Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burn Law Takes Effect Starting Feb. 15
"It’s that time of year again. Virginia’s 4 p.m. burn law is about to begin.
Starting Feb. 15 and lasting through April 30 each year, the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) says that any outdoor burning is prohibited until after 4 p.m.
See the VA Dept of Forestry website for more information: https://dof.virginia.gov/wildland-prescribed-fire/fire-laws/4-pm-burning-law/
Water levels at Gaston and Roanoke Rapids are managed to promote fish spawning from March 1st to June 15th of each year. While lake levels are managed to remain below 200' mean sea level (ft-msl) at Lake Gaston, maintaining adequate downstream flow with minimal variation is a primary goal during fish spawning. Dominion states:
During the striped bass spawning season (March 1 – June 15), water may be stored in Lake Gaston between elevations 200.00 and 201.00 for weekend downstream flow augmentation.
This is considered "normal operations" during the fish spawning season. If rainfall increases significantly in the Roanoke River watershed, Dominion Power may enter "emergency operations". Lake levels may then exceed 201'.
The LGA will do our best to keep the Lake Gaston Community informed if it appears lake levels may exceed 201'.
On December 20, 2021 Dominion Power submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission changes to its Shoreline Management Plan appendices. These changes are the product of a required 5 year review which was delayed one year due to pandemic restrictions. Dominion received input from the general public on September 15th and from a working group, including state, federal, county agencies, contractors, real estate developers, the Lake Gaston Stripers Club as well as the Lake Gaston Association on October 3rd.
Summary of Changes
(1) Construction and Use Procedures. (Appendix C to the Plan) The proposed changes add a
statement prohibiting the use of submersible pumps, increase restrictions in Sensitive areas to
exclude any new clearing of land or building of docks, clarify that new bulkheads are not being
approved and clarify definitions of grandfathered landscaping.
(2) Aquatic Weed Control. (Appendix E to the plan) There are two proposed changes: the first
clarifies who may apply weed control chemicals in the lakes, removes the requirement to notify
Dominion prior to aquatic weed control activities and adds a requirement for registered
applicators to submit an annual report providing information regarding location of treatments,
area treated, chemicals applied, and species treated. The second change removes the requirement
to obtain permission from Dominion to clear native aquatic plants from a 10’ wide boat lane
providing access to the lake but makes clear that removing Water Willow will not be approved.
Special Management Area Maps
In Dominion’s 2005 Plan submittal, there were 23 maps that delineate areas within the project
boundary that warrant special protection. Those maps have not been changed and have not been
included in this submittal. The maps can be found on Dominion’s web site at: https://www.dominionenergy.com/lakes-and-recreation/lake-gaston-and-roanoke-rapids-lake-nc/construction-use-and-procedures
Once these revisions are posted on Dominion Energy’s web site the LGA will notify our membership.