ROANOKE, Va., December 16, 2014 – Repair work is complete at Appalachian Power’s Byllesby hydroelectric dam in Carroll County, Va. allowing the company to reopen the area to outdoor enthusiasts. The forebay and portage access have been closed since spring 2014.

Byllesby and its companion Buck Dam were damaged by heavy rains and high water from a major storm that hit the New River in January 2013. Water overtopped the Byllesby dam and damaged its flashboards during one of the most severe events on record for the river.

Major repair work and dredging began earlier this year necessitating lowering the forebay and closing off portage points for travelers on the river. Appalachian planned to have the forebay back to its normal elevation and trails opened again by mid-November, but that was delayed because of unplanned repairs and uncooperative weather.

Appalachian Power appreciates the patience of river users during the work.

Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, which delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. 

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