Annual maximum and minimum reservoir elevations and dates as measured at the Smith Mountain Dam.Spill occurs during periods when the reservoir elevation is above 795.0 feet.
Updated 01/28/2015 *Revision to previously published data
The Smith Mountain Project web site provides news and information about the Smith Mountain Dam and reservoir, along with dock permit applications, online debris reporting and other functions.
Smith Mountain is a pumped storage project that utilizes an upper reservoir (Smith Mountain Lake) and a lower reservoir (Leesville Lake.) The water that is stored in Smith Mountain Lake first passes through turbine-generators in the powerhouse to produce electricity -- primarily during peak usage hours -- and the water is then discharged into Leesville Lake. Most of this water is retained in the Leesville Lake and is pumped back into the Smith Mountain Lake for re-use. This pumping occurs during periods of low demand.