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52-684: Initial proposals were made in the late 1920s to dam the Roanoke River and the Blackwater River at the Smith Mountain gorge to generate electricity . Construction on the Smith Mountain Dam began in 1960 and was completed in 1963. The lake reached its normal water level in March 1966. The lake covers 20,600 acres (83 km) and has over 500 miles (800 km) of shoreline. The north shore of

104-458: A beach and a section for swimming . Golf at one of the four nearby courses is a popular landside activity. The majority of access to the lake is through private residential property. About a dozen private marinas provide various public access opportunities, which may be fee-based or free (through some have been recently converted to private, residential developments due to economic and regulatory pressure .) The fee-based state park (located on

156-465: A shoreline management plan. The Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) limits the development of all property within the "project boundary." Local zoning regulations have been effectively superseded by the SMP regulations. AEP acts as the permitting agency. Any variance requests are reviewed by interested State and Federal agencies such as Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries. Disagreements must first proceed to

208-404: A Transport Canada exam. Recreational boating deaths could be dramatically reduced with increased use of personal flotation devices or life jackets. Wear rates in 2003 were around 22.4%, although state and federal laws requiring children to wear flotation were more common, and therefore children's wear rates were much higher than those for adults. Relatively few children die in boating accidents;

260-468: A boat from a trailer and swing it into the water (generally less than 6 tons). Larger boats are kept at marinas, which offer a berth protected from the weather and a variety of support services, such as fuel and equipment. A more recent form of storage is rack storage where runabouts are stored in large steel racks, sometimes four or five boats high, and perhaps 25 boats across. These racks are housed in sheds, and large specialized fork trucks are used to lift

312-460: A boat, known as "teak surfing" or "platform towing") and the implementation of various warning placards to educate boaters of the hazards arising from these activities. Other CO-related deaths were attributed to high concentrations of CO gas from houseboat generator exhaust, where swimmers were able to access an area near the stern of the boats that collected the exhaust. This has led to improved pollution controls on modern generator sets, and changes in

364-801: A largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont to Albemarle Sound . An important river throughout the history of the United States, it was the site of early settlement in the Virginia Colony and the Carolina Colony . An 81-mile (130 km) section of its lower course in Virginia between the Leesville Lake and Kerr Lake

416-490: A licence, while recreational boating on coastal waters only requires a licence when a certain boat size is exceeded (e.g. a length of 20 meters), or when passenger ships, ferries or tugboats are steered. Boating on international waters does not require any licence, due to the absence of any laws or restrictions in this area. Some of the member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe issue

468-599: A small auxiliary engine), cruisers (25–65 ft. (8–20 m) powerboats with cabins), and cruising and racing sailboats (25–65 Ft. (8–20 m) sailboats with auxiliary engines). Center console (18 to 75 ft. (18-23m) power boats that have a large interior typically used for fishing, with its high speed performance design and engine also used in water sports. Deck boats (25-35 ft.(8-11m) that are characterized by an open deck area and used typically for leisure activities. Lifeboats (smaller, quicker watercrafts equipped with emergency equipment in which to help voyagers in case of emergency in

520-514: A specified length when underway. Personal watercraft have increased in popularity for the last 15 years, and account for about 70 fatalities per year (2002). However, operators of personal watercraft commonly wear personal flotation devices, and therefore have a relatively low incidence of drowning. Trauma, largely due to collisions with other vessels and the shoreline, accounts for 70% of personal watercraft fatalities while drowning accounts for about 30%. Personal flotation device types as defined by

572-699: A system of river accesses and camping platforms between Roanoke Rapids and the Albemarle Sound, known as the Roanoke River Paddle Trail. On November 18, 2021, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law adding the Roanoke River Paddle Trail as its twelfth State Trail . Boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats , sailboats , or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on

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624-564: Is being done. Anchoring a boat is also critical in emergency situations and is a good safety measure whenever a vessel becomes disabled. There are three types of anchors, the Plow-style, the Fluke-style, and the Mushroom anchor. A rope anchor line should be at least four times longer than the depth of the water in the anchorage. A seven to eight foot chain should also be attached between the rope and

676-528: Is known as the Staunton River , pronounced / ˈ s t æ n t ən / , as is the Shenandoah Valley city of that name . It is impounded along much of its middle course to form a chain of reservoirs. Staunton River is also the name of the northern political district of Pittsylvania County , Virginia, where a large section of the river serves as the boundary between Campbell County , Virginia (to

728-423: Is less of a problem than the same situation in fresh water. Salt water is a good conductor and it carries current away to ground quickly. Fresh water is a poor conductor and when alternating current forms an electrical potential near a boat, the current can paralyze a swimmer. Because electrical drownings frequently present no obvious signs of injury, post-mortem examinations often fail to identify electrical shock as

