Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission | Administration for counties surrounding Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake

The Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC) serves as the administrative department for the four Virginia counties surrounding Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville Lake… Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, and Pittsylvania… and conducts lake planning duties as may be assigned by the respective Boards of Supervisors.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

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MEETING MINUTES _____________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Heads up! In the interest of navigation safety, the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC) Navigation Committee has approved new Shoal Markers on Smith Mountain Lake (SML):

One (1) Shoal Marker (buoy) has been installed on SML in Bedford County, VA; located on Walton Creek past Channel Marker WC-1 at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Huddleston, VA. Watercraft shall not attempt to pass between the shoreline and buoy, as shoal and rocks are present.
Two (2) Shoal Markers (buoys) have been installed on SML in Franklin County, VA; located on the Blackwater Channel near Channel Marker B-13 Southeast of Lucky Island in Moneta, VA and are placed between Lucky Island and Little Bit Island, to deter watercraft away from the shoreline of either island where shoals are located.

The process of changing Aids to Navigation on Smith Mountain Lake is ongoing. CAUTION: Per the US Coast Guard which defines standards for navigation systems, Lateral Aids to Navigation are generally used for well-defined channels to indicate the route to be followed. These Aids show the sides of a navigable channel, mark junctions and forks or splits in the channel, indicate the safe side to pass a hazard to navigation, and mark the safe centerline on wide bodies of water. It is hazardous to pass in between an aid to navigation and the shoreline. Current and pending changes to the SML Aids to Navigation are explained in this presentation from America’s Boating Club and Navigation Committee chairman, Randy Stow.

Employment Opportunity: Do you love the lake and happen to be looking for a new position? Join us – we have an Administrative Associate opening on our team. We are conveniently located in Westlake and would like to discuss this opportunity with qualified individuals. More details can be found under “jobs” at this link: https://www.bedfordcountyva.gov/

Wake Education Task Force Mtg.: 10/21/25, 6:30PM; TLAC Conference Rm.
Sedimentation Task Force Mtg.: 10/27/25, 3PM; TLAC Conference Rm.
Board of Directors Mtg.: 12/01/25, 4PM; TLAC Conference Rm.
Navigation Comm. Mtg.: 11/18/25, 9AM; TLAC Conference Rm.
Environmental Comm. Mtg.: 11/19/25, 11AM; TLAC Conference Rm.

NEWS

TLAC looks to form sedimentation task force for SML

Feb 16, 2024

JASON DUNOVANT, The Roanoke Times The Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission is taking a closer look at sedimentation that has slowly been encroaching into Smith Mountain Lake. The commission has formed a work group tasked with getting a better grasp of the...