SMITH MOUNTAIN PUMPED STORAGE PROJECT NO. 2210
SHORELINE
MANAGEMENT PLAN
STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
AUGUST 7, 2002
A meeting of the Steering Committee for the development of the Shoreline Management Plan for the Smith Mountain Pumped Storage Project was held on Wednesday, August 7, 2002 at the Resurrection Catholic Church located in Bedford, Virginia. The meeting began at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) and was attended by the below listed individuals:
|
Name Representing |
Name Representing |
|
Gina Shaw Bedford County, Virginia |
Brent Wills Bedford County, Virginia |
|
Bill Rolfe Bedford County, Virginia |
Bonnie Johnson Franklin County, Virginia |
|
Greg Sides Pittsylvania County, Virginia |
Bill Gillespie Campbell County, Virginia |
|
Ron Willard II Smith Mountain Lake Chamber |
Steve Campbell Assoc. of Lake Area Communities (ALAC) |
|
Stan Smith Smith Mountain Lake Association |
Bud LaRoche Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) |
|
Tom Wilcox VDGIF |
Richard Gibbons Dept of Conservation & Recreation (VDCR) |
|
Gregory Theyel Louis Berger Group |
Bill Perry Louis Berger Group |
|
Tina Theyel Louis Berger Group |
Eric Voight Louis Berger Group |
|
Teresa Rogers American Electric Power (AEP) |
Wayne Alexander AEP |
|
Frank Simms AEP |
Steve Giles AEP |
|
Mark Coleman AEP |
|
Following is a synopsis of the meeting.
Synopsis
Frank Simms began the meeting welcoming the attendees and setting the agenda. Emphasis was placed on continued participation of the Steering Committee members in the development of the Shoreline Management Plan and the need for attendance at meetings.
Teresa Rogers presented a short update of development projects filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and under review, and projects for which applications have been received and are being prepared for FERC review and processing. Mrs. Rogers stated that the application to the FERC for additional boat slips at the Winding Waters community would be filed the week of August 12. In addition, comments by the State agencies are currently being addressed relative to development plans at Golfers Crossing along Smith Mountain Lake.
Gregory Theyel and Bill Perry of Louis Berger Group informed the Steering Committee members as to the information to be provided at the Public Meeting to be held at 7:00 p.m. that evening at the same location. Mr. Theyel and Mr. Perry also shared some of the preliminary data collected for developing the plan. The agenda for the pubic meeting was discussed and the materials to be available during and after the public meeting at different information stations were shown.
Bonnie Johnson, representing Franklin County, Virginia, stated that it was imperative that as part of the presentation to the public: (1) the role of Berger in preparing the plan needed to be explained; (2) AEP’s role relative to development and implementation of the plan needed to be detailed; and (3) it be clearly stated that the information available for the public was only preliminary and that a final plan was yet to be developed. The attendees agreed.
Ms. Johnson also asked how the plan would develop over time. Mr. Theyel responded that shoreline management plans might need to be modified due to changes in the way development proceeds over the life of the plan. He further stated that the Steering Committee might want to consider incorporating into the Smith Mountain Shoreline Management Plan a process for periodic plan reviews and ways to make the plan reactive to change.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding if and how the shoreline classifications to be developed as part of the shoreline management plan would relate to zoning and development above the boundaries for the Smith Mountain Project. Mr. Theyel explained that the intent is to have the shoreline classifications developed in the plan compatible with zoning and planning for those areas outside of the project boundary. He clarified that, in general, the project boundary is elevation 800 ft. NGVD (National Geodetic Vertical Datum) for the area surrounding Smith Mountain Lake and elevation 620 ft. NGVD for the area surrounding Leesville Lake. It was emphasized that the shoreline classifications could affect how the areas outside the project boundary are developed in the future but would not control that development.
The representatives from Bedford County were asked if the property limits shown along the reservoir for the Smith Mountain Project on the County’s GIS maps represented a meets-and-bounds survey or a contour. The representatives for Bedford County indicated that the limits could simply show the edge of water at the time the aerial photographs were taken. However, that would need to be confirmed. Contact will be made by the representatives for Bedford County with those whom prepared the aerial photographs and the information conveyed to Berger.
Mr. Theyel and Mr. Perry informed the Steering Committee that vegetation and areas of soil erosion have been classified along the perimeter of the reservoir. In addition, GPS locations have been assigned to that information. In regard to the surveys made of vegetation, no nuisance species were noted along the shoreline. The point was made that this work focused on the shoreline and not the entire lake.
The question was asked as to whether or not property deed information would be shown as part of the final product for the Shoreline Management Plan. The response was that such information would not be made a part of the plan based on the information assembled to date.
The representatives for Berger stated that they are still in the process of assessing and viewing boat activity along both Smith Mountain and Leesville reservoirs. As part of those assessments, the members of the Steering Committee were informed that boat counts are being made and the recreational facilities categorized.
Questions were asked about the sharing of information after completion of the study, especially the aerial photographs. The response was that the sharing of photographic information and how that information would be shared is a part of the scope of work for preparing the Shoreline Management Plan and would be discussed as part of the development of the plan.
Stan Smith asked whether the shoreline management plan would list AEP’s responsibilities. Mr. Simms responded that the plan would address not only AEP’s responsibilities but the responsibilities of all the various stakeholders relative to shoreline development along both Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes.
Each of the Steering Committee members was asked to prepare what they felt to be the appropriate parameters to utilize as part of the plan and to provide that information to Mr. Theyel and/or Mr. Perry by September 6. Those parameters should focus on cultural resources, soil erosion, natural resources, recreational resources, use densities, and land use. One example presented was a parameter whereby a certain depth of water would be required for determining the location for a dock. That information will then be utilized for preparing draft parameters that will be submitted to each of the Steering Committee members by September 30. The draft parameters will then be discussed at the next Steering Committee meeting to be held October 14. The final comments on the parameters will be due to Berger by November 11.
As part of the discussion of parameters, the members of the committee were informed that there is significant water quality data available from the SMLA.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:00 p.m. and preparations for the public meeting at 7:00 finalized.
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