Hot Weather Alert Issued for Appalachian Power could Affect Water Levels within Smith Mountain Project

ROANOKE, Va., June 26, 2026 - Water levels on Leesville Lake could rise rapidly starting Monday, June 29, and may fluctuate throughout the week. Appalachian Power Company (APCo) is alerting boaters, fishermen and other recreational users on the Smith Mountain Project to be prepared for changing conditions.

The National Weather Service is forecasting hot temperatures and PJM Interconnection (PJM), an independent regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid in 13 states, has notified APCo that it may request increased power generation at its hydroelectric plants to help maintain regional grid reliability if needed.

Current water levels at the Smith Mountain Project will not impact APCo's ability to generate power, but conditions downstream could still change if additional generation is needed. APCo's Hydroelectric Department has taken steps to reduce the amount of water released downstream during generation utilizing triggers established in the Water Management Plan. Within Smith Mountain Project, water used to generate power can be pumped from Leesville Lake back into Smith Mountain Lake as soon as conditions allow.

Those considering recreating on the rivers should monitor The Smith Mountain Project website for additional information. The Smith Mountain Project, which consists of Smith Mountain Lake, the Smith Mountain Dam, Leesville Lake and Leesville Dam, is a 636-megawatt pumped-storage hydroelectric facility on the Roanoke River.