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 | 1996.04 | 1937.67 | 3193 |
| Byllesby | 2079.20 | 2072.37 | 2020.87 | 3141 |
| Claytor | 1846.00 | 1845.76 | 1731.25 | 2841 |
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 | 613.91 | 590.97 | 4920 |
| Marmet | 590.00 | 590.09 | 567.13 | 7172 |
| Winfield | 566.00 | 566.23 | 539.29 | 9687 |
Roanoke River
| Project | Normal Full Pond | Forebay Actual (Feet) | Tail Water (Feet) | Tail Water (CFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 885.00 | 884.87 | – | – |
| Smith Mountain | 795.00 | 794.62 | 602.07 | – |
| Leesville | 613.00.00 | 602.48 | 533.97 | 949 |
Saint Joseph River
| Project | Normal Full Pond | Forebay Actual (Feet) | Tail Water (Feet) | Tail Water (CFS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constantine | 782.90 | 782.85 | 771.27 | – |
| Mottville | Summer: 770.40 Winter: 770.00 | 770.37 | 758.56 | 1049 |
| Elkhart | 741.50 winter: 739.50 | 739.54 | 721.55 | – |
| Twin Branch | 717.10 | 716.93 | 696.08 | 2022 |
| Buchanan | Summer: 637.50 Winter: 637.00 | 637.24 | 624.50 | 1931 |
| Berrien Springs | 623.50 | 623.49 | 598.41 | 2626 |
Plant–Specific Notices
As of 05:00 this morning, Tuesday January 14, 2025, inflow to the Smith Mountain Project was 871 CFS and the discharge from Leesville was 821 CFS. The adjusted reservoir elevations was 795.0 ft. The flow rate at the USGS Gauge at Brookneal was 1190 CFS, Stage 4.75 ft. and at Altavista 1210 CFS, Stage 2.52 ft.
ROANOKE, VA., Jan 13, 2025 - Appalachian Power wants recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville dams to know water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers could rise rapidly starting at 7 a.m., Tuesday Jan. 14, and continue to fluctuate throughout the week and possibly into early next week. The National Weather Service is forecasting cold temperatures, and PJM, the independent regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid in 13 states, has notified Appalachian Power it may need to increase power generation at its hydroelectric plants to maintain the reliability of the regional electric grid if called upon to do so. Below Claytor Dam, water levels could increase up to two feet in a matter of minutes. Water levels below Leesville Dam could increase as much as eight feet over a seven-hour period. Those considering recreating on the rivers should monitor AEP's website for additional information and follow us on Smith Mountain or Claytor Facebook pages for updates.