After a record flood devastated the Roanoke River basin in August 1940, destroying homes, crops, and industry, concerned citizens recognized a need for flood control measures within the Basin.

The Roanoke River Basin Association was formed in 1945 by leading citizens of both Virginia and North Carolina to promote the construction of Kerr Dam (a.k.a. Buggs Island Dam, completed 1953) as well as other dams, such as the Smith Mountain Dam, in the Roanoke River Basin. Some of the founding members of the RRBA were Glenn B. Updike, President of the Danville, VA Chamber of Commerce; H.A. Ford of Martinsville, VA; Senator Y.M. Hodges of South Hill, VA; F.C Beninger, Commonwealth Attorney of Mecklenburg Co., VA; Eric W. Rogers, newspaper publisher from Scotland Neck, NC; Judge W.H.S. Burgwyn of Woodland, NC; H.L. Hardy, a director of the Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative; and Bolling Lambeth of Bedford, VA. Bolling Lambeth was elected president and C.W. Cleaton of South Hill was elected Secretary.

After RRBA obtained the support of Virginia Electric Power for the construction of the Roanoke Rapids Dam (completed 1955) and Gaston Dam(completed 1963) the RRBA in 1966 turned its attention to promoting the development of Smith Mountain Lake and Leesville dams.

Since that time, RRBA has expanded its activities to include various aspects of the development, use, preservation, and enhancement of the Roanoke River Basin.

The Roanoke River basin contains 9,580 square miles and over 400 miles of rivers, stretching from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia in an east-southeast direction to the Albemarle Sound near Plymouth, North Carolina.

It includes the Roanoke, Dan, Smith, Staunton, Banister, Hyco and Cashie Rivers and numerous other rivers and streams. The Basin includes municipalities such as Danville, Martinsville, Bassett, Moneta, Rocky Mount, Brookneal, Altavista, Lawrenceville, Chatham, Altavista, Roanoke, Salem, Halifax, South Boston and Clarksville in Virginia; and Eden, Mayodan, Reidsville, Yanceyville, Roxboro, Henderson, Warrenton, Gaston, Garysburg, Littleton, Roanoke Rapids, Weldon, Jackson, Rich Square, Scotland Neck, Hamilton, Jamesville, Williamston, Windsor and Plymouth in North Carolina.

The Roanoke River Basin includes the several dams, including Kerr Dam, Hyco Dam, Mayo Dam, Gaston Dam, Roanoke Rapids Dam, Smith Mountain Lake Dam, Leesville Dam, and Philpott Dam and several other impoundments of water. Kerr Dam Reservoir, constructed in the early 1950s for flood control and hydroelectric power generation, is the largest dam in the Roanoke basin system. It, along with upstream Philpott Dam, is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Hyco Dam and Reservoir is a Carolina Power & Light project. Smith Mountain and Leesville Dams and Reservoirs are operated by American Electric Power Company. Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Dams and Reservoirs are operated by Virginia Electric Power Company. The Corps of Engineers’ operations at Kerr Dam and Reservoir and Dominion’s operations at Gaston/Roanoke Rapids Dams and Reservoirs are closely coordinated. The Corps also coordinates its operations at the Kerr and Philpott projects.

Roanoke River water is generally considered of good quality, though urban and agricultural runoff are increasing problems. Hyco and Belews Lake retain health advisories for fish consumption for selenium, and Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake face problems with aquatic weeds. PCB’s were found in the Staunton River and Dan River upstream of Kerr Lake, resulting in health advisories for fish consumption. Sediment is also a major concern in the basin.

RRBA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization whose mission is to establish and carry out a strategy for the development, use, preservation and enhancement of the resources of the Roanoke River basin in the best interest of present and future generations of Basin residents. RRBA believes that basin resource conservation can co-exist with managed economic growth.

What We Do

RRBA consists of an all-volunteer citizen appointed Advisory Board of Directors

RRBA consists of an all-volunteer citizen appointed Advisory Board of Directors, and an Executive Director reporting to an Executive Committee. The Committee is made up of the Officers of President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer, appointed Board members representing the upper, middle, Kerr Lake, and lower Basin areas and an Advisor on Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. Each executive acts as the ombudsman for their respective area assuring involvement in issues supporting our mission. At our board meetings, the Executive Committee and Officers report on the important activities and issues being pursued in order to gain advise, counsel and consensus in direction. Financial and other business matters are also taken up at that time. One meeting is designated as the Annual Meeting where the election of officers and Directors takes place. A Basin newsletter is published and the day to day office operations, fundraising, accounting, web site maintenance, personal contacts, and other general matters are handled by the Officers.

RRBA has a permanent seat on the Corps of Engineers

RRBA has a permanent seat on the Corps of Engineers (COE) Stakeholders Water Management Committee. This group meets by teleconference each week and at a face to face on a Bi-monthly basis. Water flow conditions, lake level projections, and strategies and plans to deal with both flood and drought conditions are discussed and agreed upon. All government agencies and concerned municipalities are asked to report status and offer suggestions for the improvement of conditions. Almost always, the RRBA is the sole volunteer citizens advocate group at the sessions and our comments and suggestions are sought and appreciated.

RRBA educates basin residents and other affected parties

RRBA educates basin residents and other affected parties about the resources of the Roanoke River basin. As part of this effort, RRBA publishes a newsletter, Basin Bulletin, for its supporters and constituents. RRBA fought for over 20 years in an effort to prevent the city of Virginia Beach from diverting up to 60 million gallons of water per day from the Roanoke River at Lake Gaston.

RRBA monitors non-basin municipalities in North Carolina and Virginia

RRBA monitors non-basin municipalities in North Carolina and Virginia who might seek an inter-basin transfer of water out of the Roanoke River Basin. RRBA monitors activities that might negatively impact the quality of the water resources within the basin. RRBA promotes and helps to fund recreational and safety facilities in the basin.

RRBA maintains relationships with regional basin organizations

RRBA maintains relationships with regional basin organizations such as the Dan River Basin Association, Roanoke Rapids Lake Association, Roanoke River Partners, The Nature Conservancy, as well as other municipal organizations such as NC Wildlife Association, National Wildlife Association, and VA Dept of Game & Inland Fisheries.