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Lake poses political, economic presence
By MARTIN FISHER — Altavista Journal Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 6:27 AM EDT
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MARTIN FISHER/ALTAVISTA JOURNAL
Leesville Lake Association leaders Stan Goldsmith and Mike Lobue flank Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors member for Gretna, Kate Berger, as they view an accumulation of debris cleaned from the water.
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LEESVILLE LAKE — There has never been recorded loss of life or limb, but there has been plenty of property damage because of debris floating amidst recreational boaters at Leesville Lake.
The lake has also seen a rise in property development and boating safety improvements because of ongoing efforts to create a nationally recognized dream-home haven.
To give the clearest picture possible of the rising clout and future potential of the lake, leading Leesville Lake Association members organized guided tours for lawmakers and major potential investors.
On Friday, Sept. 7, association president Mike Lobue invited members of local media to join one such tour for Gretna representative M. Kate Berger, member of Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
With association member Stan Goldsmith - himself a candidate for Campbell County Board of Supervisors, Altavista District. Lobue spoke of the lake’s rising importance and potential.
Lobue and Goldsmith said surrounding localities would begin to realize the full potential of the lake once a vision for planned development and a complete program for clearing debris were realized.
Berger said she understood, and she is a lake enthusiast as she continues her service in Chatham. “It is as Stacy Compton said, we have a jewel of a lake here, but like many jewels, this one needs some polishing,” she said.
Goldsmith said it is important to realize how the economic impact reaches much further than the draw for construction costs, real estate improvement and growing recreational activity affecting retail markets.
“Here’s how it plays out,” he said. “A wealthy businessman from Northern Virginia, or maybe New York, wants to move down here, but it’s not about retirement n he wants to bring his business, or part of it, too.
“He looks for ways to do that, to live here and have his business here too,” he added. As it begins to take place, “Leesville Lake becomes an aspect of selling the region for new business and industry.”
Lobue said guiding the development of the lake is part of harnessing the full potential. “This is an investment in the future,” he said. “It is an opportunity to do things right from the beginning instead of reacting later.”
Part of doing things right, he added, is putting together a debris mitigation program that gets, then keeps, the lake clear of debris.
“We’re fighting that battle, fighting the old source, the new sources and the continuing sources of debris n pretty much catching up on the old source now,” he said.
Lobue, the Berger entourage’s driver for the day, gently swerved around several floating branches and logs to where an association contractor had rounded up an impressive load of debris on a barge.
The conversation between boats immediately turned to how cleanup was progressing.
“There’s a whole lot being pulled out this year,” contract worker Mark Crouch said. “It’s in better shape around here than it’s ever been.”
“It would be a shame to lose the handle on it that we’ve gotten,” contractor Bryant Haskins, a lake enthusiast, said. “It wasn’t so long ago, I remember, you could just about walk across this part of the lake, walking on the logs.”
Lobue said he hoped people realized how well cleanup has progressed, but for safety sake and to keep the potential for development moving forward, a systematic removal system is in order.
He hopes for the day a skimmer would operate at the lake year-round and permanent debris removal sites developed so cleanup operations would not depend on borrowing private properties.
Part of the politics of the situation is the lake’s importance to Appalachian Power Company’s hydroelectric facility at the Smith Mountain dam.
The point was not lost on Berger, who said she hoped progress toward permanent Leesville Lake cleanup solutions would coincide with AEP’s re-certification process for their license to use the dam.
“The residents of the counties impacted by AEP should be heard from more as the re-licensing process continues; I’m concerned that resident input will not be sought out properly,” she said.
“I don’t see the process as encouraging enough for full discussion, that’s why I’m strongly supportive of the tri-county re-licensing committee.”
Lobue said Appalachian Power runs their 650-megawat facility at a fraction of it’s potential so it can be a fluid resource for covering spiking demand n hydro-electric generators power up in a moment.
The dam and Leesville Lake pump-back system is a vital aspect of their success as a profitable utility, serving customer needs fluently while not wasting core fuels.
The point is not lost as association leaders and local authorities strengthen their sense of cooperation to move a common cause forward on political and economic fronts.
“I think it’s crucial to get involved now,” Berger said. “There is so much potential benefit for us, for county revenues and area development, to do so.”
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