Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission

While out on Smith Mountain Lake, you may notice some changes to the channel markers also known as Aids to Navigation (ATN). These improvements to navigational aids on the main channels of Smith Mountain Lake (SML) were determined through extensive discussions regarding areas of concern during meetings conducted by American Electric Power’s Hydro Group and the Aids to Navigation Technical Review Committee (TRC). Meeting members included Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Smith Mountain Lake Association, Smith Mountain Lake Marine Fire and Rescue, and the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission. All proposed changes were approved by the TRC via consensus during the meetings.

The most notable improvements are three new “Daybeacons”, which conform to U.S. Coast Guard requirements.  The new Daybeacons will be located at the following junctions:

  • Lynville Creek and the Roanoke River channel
  • Louse Creek and the Roanoke River channel
  • Gills Creek and the Blackwater channel

As pictured above, if you are heading upstream away from the dam the aid will be a triangular Daybeacon with red on top to indicate the preferred (primary) channel (red right return). Heading downstream toward the dam it will be a square Daybeacon with green on top to indicate the preferred channel. In both cases it will also have the letter indicating the preferred channel; R – Roanoke, B – Blackwater.

A summary table of all changes is available here.

Subject to debris removal progress and weather, Appalachian plans to complete the ATN changes by Memorial Day weekend. Find more information in this Franklin News Post article.