780-557: Is near the west end of the lake. The level of the lake normally varies by one to two feet (0.3 to 0.6 m) during the day and night, as water flows through (and is pumped back through) the dam. The normal maximum level of the lake (also known as "full pond") is regulated to 795 feet (242 m) above sea level. The normal observed level (also known as "normal pond") is 794.2 feet (242.1 m). The level can be significantly lower during periods of extended drought. Lake levels were sometimes about six feet (1.8 m) below normal during

832-530: Is now being introduced as the older type I-V personal flotation device labels are being phased out. In the United States, approximately 700 people die every year as a result of recreational boating accidents, according to the Boating Accident Reporting Database, published annually by the U.S. Coast Guard. Alcohol use was the number one contributing factor in U.S. recreational boating deaths between 2003 and 2012, accounting for 15 percent of

884-543: Is the only primary highway that crosses the lake, though State Route 24 , State Route 116 , and State Route 40 are nearby. American Electric Power (AEP) is licensed to operate the Smith Mountain Project by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The initial license term was for fifty years. In 1998, AEP began the process of relicensing. Under the requirements of relicensing, AEP

936-654: The Haliwa-Saponi ) and the Tutelo . The name Roanoke is derived from rawrenok , an Algonquian word for wampum . The deadly spring floods earned it the name "River of Death". The river's lower course began to be settled by Virginians about the middle of the 17th century, in what was known as the Albemarle Settlements . The upper reaches of the Roanoke River were explored by fur trading parties sent by Abraham Wood in

988-822: The Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge and then briefly turns north as it enters Batchelor Bay on the western end of Albemarle Sound . The Roanoke River is also known as the Staunton River for 80 miles between Smith Mountain Lake and convergence with the Dan River at Kerr Lake . The river is impounded in six locations. The first is the Niagara Dam just south of the City of Roanoke in Roanoke County adjacent to

1040-735: The Bedford County side, off Smith Mountain Parkway), the free Smith Mountain Community Park (located on the Franklin County side of the lake) and six government-managed boat launching ramps also provide public access. Striped bass are stocked into the reservoir using fingerlings grown out from the spawn of fish that have migrated from downstream Kerr Reservoir to the vicinity of Brookneal . The Vic Thomas Fish Hatchery in Brookneal primarily provides

1092-648: The FERC, then be appealed through the Federal Judicial System. The area lies in a broad valley nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of rural south-central Virginia. Before the lake's creation, farming and logging were the primary industries. Communities around the lake include Moneta, Huddleston, Union Hall, White House, Penhook and Goodview. There is a post office located at 1080 Tolers Ferry Rd, Huddleston, VA 24104. The Booker T. Washington National Monument

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1144-466: The U.S. Coast Guard such as Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, and Type V can be found at the U.S. Coast Guard. In the U.S., one personal flotation device MUST be available for everyone on board. Life jacket definitions for the UK Coast Guard. In 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard announced a new labeling system for personal flotation devices, aiming to align US and Canadian standards. This new labeling system

1196-405: The anchor in order to reduce the angle of the pull on the anchor facilitated by the chain sinking and lying on the bottom. This is important because in order for the anchor to be effective, the pull must be at a shallow angle rather than vertically. A vertical pull on the anchor will result in the anchor breaking out of the bottom sediment and is used as a technique to break the anchor's hold allowing

1248-461: The anchor to be raised in order to leave the anchorage. The anchor should never be dragged behind a boat or dropped at the stern . This could result in the boat being swamped or filled with water. Tie off the anchor to a bow cleat and pull on it to make sure that the knot is secure. After that make sure the vessel is down wind or down current of the anchor. After anchoring it is important to check visual sightings and onshore objects or buoys to let

1300-540: The boats from the racks and place them in the water. This reduces the amount of space needed for boat storage, and also provides a clean environment in which the boats are housed. Some marinas will offer dry storage yards, where boats on trailers or dollies are stored on a hard surface. Many yacht clubs will offer a fenced area where boats are conveniently stored near the water, but without the maintenance associated with continual water storage (bottom growth, etc.) Boats in dry storage areas are either ramp-launched or hoisted into

1352-404: The cause of death. The problem can be reduced by prohibiting swimming near boats connected to shore power and ensuring marinas comply with National Fire Protection Association Standard 303 for marinas. In the early 2000s, several high-profile deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning (CO) led to increased scrutiny of boating habits (especially the practice of towing participants immediately behind

