Courtney Cutright | The Roanoke Times

 

The water level at Leesville Lake can fluctuate as much as 13 feet, depending on whether water is being pumped in or out of the reservoir.

The first lot Gretna resident Sherwood Zimmerman bought on Leesville Lake cost $800.

That was in 1963. He was 21 years old.

"I put $10 down and paid $10 a month until graduation with no interest," said Zimmerman, who studied at Lynchburg College in the mid-1960s.

Today he owns five waterfront properties on the lower reservoir of the Smith Mountain project.

Leesville Lake (LVL) is an integral part of Appalachian Power Co.'s two-reservoir hydroelectric project, but the smaller, less-developed lake is often overshadowed by Smith Mountain Lake.

Clusters of natural foliage line most of LVL's shores. Simple boat docks, unlike the larger, more upscale boathouses on SML, are positioned sporadically. The water's edge is not a lineup of McMansions. There are no waterfront golf courses, restaurants or hotels. Even on weekends and holidays, boat traffic is far from overwhelming, Zimmerman said.

"It has been like having your own private lake for 40 years," he said.

During his professional career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Zimmerman, a Lynchburg native, brought his family to LVL for annual summer vacations. He is now a permanent resident.

In the last two to three years, signs of growth have begun to surface with planned subdivisions on the lake's Pittsylvania County side. Real estate agent Sam Skillman estimates between 12 and 18 subdivisions are being developed at LVL.

"You can pretty much find what you want," he said of the range of availability.

Lots on points are selling in the upper-$100,000 range to the lower-$200,000 range.

"That is about half to two-thirds of [the price of] what is for sale at Smith Mountain Lake for a comparable lot," Skillman said.

He and his son Mike, a Long & Foster Real Estate team, specialize in waterfront property at LVL.

"Last year we listed over 60 percent of the homes and lots on the lake," Sam Skillman said.

The pair also sold more than 60 percent of the lake's listings.

LVL measures more than 3,000 acres and is bordered by Bedford, Campbell and Pittsylvania counties. When 2 feet of water is pumped from SML into LVL, the lower reservoir's water level rises from 600 feet to 613 feet.

The fluctuation can cause problems with debris, said Mike Lobue, vice president of the Leesville Lake Association.

"It tends to be worse when the water is up," he said. "A lot [of debris] does come from the shoreline."

The Pigg River is also a source.

Debris makes navigation difficult and can pose safety risks for recreational water users.

There are two commercial marinas on LVL and two public boat ramps. One marina is owned by NASCAR truck series racer Stacy Compton, a native of Pittsylvania County.

Aside from debris, the other major issue the LVLA faces is the lack of navigational aids on the lake. The only markers present are mile markers. There are no shoal or channel markers on LVL.

The Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission is undergoing a costly six-year upgrade to bring the markers on SML into compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard's standards. A consultant from the Coast Guard toured LVL with members of its association's board to gauge what signage is needed.

"We're looking to install 37 different structures with a price well over $100,000," said Pete Pettit of LVLA's navigation subcommittee.

Pettit said the committee has not determined whether the signs will be constructed on floating buoys or anchored markers.

The LVLA is a relatively new organization compared with TLAC. LVLA was formed in 2003 and has more than 300 family memberships, but a very small budget.

For the current fiscal year, LVLA asked for $25,000 from each of the three surrounding counties. However, it received a total of $25,000 -- $15,000 from Bedford County and $5,000 each from Campbell and Pittsylvania counties. Lobue said the association plans to use it all for debris removal.

As for the installation of navigational markers, the Tri-County Relicensing Committee is asking Appalachian Power to foot the bill.

Appalachian Power is conducting a series of studies, including ones on debris and recreational use, in order to prepare for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's relicensing. The final application will be submitted in March and will be valid for approximately 30 years.

For more information about the relicensing project, TCRC and the Smith Mountain Lake Association are hosting a town-hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Cool Branch Rescue Squad in Penhook for concerned citizens.