Newsletter October 2021

And just that quick … Fall is just around the corner. I hope everyone
had a great summer with restful, relaxing and fun-filled times on
the water. As the leaves begin to change, the beauty of our
lake shows another reason why we love it here.

The Annual Meeting in July was a great success. My thanks to all
involved in planning and facilitating the meeting and to the many
members that attended. The membership approved the 2021-2022
budget, voted in a new Director (congrats Pam McMillan, and
thanks), heard updates from all committees and ate a great lunch
provided by Leesville Lake Marina. We also heard a very
interesting update by our local Virginia Department of Wildlife
Resources officer. 

In August the Board of Directors elected officers for the new fiscal
year. In all cases the incumbents agreed to work another
year for the Association. My thanks to all. We are
still in need of committee chairs for the Membership and Safety
Committees. PLEASE consider helping in these area. The
organization will not function without our volunteer leaders.

The LLA board recently designed an on-line survey of our members to get
your thoughts on the Association’s activities and focus. The
LLA is a board-run organization with only four membership
meetings a year and your feedback is very important as the board
makes month-by-month decisions. Please participate in the
life of the community by completing the survey. And do put this
on your calendar for immediate reference: The next
quarterly meeting will be held on Saturday October 9 at 10:30
am in the Altavista Train Station. 

My wife Pam and I wish everyone the very best as we move into the next
season. Please stay safe and do all you can to help minimize
the effects of Covid as we continue to work through this
pandemic. 

Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC)

The TLAC Board of Directors met on August 10. The purpose of the
meeting was to vote on the TLAC Navigation Committee’s
recommendation to establish a No Wake Surfing Zones (NWSZ)
application process on the two lakes. Wake Surfing is
increasing in popularity and residents have raised safety, dock
damage and erosion concerns associated with the sport. This
is not to be confused with No Wake Zones, for which a process
currently exists whereby property owners can apply for a permit
for such buoys in specified areas. A No Wake Surfing Zone
would require a similar process to establish broader areas where
wake surfing would not be permitted. Areas of concern
include coves and anywhere the distance from shore-to-shore is
less than 400’. This is obviously a contentious issue with
strong feelings on each side. TLAC held a public forum to
allow citizens to address their thoughts directly to the board
and facilitated a web based survey regarding this
subject. After much consideration, the TLAC board approved
the Navigation Committee’s recommendation to put in place a
process whereby these zones can be requested. The process
will start in 2022 and will be reviewed each year to determine
success, make improvements and address areas of concern. LLA will
provide more information after the application process has been
finalized and is in effect.

AEP (APCo)

The LLA continues to be actively involved on all Technical Review
Committees as required by APCo’s FERC Operating License. These cover areas like: Debris, Water Quality, Recreation, Erosion and Sedimentation, Navigation and
Habitat. If you have any questions on any of these issues, please contact us via the website.

Thanks,

Dave

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP SURVEY!
PLEASE READ AND RESPOND!

**********LINK
TO MEMBERSHIP SURVEY HERE**********

Secretary’s
Report

Phyllis
Garlick

Debris
Committee Report

Pam
McMillan

Happy
Fall Y’all!

 I am so happy to report that our Debris Committee received three new
members at the Annual Meeting. A huge thank you and welcome goes
out to April and Lyle Firnhaber (MM8-Eagle Point Shores), and Roy
Kelley (MM13-Quatrone)!

 So far this year, we’ve been fortunate that tropical storms have avoided
our area.The Pigg River (the main source of debris), has not had
a high level reading since last February and intake of debris has
been limited. From January-July 2021, Appalachian reported a
total of 1,537 tons removed from Leesville Lake (last year same
timeframe ,AEP removed 5,663).

Scattered debris throughout the lake still poses safety hazards. And
although AEP’s barge is productive for concentrated debris areas,
our Committee continues to believe the addition of a skimmer
would better serve widespread and formed debris trails. We hope
to readdress this topic with APCo in the near future and perhaps
come to a compromise.

