ROANOKE, Va., July 23, 2013 – New River fishermen, canoeists, kayakers and other recreationalists now have a new tool to help them anticipate water flows on the river downstream from Appalachian Power’s Claytor Hydroelectric Plant, near Radford. A new website allows users to see how and when water releases that have occurred will affect flows at seven downstream locations from Peppers Ferry Road to Glen Lyn.

           Water released from Claytor Dam is affected by both river flow and electric generation. Now users can anticipate how the releases affect the river. The information is available at http://AEP.com/NewRiverFlows and is conveyed in a graph that explains the usual delay between a release at Claytor and when it will show up downstream. For example, releases from Claytor take approximately 14.5 hours to reach the Pembroke area. The graph does not forecast water releases, but instead demonstrates the relationship between historical and current releases and downstream water levels. The company notes that the site does not account for additional weather events or inflows from other tributaries that feed into the New River downstream from the dam. 

           “We’re pleased to make this information available,” said Frank Simms, hydro manager. “People should always practice safe boating practices and the water before heading out on the river. This tool, which is can easily be viewed on mobile electronic devices, is another way to help people be aware of potentially changing river conditions.”

Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, which delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.

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