Appalachian Power issued a warning about the water levels of downstream Claytor and Leesville dams on Thursday.

Appalachian Power Company is warning recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville dams that water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers could start rapidly rising on Sunday.

Appalachian Power representatives have selected a proposed route for a new transmission line in Campbell County, Pittsylvania County, and Altavista. The upgrades are part of the Altavista-Leesville Transmission Improvements Project, which involves rebuilding approximately 4.5 miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in or near the existing right-of-way and building approximately 5 miles of 138-kV transmission line parallel to existing transmission lines.

Appalachian Power said recreational users of the New and Roanoke rivers could see water levels rise.

Appalachian power warns that users downstream of the Claytor and Leesville Damns that they could see their water levels rise rapidly starting Thursday.

AEP wants boaters, kayakers, tubers, and other recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville dams to keep safety top of mind next week.

Appalachian Power is warning recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville damns to be aware of water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers, as they could rise rapidly starting Friday and continue to fluctuate throughout the weekend.

Appalachian Power is issuing a warning for those heading downstream of the Claytor and Leesville dams for recreational use.

As the weather gets nice and you hit the water with your family or friends, Appalachian Power wants you to keep safety top of mind.

On Wednesday, Appalachian Power released a statement that advised river-goers to air on the side of caution beginning Thursday.

Appalachian Power wants boaters, kayakers, tubers, and other recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville dams to know water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers could rise rapidly starting Tuesday, May 31, and continue to fluctuate throughout the week.

Carter’s General Store has been a place for the community in Leesville since 1879

– Laura is now a Category 1 hurricane but still blowing hard enough to be deadly. The first reported death was of a Louisiana girl whose house was hit by a tree. John Bel Edwards said the 14-year-old girl died in Leesville, more than 100 miles inland from the coast. The governors of Louisiana and Texas say search and rescue teams are still looking, but they’ve found no reports so far of widespread fatalities. Both governors say the storm surge appears to have been not as bad as they feared.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. About 1,000 tons of debris was collected last week from both Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes. Cruising through the Blackwater stretch of Smith Mountain Lake on Wednesday, you could still see plenty of debris in the water. Little by little, an excavator on a barge is scooping up debris floating on the water. Around 6,000 tons of debris was collected from the two lakes in 2019. Debris can be reported through AEPs customer solutions center or website or through the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commissions website.