President’s Message
By Don Fink

The Smith Mountain Lake Association has launched its 2002 season with two Town Meetings focused on the associations main priorities: the need to maintain the quality (and quantity) of the water in Smith Mountain Lake and to support local government efforts to manage residential and commercial development around the lake.

The Association's Board of Directors were heartened by the 270 plus lake residents who attended the Feb. 26 Town Meeting at Resurrection Catholic Church.  The topics covered included water levels in Smith Mountain Lake, preliminary results from the 2001 water quality monitoring program and the spread of exotic aquatic weeds in our lake.  Obviously, all are of considerable interest to the community.

Maintaining the quality of water in Smith Mountain Lake has been and will continue to be our primary objective, and this includes retaining the highest possible water level in our lake.  As became clear during the Town Meeting, the quality of the water, including bacterial levels and the onset of exotic weed infestations, is interrelated with the water level.

Stan Smith, Chairman of the SMLA Lake Committee, and Ralph Brush, SMLA Vice President, have worked diligently to address these issues, and their leadership of the newly formed Smith Mountain Lake Water Conservation Alliance carries this to the next step.  If the Smith Mountain Lake Community can form this Alliance it will give us a stronger voice in balancing our need for maintaining the highest possible water level in our lake against the needs of the lower Roanoke River Basin.|

We appreciate the support already pledged by American Electric Power, the Association of Lake Area Communities, the SML Chamber of Commerce/ Partnership and numerous other organizations and state and federal agencies associated with Smith Mountain Lake. We also need the support and assistance of lake area residents.  There will be many opportunities for individuals to serve on committees, subcommittees and action groups associated with the Alliance.

The Smith Mountain Lake Association was asked during the meeting what we're going to do to address these issues?  The Association wants to turn that question around and ask, "what are YOU willing to do to help the SMLA solve these problems"? If you are not a member, consider joining the Association.

The annual fees are modest.  For further information, call the SMLA office at 297-4146 or contact us by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  If you are a member, or soon to become one, get INVOLVED by contacting Stan Smith or Ralph Brush and volunteering some time.  We all will benefit.