Shoreline Management

The Smith Mountain Project,which consists of Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake, is an important resource to its nearby communities and the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is an economic engine for the localities adjacent to the two lakes, home to thousands of people and a source of recreation to fishermen and waterskiers, wakeboarders, boaters and tourists. The lakes provide habitat for fish and wildlife, drinking water and clean energy to the area.

There are cultural sites, important natural communities, and scenic areas in need of protection because they are important to the sense of place and the project’s ecosystem. In addition, often the lakes simply instill a sense of peace, rest and enjoyment.

As Licensee of the project, Appalachian Power is required to regulate uses along the shoreline and to develop a Shoreline Management Plan that ensures protection and enhancement of the project's recreational, environmental, cultural and scenic resources.

Smith Mountain Project’s Shoreline Management Plan was initially developed and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in 2005. According to the 2005 Shoreline Management Plan, it is be reviewed by the company and public in five years A revised Shoreline Management Plan was submitted to FERC on December 31, 2010. FERC issued a public notice on the 2010 SMP on March 17, 2011 and received comments on the draft document through April 15, 2011.