the drawdown as soon as possible after they are known.

Water levels of all AEP hydroelectric facilities are posted and regularly updated on the company’s Web site: http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/hydro .

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