Chesdin Reservoir Level Update

Now that river flows are declining following last week's rain event we are once again seeking the right release through the hydro-electric facility to take full advantage of the flow into the reservoir to generate power but not draw the reservoir down below the spillway. Yesterday's inflow, using the current formula specified in the Virginia Water Protection Permit, was 770 cfs (498 million gallons per day) which is equivalent to 5.5 inches of water flowing over the spillway. The flow past the Matoaca gauge at 9:45 this morning was 589 cfs (381 million gallons per day) which is equivalent to 4.5 inches flowing over the spillway yet this morning the reservoir level was 1.5-inches below the spillway on the dam. The operators of the hydro-electric facility are reducing their flow with the goal of maintaining the reservoir level at the spillway. They will continue in this mode until they need to drop below the minimum flow required to turn their turbine. At that point they will cease operating and water will resume flowing over the spillway.