ROANOKE, Va., June 30, 2012 – The damaged boat barrier at Smith Mountain Lake Dam has been repaired, reported Appalachian Power. The barrier, which keeps boaters from approaching the dam, broke apart in last night’s severe storms.

The barrier has been restored and boaters again will be able to clearly distinguish the danger area near the dam.

“We are grateful to the many partners who worked with us on this busy boating weekend to ensure the safety of the users of the lake,” said Frank Simms, Appalachian Power hydro manager. “The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Smith Mountain Lake Volunteer Fire & Rescue, and Turner Construction, assisted by Dicky Dill, all worked quickly to get the barrier back in place.”

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.