1404-531: The city of Roanoke , emerging from a gorge in the Blue Ridge Mountains southeast of Roanoke and forming the boundary between Franklin and Bedford counties. The river flows generally east-southeast across the Piedmont of southern Virginia and enters northeastern North Carolina, passing north of Roanoke Rapids at the fall line . The river flows southeast in a zigzag course across the coastal plain through

1456-420: The common definition of "safety" items: State laws may add to this list of requirements. Most of the differences fall into a few categories: In the United States, more than 40 states have educational requirements for operating a boat or personal watercraft on state waters. Laws vary by state so it's best to check the laws of your state. Boater education courses can be taken in-person classroom style or online at

1508-445: The designs of houseboats so that they discharge exhaust gases in a way that they can dissipate. The increased use of CO detectors, especially in boats with enclosed accommodation spaces, and a proper assessment of boat manufacturers, would help reduce the risk of CO poisoning. Depending on the country, boating on coastal waters and inland waters may require a licence. Usually, commercially boating on coastal waters almost always requires

1560-451: The driver know if his boat is secure by the anchor. The anchor will help boaters to stay in their current position on the water. The smallest boats and kayaks may simply be carried by hand or by lashing them to the top of an automobile. Most smaller boats are stored at home and carried to the water on boat trailers, where they are floated from launch ramps leading down into the water. Some marinas will also offer electric hoists that can lift

1612-673: The fatalities in 2003, and 17 percent in 2012. A Canadian study published in 2011 examined 18 years of data on recreational boating, and concluded that a "true figure" of alcohol-related deaths in that country "may lie between 46% and 56%". Since 1970, when recreational boating deaths in the U.S. peaked at about 1700 per year, the annual rate of fatalities has been declining at a rate of about 2% per year. The majority of these deaths (70%) occur due to drowning, and are frequently associated with small powerboat accidents. Other causes of death include trauma (especially with small powerboats), fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and hypothermia. The cause of

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1664-415: The freshwater strain striped bass. The striped bass fishery produced multiple former state record striped bass caught during the 1980s and 1990s. In 2003, however, a fish kill among adult striped bass occurred due to an outbreak of parasitic arthropods of genus Achtheres , loss of forage associated with an abnormal shad winterkill during 2002 to 2003 and overpopulation. Annual fingerling stocking rates in

1716-457: The lake consisted largely of small trailer parks and modest houses. However, residential growth has been steady since the mid-1980s and increasingly upscale with large lakefront houses, condominiums, and communities centered on golf courses . The lake has attracted many who commute to Roanoke and Lynchburg and many retirees, many of whom have relocated from the Northeast . By the late 1990s,

1768-631: The lake lies entirely in Bedford County . Located along the lake shore at Wirtz, Virginia is the Gwin Dudley Home Site , listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the area around Smith Mountain Lake remained rural and remote with tobacco farms and other agriculture. Marinas provided the bulk of public access in the early years of the lake. The limited early residential developments around

1820-480: The late 17th century, but these were not settled by English until the early 18th century. In 1883, the small town of Big Lick on the river was selected as a major shops and terminal point for the new Norfolk and Western Railway to meet the Shenandoah Valley Railroad . Big Lick was renamed Roanoke for the river that bisected it, as the surrounding Roanoke County had been in 1838. The Roanoke River

1872-420: The more likely victim is an adult male in the mid-afternoon in a boat (under 20 feet length overall) who is not wearing a personal flotation device. While various strategies have been devised in the last few decades to increase personal flotation device wear rates, the observed rate has been relatively constant. This has led to the possibility of legislation requiring personal flotation device usage on boats under

1924-636: The north) and Pittsylvania County (to the south). The Roanoke River State Trail is a paddle trail which follows the lower portion of the river, from Roanoke Rapids to the Albemarle Sound. The river has its headwaters in the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia at Lafayette in Montgomery County where the North Fork and South Fork of the river merge. The North Fork, approximately 30 miles (48 km) long, rises between two mountain ridges and flows initially southwest, then loops back to

1976-455: The northeast. The South Fork, approximately 20 miles (32 km) long, rises in several streams in the mountains on the border of Floyd , Roanoke , and Montgomery counties and flows generally north, joining the North Fork from the south. The combined stream flows northeast between mountain ridges through the Roanoke Valley , approximately 10 miles (16 km) to Salem , then east through

2028-456: The number and affluence of the new residents resulted in the construction of new retail and commercial developments near the lake. Recent shoreline development has been limited to residential construction. With the enactment of Federal oversight of shoreline development in 1998 coupled with soaring real estate values, there is an escalating loss of public access to the lake as the lake's marinas are sold for residential development. State Route 122

