ROANOKE, Va., Sept. 17, 2010– A fish sampling project on New River downstream of the Claytor Dam will change water flows and elevations unexpectedly next week.

Beginning September 21, fisheries biologists with the Wildlife Resources Bureau of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will sample three sections of New River to estimate the numbers of smallmouth bass, rock bass, redbreast sunfish and other fish species in the river. 

River flows are currently lower than what is required to sample these sections of New River. To assist the biologists Appalachian Power will release supplemental flows from the Claytor Dam for the three-day fish sampling project.

The current average discharge from Claytor Dam is approximately 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).  New River flows will be increased to 1,500 cfs for fish sampling at Eggleston and Rich Creek in Giles County on September 21 and 22, and at Whitethorne in Montgomery County on September 23. 

Persons participating in recreational or commercial activities on those days on New River should be aware that they may experience unexpected water flow changes.

Water levels for Claytor Lake and all American Electric Power and Appalachian hydroelectric facilities are posted and regularly updated on the company’s Web site: http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/hydro/

The Claytor Hydroelectric Project is operated by Appalachian Power and is located about five river miles upstream of Radford, Va., in Pulaski County. The dam powerhouse and generators produce about 75 megawatts of electricity.
 
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