 Going forward

• For the remainder of the month of September and into October, AEP Crew
  with barge plans to work 4-10 hour days working between the Dam
  and MM10 (weather permitting).
• In late September (after the Long-Eared Bats cease roosting), we should
  expect AEP to start back up excavation clearing for debris
  storage at the Myers Creek new off load location (MM11.5).
• There is no new progress update from Appalachian in regards to the Pigg
  River diversion/collection device studies.

 How you can help

Please continue to report debris sightings to AEP by using the quick link on LLA’s website and as always, thank you!

Navigation
Committee

Joe
Humphrey

Hazard Buoy Update

Two of the Hazard Buoys have moved – the shoal at mile 11 and the stump
field at mile 15. It’s apparent that the flows from the Smith Mountain Lake when generating power are significant and make additional anchoring necessary for the hazard buoys in that portion of the lake. Therefore, we will be adding an additional 100 pound anchor to each of those two buoys to hopefully, prevent them from moving any further.

 

We are in the process of obtaining the required paperwork and approvals for the final hazard buoys on Leesville Lake with the assistance of TLAC.  AEP has asked that we not consider the buoy proposed at the mouth of the Pigg River due to the work AEP is
considering for capturing debris from the river. We agreed with eliminating, for now, that proposed buoy.

 

The final three hazard buoy locations are as follows:

Shoals at 12 Mile Island (mile 11.8)                    

Rocks at the Runaway Bay point (mile 1.2)

Rocks at the Heron Landing point on the north end (mile 1.6)

 

No Wake Buoy at Old Woman’s Creek

Leesville Lake Association had previously taken responsibility for the No Wake Buoys at the mouth of Old Woman’s Creek. One of those buoys broke loose and was retrieved. We have ordered and received a replacement buoy which was necessary due to the deterioration of the attachment eyelet on the buoy.

 

Aids To Navigation

I participated in a virtual meeting as part of the Aids to Navigation Technical Review Committee on August 26^th along with representatives from AEP and Smith Mountain Lake. On September 15^th I had another meeting to focus on navigation aids specific to Leesville Lake. We discussed the need for markers to identify the navigation channel where appropriate. There were 43 markers originally proposed; however, in an effort to minimize the number of markers (hazards, channel and no wake), we proposed 13 in the areas where the channel is not otherwise obvious. Along with our proposal for the 13 channel markers, we are requesting AEP install and maintain navigation lights on the Toler’s Ferry Bridge. 

 

As always, please navigate our lake safely!

Native
Plants of Leesville Lake

Richard
Beaton

 

Vernonia
noveboracensis

New York
Ironweed

 

New York Ironweed is a herbaceous perennial in the aster family which grows to be 5 to 8 feet tall with deep purple 3 to 4 inch wide flower clusters that form a loose spray. It grows in wet bottom lands, along stream banks and in Leesville Lake above 606 feet.
Plants below 607, which are submerged for extended periods, survive with stunted growth and never develop flowers. The common name is attributed to the “iron like” qualities of tough stems, with rusty-tinged fading flowers leading to rusty colored seeds as well as to living submerged in Leesville Lake.
The genus name is in honor of William Vernon who was an English botanist who spent time in Maryland around 1698 collecting plants to take back home for study.

 

Noveboracensis is latin for New York, only used in botanical names. Ironweed can
grow as one stem towering above the other plants or as a clump with many stems producing several flower heads. A gardener can cut it back in the spring to force clumping or cut a clump to varying heights to get a more interesting specimen when it blooms in August.

 

Plants have rough lanced-shaped dark green leaves that are 6 to 8 inches long. Unlike the deer that leave Ironweed alone, bees, butterflies and birds love it. Propagation can be done by making softwood cuttings in the spring or from seeds sown thickly in the
fall because germination is low.

Membership
Committee

Chip
Zimmerman

Hello from the Membership Committee. We had a great turnout for the Annual Picnic in July. We had a good time and enjoyed the guest speaker from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Many members renewed their membership and we gained several new family memberships during the Picnic. 

 The Quarterly meetings and special events are a good way to introduce people to the Lake Association and we encourage you to invite guests to these events. The next quarterly meeting will be held on Saturday October 9 at 10:30 am in the Altavista Train Station. 