2080-475: The reduction of deaths is subject to some debate, but the Federal Boat Safety Act in the 1970s (effective August 10, 1971 ) required that boats under 20 feet (6.1 m) be equipped with level flotation. This change in boat construction meant that boaters who found themselves in the water next to a swamped boat could climb back into the boat and both reduce their likelihood of drowning, while increasing

2132-491: The reservoir have been reduced from a high of 450,000 (21.8 per acre) in 1998 to an average of 336,179 per year (16.3 per acre) between 2010 and 2016. Roanoke River The Roanoke River ( / ˈ r oʊ . ə ˌ n oʊ k / ROH -ə-nohk ) runs 410 miles (660 km) long through southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States . A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains

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2184-577: The river is impounded by the John H. Kerr Dam to form the expansive Kerr Lake . In northeastern North Carolina, three miles (4.8 km) west of Roanoke Rapids, the river is impounded to form the Lake Gaston reservoir, and is impounded a final time to form Roanoke Rapids Lake. The Roanoke River valley was the homeland of various Native Americans , mostly Virginia Siouan , such as the Occaneechi (today part of

2236-484: The size of a search target and reducing hypothermia . Other frequently named causes include improved boater safety education, increased use of life jackets, and improved boating safety gear. Another potential cause for drowning is the presence of stray electrical power from a boat leaking into the water. This is known as electric shock drowning . Metal surfaces of a boat leaking power into the water can create zones of high-energy potential. Stray current entering salt water

2288-480: The size of the boat and how it is powered, required equipment may include: Other items might seem obvious but are not actually required by law. They include a flashlight, first aid kit, paddles, whistles, anchor and rope, engine spare parts, bilge pumps, a VHF radio or mobile phone, etc. In addition to these safety items listed above, the Code of Federal Regulations lists some additional required items that may not fall into

2340-555: The student's convenience. Credible courses are recognized by the US Coast Guard, approved by NASBLA and work in conjunction with state agencies. All pleasure craft operators in Canada are required to have a proof of competency (something that shows they understand the basic rules and how to safely operate a boat). A Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) is the most common proof of competency and it can be obtained by taking an online course and

2392-587: The town of Vinton. It was constructed in 1906 to supply power for the Roanoke Electric Car streetcar system, and is currently owned and operated by Appalachian Power . It is then impounded twice in succession in the Piedmont of southwestern Virginia downstream from Roanoke to form the Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake reservoirs. Farther downstream in southern along the North Carolina border,

2444-821: The travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or waterskiing . It is a popular activity, and there are millions of boaters worldwide. Boats (boat types) can be categorized into 3 different types of board categories: unpowered, motor boats, and sailboats. Recreational boats (sometimes called pleasure craft, especially for less sporting activities) fall into several broad categories, and additional subcategories. Broad categories include dinghies (generally under 16 feet (5 m) powered by sail, small engines, or muscle power) usually made from hardwood or inflatable rubber. paddle sports boats ( kayaks , rowing shells, canoes ), runabouts (15–25 ft. (5–8 m) powerboats with either outboard , sterndrive , or inboard engines), daysailers (14–25 Ft. (4–8 m) sailboats, frequently with

2496-455: The water. Boating activities are as varied as the boats and boaters who participate, and new ways of enjoying the water are constantly being discovered. Broad categories include the following: Anchoring a boat is essential to recreational boaters by giving them the ability to "park" their boat in the water. Anchoring is helpful to boaters who fish or swim off of their boat and provides a stable and established site to achieve whatever activity

2548-408: The water. Since it is a recreational activity, most boating is done in calm protected waters and during good weather. Even so, conditions can change rapidly, and a small vessel can get into life-threatening difficulties. It's important to keep an inventory of safety gear on board every boat, which is prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as state boating law administrators in the U.S. Depending on

2600-468: The years 2001 to 2003, after five years of below-average rainfall. Smith Mountain Lake has become a popular recreational area. Boating , water skiing , wakeboarding , riding personal watercraft , and sailing are common activities as is fishing , especially for striped bass . The lake has hosted several professional fishing tournaments. Smith Mountain Lake State Park opened in 1983 and provided

2652-422: Was prone to serious flooding prior to the completion of the John H. Kerr Dam in 1953. Construction of the dam was precipitated by the 1940 South Carolina hurricane , which caused record flooding in the Roanoke River basin and led to calls for better flood control mechanisms. In 1997, the non-profit Roanoke River Partners formed to create a paddle trail along the river in North Carolina. The group established

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2704-435: Was required to perform numerous studies to determine management requirements during the upcoming license term. In December, 2009 the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Appalachian Power a new license to operate the hydro-electricity plant. The new 30-year license replaces the original 50-year license and addresses recreational and environmental management. In 1998, the FERC required AEP to devise and implement

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