#visitsmithlake

UPDATE: IMPORTANT blog message from @apcshorelines at apcshorelines.com (link in comments - also posted in our story). The 521’ water level elevation was reached today here on Lewis Smith Lake—and was still showing 521’ at 8pm on 04/01/21. If you have been watching our Facebook and Instagram pages and the stories on each, we have been advising the community of the water level with safety suggestions. The peak estimate posted @apcshorelines website blog late yesterday was expected near 521.7’ by this evening but successful APC & USACE water management has apparently thankfully allowed us to fall well short of that projection. We feel we can finally breathe a community-wide collective sigh of relief and look forward to the process of returning to normal seasonal full pool in a few weeks as long as no other unforeseen weather event adjusts that schedule. Shoreline cleanup will be the focus for most. This event has made us all more aware of property marks of 520’ to 522’ (and regular full pool near 510’) so that we can always be properly prepared for future unprecedented rainy events causing water level rise. This is not a regular yearly or overly frequent event, but it is nice to be prepared nonetheless. AGAIN... the reservoir should hopefully have now reached near peak, and the spillway was not needed for this event. Thank you APC, @apcshorelines & USACE! Along with other property concerns, please continue to consider your docks and exercise safe navigation around the shoreline areas. Please be thoughtful and careful boating near docks with tight dock cables or properties that still have high water - be mindful of your wake. Meanwhile, property owners should remain safe adjusting tight dock cables and dealing with outdoor electrical connections. Always consider only @apcshorelines your direct and most accurate source for the Smith Lake water level—download the “Smart Lakes” app and use their website: https://apcshorelines.com/our-lakes/smith/ 〰️〰️💦〰️〰️ #smithlakeshorelines #smithlakewaterlevel #alabama #smithlakecommunity #visitsmithlake #smithlake #smithlakeal #smithlakealabama #smithlakepix #smithlakelife #smithlakemagazine #thelakesidelife (at Smith Lake, Cullman al) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNJZf6fL4FW/?igshid=6a1bcpmbq3ag

As much as none of us wanted to see this, we have now breached the 520’ water level mark here on Lewis Smith Lake—currently showing 520.2’ at 3pm on 03/31/21. To our current knowledge, this has not happened since the 80s. If you have been watching our Facebook and Instagram pages and the stories on each, we have been advising the community of rising waters with safety suggestions. We are not sure if a new peak estimate will be posted by @apcshorelines but the last shown on their app in our observation was to be near 319’. But again...”Acts of God” cannot be predicted accurately and we are where we are, and likely rising despite generators running on schedule. This is why it is imperative to know your lot’s mark from 520’ to 522’ (we know where ours is even at 510’ as well), so you can always be properly prepared for unprecedented rainy events causing water level rise. AGAIN... the reservoir water level is likely still rising, we do not know an estimated peak level as creeks/streams flowing into the lake from above the reservoir and continued runoff remain a factor. Along with other property concerns, please consider your docks and navigation around the shoreline areas. Hopefully it does not need to be said that boating should be fully curtailed due to weather, wind, cold temps and floating debris...surely no one will attempt to boat for the next few days. Be careful when adjusting tight dock cables and inspecting electrical connections. If any portion of a dock is submerged, like a walkway, cut the electricity completely OFF for ultimate safety—hopefully this was done WELL before forecasted weather in anticipation of a change in the water level—not only for your protection, but also for that of all your neighbors. Get professional help if you are unsure how to proceed. Please...BE SAFE!!! Always consider only @apcshorelines your direct and most accurate source for Smith Lake water levels—download the “Smart Lakes” app and use their website: https://apcshorelines.com/our-lakes/smith/ 〰️〰️💦〰️〰️ #alabama #visitsmithlake #smithlake #smithlakeal #smithlakepix #smithlakealabama #smithlakemagazine #thelakesidelifemagazine #thelakesidelife (at Smith Lake, Cullman al) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGOYu7LvzR/?igshid=t35nrvt9m7t1

High lake levels affect all property on the lake, even the dam area itself is not immune to the effects of too much unforeseen rain. The situation seems unusual to many who are new to the lake or unfamiliar with water level fluctuation, or simply due to over saturation on social media...but the lake level routinely and expectantly fluctuates yearly—usually from high every spring, slowly receding in summer (dam generators are usually more active in that timeframe), until finally a low level is reached in late fall. Our area is historically known to be very rainy in late winter and early spring, so a rise in the level is always anticipated then. However, unknown weather conditions are a huge factor—“acts of God”cannot be accurately predicted soon enough either above, on, or below our reservoir, and all those areas are vital in a highly complicated formula determining the operations at the dam. There are many factors in that equation, and highly skilled trusted experts have to use it for the safety of all who reside along controlled waterways. In fact, we’ve personally seen levels on the lake in the 518ish range a few times, so actually levels near that can be somewhat normal in the scheme of a few decades. Interestingly, “Smith Lake Community” Facebook Group member Billy Taylor suggested the following top levels since the lake’s birth in 1961–6 decades. (YES—this year is Smith Lake’s 60th Birthday! 🥳💕) 1962 - 518.5 1964 - 520.8 1968 - 520.6 1973 - 521.2 1977 - 517.8 1979 - 518.6 1980 - 520.9 1990 - 519.4 2000 - 517.1 2004 - 518.0 2019 - 517.62 2021 - 518.8k’ (now expected to crest near 519ish) Be patient... this too shall pass. We remain respectful, thoughtful and caring towards all involved in the process or affected by higher waters, and prayerful in hopes of no further excessive weather conditions that thwart a best outcome so that we can collectively move into a better and exciting lake season. 〰️💦〰️ “Flooding on Smith Lake. These images were at the dam were taken Sunday, March 28, 2021.” - 📷 @rjguscette 〰️💦〰️ #alabama #lewissmithlake #visitsmithlake #smithlake #smithlakealabama #smithlakeal #smithlakemagazine #thelakesidelife (at Lewis Smith Lake) https://www.instagram.com/p/CM-pBBFrdSF/?igshid=cg1r38ev80hv

“Sunrise at Smith Lake” 📷 @toddnelson7318 〰️〰️🌅💕〰️〰️ #smithlakesunrise #sunrise #alabamasunrise #reflection #visitsmithlake #smithlakeview #lakelife #alabama #alabamalakes #alabamalife #smithlakecommunity #smithlakesocial #lakeliving #lakeside #lewissmithlake #lifeonthelake #lifeonsmith #livelovelake #livinglakelife #livelifelakeside #ilovesmithlake #northalabama #smithlake #smithlakeal #smithlakepix #smithlakelife #smithlakemagazine #thelakesidelifemagazine #thelakesidelife (at Smith Lake, Alabama) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzs6eG1hDkJ/?igshid=155awi1ln83bu

A beautiful drone shot of the clear, clean emerald green waters of @smithlakeal and its lush shoreline. Go explore & show us what you find! 📷 @elevatedimageryservices <~~~ #alabamaphotographer #smithlakephotographer 〰️〰️💦〰️〰️ #smithlakeshorelines #visitsmithlake #smithlakedroneshot #smithlakebeauty #alabama #alabamalakes #alabamalife #smithlakecommunity #smithlakesocial #lakeliving #lakeside #lewissmithlake #lifeonthelake #lakelife #lake #livinglakelife #livelifelakeside #lovesmithlake #northalabama #smithlake #smithlakeal #smithlakepix #smithlakelife #smithlakemagazine #thelakesidelifemagazine #thelakesidelife (at Smith Lake, Cullman al) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzjE4LohbEV/?igshid=i24vho0cpdzd