River Flows for Hydro Plants
You may track, on an hourly basis, water levels and flows of the recreational rivers and lakes near AEP's hydroelectric facilities. See a map of our plant locations.
Explanation of Terms
- The "Forebay" and "Tailwater" numbers show the feet above sea level of the water levels immediately upstream and downstream from our plants.
- "Tailwater Flow" is the hourly average of the river flow just downstream of the plants, measured in cubic feet per second.
New River Flows & Forecasts
Water release information for AEP's Claytor, Buck, and Byllesby hydro dams is updated every fifteen minutes. Forecast information is estimated. Water travel times may be affected by water conditions, precipitation in the watershed and other factors.
Most Recent Conditions
| Project | Normal Full Pond | Forebay Actual (Feet) | Tail Water (Feet) | Tail Water (CFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buck | 2003.40 | 2002.98 | 1959.86 | 946 |
| Byllesby | 2079.20 | 2078.80 | 2020.87 | 987 |
| Claytor | 1846.00 | 1840.99 | 1730.30 | 1342 |
Downstream Forecasts
Forecast information shows water release information from the Claytor Dam, delayed to account for the average time it takes the released water to reach particular points downstream. Water travel times may be affected by water conditions, precipitation in the watershed and other factors.
Kanawha River
| Project | Normal Full Pond | Forebay Actual (Feet) | Tail Water (Feet) | Tail Water (CFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 614.00 | 614.02 | 590.74 | 1360 |
| Marmet | 590.00 | 590.13 | 565.80 | 2522 |
| Winfield | 566.00 | 566.24 | 538.66 | 2837 |
Roanoke River
| Project | Normal Full Pond | Forebay Actual (Feet) | Tail Water (Feet) | Tail Water (CFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 885.00 | 885.32 | – | – |
| Smith Mountain | 795.00 | 791.78 | 608.20 | – |
| Leesville | 613.00.00 | 608.14 | 533.89 | 534 |
Saint Joseph River
| Project | Normal Full Pond | Forebay Actual (Feet) | Tail Water (Feet) | Tail Water (CFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constantine | 782.90 | 782.95 | 771.17 | – |
| Mottville | Summer: 770.40 Winter: 770.00 | 770.41 | 757.93 | 674 |
| Elkhart | 741.50 winter: 739.50 | 741.60 | 721.55 | – |
| Twin Branch | 717.10 | 716.91 | 695.97 | 1618 |
| Buchanan | Summer: 637.50 Winter: 637.00 | 637.48 | 624.35 | 1801 |
| Berrien Springs | 623.50 | 623.55 | 598.30 | 2314 |
Plant–Specific Notices
As of 05:00 this morning, Saturday November 15, 2025, inflow to the Smith Mountain Project was 392 CFS and the discharge from Leesville was 535 CFS. The adjusted reservoir elevations was 792.9 ft. The flow rate at the USGS Gauge at Brookneal was 719 CFS, Stage 4.28 ft. and at Altavista 651 CFS, Stage 1.87 ft.
November 4, 2025 - Appalachian Power will be lowering the Claytor reservoir elevation on the New River from 1845.5 to approximately 1841 feet. The drawdown is scheduled to start on Wednesday, November 5 at 1:30 PM. The Claytor reservoir is expected to reach the drawdown elevation by 8:00 AM Saturday, November 8. The reservoir will be restored to the normal operating elevation based upon river inflow beginning Sunday, November 16, at 10:00 PM.
November 12, 2025 – The Buck portage on the New River will be closed beginning Monday, November 17. Appalachian Power Company needs to install an anchor for a new log boom at the Buck reservoir, therefore requiring lowering of the Buck reservoir to an elevation of 1,995 feet. The drawdown is scheduled to start on Monday, November 17 and the Buck reservoir is expected to reach the desired drawdown elevation by approximately 10 AM on Wednesday, November 19. Signs indicating the portage closure will be posted at Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources public access points upstream of the Buck reservoir. The alternative for river kayakers and canoeists is to take out at the Byllesby reservoir, the last access before reaching Buck. The nearest location to put in downstream of the dam (hand-launching only) is at Ivanhoe. The work is expected to be completed in January 2026.