Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage dam
Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage
Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage is a public utility facility located in Pittsylvania, Virginia, along the Roanoke River. Completed in 1964, this hydroelectric plant features an impressive arch dam standing at 229 feet in height, with a storage capacity of 1,150,000 acre-feet. The dam's multi-arch design and rock foundations ensure its structural integrity, making it a reliable source of renewable energy for the region.
Owned and operated by a public utility, Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and undergoes regular inspections to maintain its high hazard potential rating. With a maximum discharge rate of 50,000 cubic feet per second and a spillway width of 200 feet, the facility is equipped to handle significant water flow during peak demand periods. The dam's moderate risk assessment rating indicates a proactive approach to risk management, ensuring the safety and efficiency of the operation.
Located just 26 miles from Altavista, Virginia, Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage plays a crucial role in the state's energy infrastructure. With its innovative combination pump storage technology, this facility serves as a model for sustainable energy production and climate resilience. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the ingenuity and environmental impact of this hydroelectric powerhouse in the heart of the Roanoke Valley.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pigg River Near Sandy Level | 157 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Huddleston | 40 cfs | → |
| Roanoke River At Altavista | 891 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Near Rocky Mount | 49 cfs | → |
| Big Otter River Near Evington | 218 cfs | → |
| Back Creek Near Dundee | 49 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage .
Boat launches
- State Park Road Bedford County
- Jefferson Dock Road Arrowhead
- Dudley Amos Road Franklin County
- Taylor Ford Road Pittsylvania County
- Oak Grove Drive Franklin County
- Oak Hollow Road Bedford County
Campgrounds
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Camp Lowman
- Goose Dam
- Roanoke Mtn
- Roanoke Mountain - Blue Ridge Parkway
- Peaks Of Otter - Blue Ridge Parkway
Track Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage
Where does the data for Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Smith Mountain Combination Pump Storage .