Extended drought conditions in the region has forced Appalachian Power to reduce downstream flows from the Smith Mountain Project, which stores water between Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes.
A large portion of riprap that is usually underwater is seen at the Oak Grove Public Boat Launch in Moneta in January due to a drop in water levels at Smith Mountain Lake.Â
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Water from Smith Mountain Dam spills into Leesville Lake in September 2018.
Photos: Building Smith Mountain Lake, a look back
Cutting a road to the river March 13, 1958
March 13, 1958 -Â Building a road through the mountain was one of the preliminary jobs tackled by Appalachian Power Co. before actual work could be started on the power project.
Smith Mt. Gap Oct. 19, 1960
Oct. 19, 1960 -Â Smith Mountain Gap, showing bridge being built below dam site. Temporary ford is at lower left.
Leesville Dam Aug. 27, 1961
Aug. 27, 1961 -Â Now over two-thirds complete, the Leesville Dam is part of the Smith Mountain Dam Project. This dam is 18 miles downstream from the Smith Mountain Dam.
Smith Mountain Dam Oct. 11, 1961
Oct. 11, 1961 -Â Looking north across the Roanoke River at Smith Mountain Dam project shows heavy excavation of the river bed where the river has been diverted by a coffer dam. Concrete supports can be seen taking shape high up on the cliff wall.
SML Cncrete plant 1961
Feb. 12, 1961 -Â A concrete plant clings to the side of Smith Mountain near the site of Smith Mountain Lake Dam.
Leesville Dam March 16, 1962
March 16, 1962 -Â Leesville Dam takes shape on the Roanoke River near Leesville in Campbell County. The Ninety-foot-high concrete dam stretches 920 ft. across the river and is about two-thirds complete.
Turbine runner July 2, 1962.
July 2, 1962 -Â One of the largest ever built, this 143-ton runner, built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp., Philadelphia, for Appalachain Power Co., is a major component of the hydralic turbine which, when installed at Smith Mountain Dam, will develop 204,000 horsepower. The 13 ft. runner had to be cut vertically into two pieces for shipment.
Leesville Dam almost complete Oct. 17, 1962
Oct. 17, 1962 -Â Shown in final stages of construction, Leesville Dam is almost ready to generate power.
Leesville Dam water wheel January 23, 1963
Jan. 24, 1963 -Â Appalachian Power Co. employees ride a 56-ton water wheel into place at Leesville Dam. Blades of the wheel will be turned by water coming through the dam, in turn rotating the generator shaft to change hydralic energy to electrical energy. Leesville Dam is expected to begin generating electricity in March (1963.)
SML water backing up October 2, 1963
October 2, 1963 -Â Construction of the power turbines and power house below Smith Mountain Dam is well underway. Giant ducts that will eventually carry water can be seen rising toward the top of the dam.
Under pressure Dec. 15, 1965
Dec. 15, 1965 -Â A decompression chamber on top of the Smith Mountain Dam served as home to a group of deep sea divers who worked 200 feet below the surface of the lake. Divers carry out construction work in pressurized suits during four-hour shifts.
SML march 1981
March 29, 1981 -Â A technician from GE's Apparatus Service Division installs new coils in repairs to a hydro generator at Smith Mountain Dam.Â
SML Leesville 62-88
1962 - 1994. These two images taken 32 years apart from nearly the same spot, show the Leesville Dam during construction, right, and after, left.
SML Dam Collage 1988.jpg
1962-1988. Two photos taken 26 years apart detail the transformation of Smith Mountain Gap.
SML Dam Aerial November 1989
November 1989 -Â Smith Mountain Dam and Smith Mountain Lake transformed Smith Mountain Gap and the entire region.
-- HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES --
Smith Mountain Gap Aug 30 1961
Aug 30 1961 -Â A coffer dam, well under construction, is pictured here in the center of the Roanoke River at Smith Mountain Gap. The coffer dam will divert the river to the right while the rest of the dam is being constructed. Engineers encountered a huge fault in the sheer cliff walls causing several months delay in dam work.
1963-10-02 Smith Mountain Lake
Oct. 2, 1963 - This aerial photo gives a good view of the turbines under construction in the power house below Smith Mountain Lake Dam.
SML Leesville Jan 1988.jpg
Jan. 23, 1988 -Â Leesville Dam.
Stretching cable Feb. 15 1961
Feb. 15, 1961 -Â A workman stretches cable high above Smith Mountain Gap.
Smith Mountain Gap May 24, 1960
May 24, 1960 - Smith Mountain Gap on the Roanoke River, site of the $50,000,000 Hydro-Electric Project.
Leesville Construction near end Jan. 23, 1963
Jan. 23, 1963 -Â Water flows over the spillways as construction nears end at Leesville Dam. The reservoir is now one-third full and begining Feb. 1, 1963, will be brought up to 600 ft. elevation or 15 ft. below the top of the dam. Work continues on placing of two turbine-generators in the dam's powerhouse, at the right of the spillways.
Turbines 10/24/1979
Oct. 24, 1979 -Â The addition of a new 100,000-kilowatt pump turbine at Smith Mountain Dam is the last of the work to be done on the two-dam pump storage project started by Appalachain Power Company in 1960. The new turbine is at lower left with crane overhead.
1962-03-29 Smith Mountain Gap
March 29, 1962 - An aerial view of construction of the $50,000,000 Smith Mountain Dam project. Huge concrete anchors can be seen high up on the mountain while the coffer dam below diverts the Roanoke River to make way for the construction of the main dam wall.
Lake Level Rises April 13, 1965
April 13, 1965 -Â This photo shows the level of Smith Mountain Lake, behind the dam on the Roanoke River. A generous fall of rain and good runoff from snow raised the level of the lake to an elevation of 782.1 feet, just 12.9 feet short of maximum depth. Far below the water level, inside the power house, work continued on the installation of power generating equipment. (The reference to elevation refers to height above sea level, not the depth of the lake.)
Leesville Dam Feb. 6, 1962
Feb. 6, 1962 - This photo shows the Leesville Dam from Pittsylvania County looking toward Bedford.
SML Progress october 1963 2
October 2, 1963 -Â Water that will become Smith Mountain Lake had already begun to accumulate behind the partially complete Smith Mountain Dam.
