SMLA’s mission statement is as follows: “The Association will represent its members on issues that affect Smith Mountain Lake and its watershed. Members’ interests will be advocated throughout the watershed and the Commonwealth, using education and information as the means to influence constructive outcomes.” This is one association that takes its mission statement very seriously. Keeping that in mind, the following will give suggestions as to how they are asking for your help in controlling the problem mentioned above.

SMLA has gone to the extent of creating The SMLA Stormwater Runoff Project online to make it easy for anyone who has pertinent information to contribute to the documentation of this problem. It is complete with ways to upload photos, map those locations, and even highlight erosion where rules or remediation enforced by county authority may be needed. SMLA encourages interest and participation in addressing this issue.

To make this project user-friendly, the information is all publicly accessible. SMLA does require a login account in order to contribute photos. If people have older photos that could assist in establishing a base for a before and after comparison, they are asked to upload those as well as frequent photos in areas where erosion caused by stormwater runoff is known to occur. One detail to pay close attention to is the correct date and the map location for every photo. It is especially significant to keep those accurate for this project. Please go to the website and help SMLA address this issue.

For more information about the Smith Mountain Lake Association or assistance in buying lakefront property, call me, Vicki Millehan. I have over 19 years of experience selling waterfront homes, and am a long-time resident of Smith Mountain Lake.

I know what you are thinking, but no, we do not have a lot of “riff raff” at Smith Mountain Lake! What we do have is “Rip Rap” shorelines. Rip Rap is a way to combat erosion along the banks of the lake. Rocks are put into place to help keep soil erosion down to a minimum. So, how can you tell if you need to control erosion, and if so what is the best way to go about that and safeguard your property’s value?

What is Rip Rap?

Rip Rap is rock or other material used to protect shorelines, streambeds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against scour, water or ice erosion. It works by deflecting the force or energy of the water from soft soil or sandy banks. Rip Rap rock can be seen in sea walls and even under overpasses along the highways to prevent erosion.

The first thing you need to do to determine if you property qualifies for erosion control on Smith Mountain Lake is check out the Shoreline Management guide. Not all lots on the lake qualify or need erosion control. If you have a beach or a very gentle slope from the land into the water, you probably don’t need to even worry about it. If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful beach, the last thing you want to do is put a pile of rocks on it! But if you are having an erosion problem, this simple and inexpensive protection can be invaluable! Some property owners have reported losing 10%-20% of their lots to erosion if they don’t take this precaution!

Do You Think You May Have Active Erosion?

It doesn’t matter if you have a flat lot or a steep lot. The problem can stem from currents to how much boat traffic you have in your part of the Lake. If you think you may have an erosion problem, you can contact a local landscape expert to come and take a look for you. They can let you know if you have active erosion on your lot. If you do, then contact American Electric Power (AEP). AEP can issue permits to deal with structures for erosion control. For additional information or applications you can contact them at; aepsmp@aep.com or call at 1-540-489-2556.

Working together to protect our shorelines helps keep Smith Mountain Lake the beautiful Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains! If you haven’t had a chance to visit us, come on over, and if you like, it then move here! If you want your own beach on Lake, call Vicki Millehan! She is your local real estate expert for Franklin County and Bedford County VA!!