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Name:	sweetiepie -	Reply
Subject:	smith lake history
Date:	4/7/2008 10:36:57 PM

Hello Everyone!
I realize that construction of the dam started in 1957 and was completed in 1961 by Alabama Power. But when did the allow public use of the lake. Was it in 1961 or did that come later. Also how long did it take for the lake to fill up after the dam was complete. If you have any other interesting things to add about Smith Lake I would like to hear it as well!!!

Name:	Bill -	Reply
Subject:	smith lake history
Date:	4/8/2008 1:00:07 PM

There are some interesting photos of the dam being built and the lake flooding in the history section of

www.smithlakecommunity.com/forum

Name:	alston -	Reply
Subject:	smith lake history
Date:	4/9/2008 11:01:47 AM

The Jasper library has a collection of articles on the history of Smith Lake that I saw 3 years ago.

Name:	Psycho -	Reply
Subject:	smith lake history
Date:	4/10/2008 5:22:07 PM

I was waiting on someone with a lot of information to answer you.
But so far info seems slim...I've been told that they expected it to take 3 years for the lake to fill up....but it took less than a year.

I'm trying to get my hands on a video I saw several years back. Someone had put together several video clips of home videos of the lake filling up.

Maybe I will have some interesting information if I get a chance to watch it again.

Name:	keyman -	Reply
Subject:	smith lake history
Date:	4/21/2008 8:48:49 AM

Originaly (1932) the Federal Government was thinking about building a dam 5.3 miles downstream of the current location called New Hope Dam. In 1954 APC proposed the current location and it was designated the Upper New Hope Dam later named Lewis Smith Dam.
During Construction the water was diverted through a large pipe on the east side of the dam. On October 1st 1960 the pipe was plugged and filling of the reservoir began. From the 265' elevation the lake rose steady to the 390' by Feb. 18 1961. A large rainfall starting Feb 17 caused the lake to rise 60' in the next 10 days. Minimum pool of 488' was reached on April 23rd 1961. The First Generating unit went online in September 1961 and the second in July 1962.

I am not sure if that answers your question but Public Recreation was one of the specific items mentioned in the Original License for Smith Lake in 1957.

keyman

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