Many people who visit Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia are surprised that the water levels do not fluctuate much. Most man-made lakes, controlled by power companies, see significant, regular fluctuations. Lake Norman, in North Carolina, fluctuates so much that, in some cases, docks have to be built on a pivoting mechanism more than 100 ft. from shore. Homeowners there say they are often looking at a mud bowl in the winter rather than a beautiful lake. The long piers and docks are sometimes sitting in the mud, and their boats are sitting in storage.
In the winter of 2007, many of us saw pictures in the news of Lake Lanier, near Atlanta, which has become a virtual dried-up mud hole with grass growing hundreds of feet out from the normal shoreline. Atlanta could have lost its entire water supply due to a lack of rain last winter. Even our neighboring Leesville Lake experiences fluctuation in water levels – up to six feet above or below normal lake level.
Due in part to the outstanding design of the Smith Mountain Lake hydroelectric system, we have relatively stable water levels. Most boathouses are built close to shore and don’t require a swivel mechanism for fluctuating lake levels. To my knowledge, water levels have never dropped to a point in which the enjoyment and functionality of the lake are significantly impacted by most people.
What a blessing to have this kind of stability in our water supply. If you would like to read more about Smith Mountain Lake, water, and real estate issues, visit our website at https://www.smithmountainhomes.com/.