The Lake Association has developed a survey that will be posted to the LLA
website and a link is included in this newsletter. We are looking for suggestions to increase service to our membership and to provide opportunities for others to get involved. Please take a few moments to complete and return the survey. Thanks
and Happy Fall to all!   

Water
Quality Report

Tony
Caputo

The Water Quality Committee Is pleased to report that the health of LVL remains good. Although a full report based on a thorough analysis of data collected during the 2021 season remains to be done and a final report prepared, no unexpected issues have been apparent. Bacterial contamination has not been problematic, but bacterial content of water near the Pigg River remains elevated, due to influx of water from this impaired watershed.
Although bacterial content in the main body of LVL has been well below acceptable levels, the Pigg River challenges the future health of LVL. In late September and through October the Water Quality Committee and University of Lynchburg will continue
studies initiated in 2018 to monitor water quality in the main branch of the Pigg River. This is done to observe trends within and across years, identify areas of concern, and obtain data to facilitate future strategies to improve water quality.

During late summer and the fall months, the dissolved oxygen content of water entering LVL from Smith Mountain Lake (SML) has typically declined and often falls below the acceptable levels dictated in Appalachian Power’s (AEP) licensing agreement. This
situation is resolved during winter months. Low levels of dissolved oxygen stresses fish and other aquatic species in the lake. This season a decline in dissolved oxygen levels was noted in August, and these decreased oxygen levels were detectable to mile marker 6. The dissolved oxygen content of water is strongly influenced by temperature and environmental conditions. Although changing weather patterns may be impacting
the oxygen content of water entering LVL, we are pressuring AEP to adapt procedures designed to maintain appropriate oxygen levels in the tailwaters of SML. 

 Although there has been no previous evidence for expansion of invasive vegetation in LVL, Dr. Shahady (Professor of Environmental Science and Director of the Center for Water Quality at the University of Lynchburg) observed curly pondweed in his August
sampling. Whether this represents new beds, or an expansion of existing beds remains to be determined. Invasive aquatic vegetation is carefully monitored, and action will be taken if needed.

 At the General Meeting of the Leesville Lake Association held October 9th, our guest speaker will be Dr. Thomas Shahady. He will discuss his investigation of the impact of dam removal on downstream waterways. He will discuss his investigations of the University of Lynchburg’s Lake and particular relevance to the impact of dam removal on the Pigg River.

 

Treasurer’s
Report

Mary
Loiselle

Happy autumn! I love the cooler weather after a beautiful, hot summer. I hope you are enjoying the lake! 

 

Summer was also our busy season. We were able to have Beautification Day in June, after not having it in 2020. We had a well-attended Annual Meeting and Beautification Day Appreciation Picnic in July, after not having one in 2020.  Invoices were handed out there with the remainder being mailed shortly thereafter.  THANK YOU to all that have paid dues and renewed their membership! We appreciate your support. An extra THANKS to those who made optional donations on top of their $25 dues payment. 

 

Our fiscal year ends August 31 and a new one begins on September 1. We appreciate all dues being paid by August 31, September 30 at the latest.  Although invoices have been mailed to all members during the summer for the past four years some members remember, and are still adhering to, a schedule of being billed in the quarter they started paying. This is no longer in effect. If you haven’t paid by September 30, you are not considered a member in good standing. 

 In this newsletter there is a link to a survey for members. Please take the time to give us your thoughts – what would you like to see in the newsletter? Where would you like us to spend some money?  We’ll be anxiously awaiting your responses, thoughts, input, ideas, suggestions and comments. The Leesville Lake Association is not just the board of directors and officers. It’s all of you, the members! We need your participation and energies to be successful.  

 If you want to pay dues, make a donation or purchase a calendar, go to leesvillelake.org; mail your check to LLA, PO Box 68, Altavista, VA 24517 or attend the General Members meeting on Saturday, October 9 at 10:30 AM at the Altavista train station. I hope to see you there!  

HERE’S THAT SURVEY LINK AGAIN!
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS APPRECIATED!