Drawdowns occur when the Appalachian Power Company, at the request of The Friends of Claytor Lake (FOCL) and in consultation with local government, and state and federal agencies, implement a scheduled lowering of the lake level to enable property owners to do maintenance and clean up along the lake’s shoreline. Drawdown activities usually involve debris clean up, repairs to shoreline structures, and shoreline stabilization.

Drawdowns are typically held every other November.

A 5 foot drawdown has been approved for this November 4-12 to enable property owners to do shoreline maintenance and clean up.  Drawdown will start Wednesday, Nov 1 at 1:30 p.m.at 1.5 feet per day until the lake reaches the 1841 elevation (5 feet down) where it will remain until 10 p.m., Sunday, Nov 12 when it refilling will begin.

Property owners should begin the permit application process NOW through AEP, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and Pulaski County for any projects that might require permits, such as dock modifications or expansions, shoreline stabilization, vegetation removal or dredging. 

For questions, contact AEP’s Lisa Hammock at lhhammock@aep.com or 540-489-2556; COE’s Chester Bigelow at Chester.C.Bigelow@usace.army.mil; and Pulaski County at 540-980-7710. 

FOCL can also be contacted at info@focl.org or 540-395-FOCL.

As mitigation for drawdown, property owners are encouraged to walk along exposed shorelines and gently toss stranded mussels into deeper water. To support continued drawdowns, please report the number of mussels you save and your use of drawdown on the postcard in Appalachian’s September drawdown notification letter, or on FOCL’s website (below)

Volunteers are also being recruited to participate in a mussel salvage event Saturday, Nov 4. Volunteers will meet at 10 a.m. at two locations on the lake where, following orientation and training, they will be deployed in teams by boat, car or on foot to salvage mussels along specified shorelines. Pre-registration is required. If you are interested in participating in the mussel salvage event, contact Laura Bullard at laurabullard54@gmail.com.

FOCL encourages salvaging stranded mussels during drawdown by gently tossing them into deeper water.  To support continued drawdowns, FOCL also collects data on mussel salvage efforts and drawdown use, and asks that you report your salvage activities!

*Name and lake address are optional on both FOCL's online form and the postcard in Appalachian's letter.

Next drawdown:

November 4-12 2023

Next mussel salvage event Nov. 4th