CBS 6 Senior Reporter Wayne Covil found out none of the localities that get their drinking water from Lake Chesdin are using more than their allotment.
In fact, he says no locality has used half of their daily amount of water.
The spillway remains open by law to allow the Appomattox River to continue to flow.
The hydro-plant is not running because of the lake level.
Update: September 7th, 1:44PM:
Mandatory water restrictions are now in place for the counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George, along with the cities of Petersburg and Colonial Heights.
We're told Lake Chesdin has dropped to 85 inches below the top of the dam and has dropped more than a foot since last Friday.
Original Story: September 6th:
Access to Lake Chesdin from Public Boat Landings and Marinas has been cut off because of the drastic drop in water levels. As of Monday morning, the lake is down about 72 inches.
The summer drought is not only affecting the lake itself, but also hurting many of the local businesses that depend on Lake Chesdin for their livelihoods.
"It should be over my head, pretty much," said Erica Guzman, who has been going to the lake for her whole life. "It's the lowest I've ever seen it in my lifetime coming here. I'm 33 years old, and I don't remember it being this bad."
At the Public Boat Landing in Dinwiddie County, boaters were heading out just two months ago. But today, it's dried up and impossible to use, disappointing many who were out for the holiday.
"On a pretty day like today and its perfect weather to take a boat out, it's not too windy so it's kind of disappointing," said Leroy Rhone.
Whippernock Marina was also still able to launch boats and have people swimming in July, but now, it's nearly deserted because of the drought.
"Can't get boats in, nobody can go swimming," said Lindsey Ellis, who works at Whippernock Marina. "You go swimming, you're knee deep in mud and just -- nobody can come out here and do the things they usually do."
Also two months ago, Cozy Cove Campground and Marina was just beginning to see the water recede. But now?
"As far as you can see, there's nothing but grass, no water," said Dottie Kitts of Cozy Cove Campground & Marina.
Cozy Cove is now cut off from the rest of the lake. Where jet-skis once raced across Lake Chesdin, now golf carts take people out to fish.
Needless to say, business is a bust.
"We're losing money every day by people not being able to get their boats in and out," said Kitts.
For those who can get out on the lake, what they see is disheartening.
"It literally looks like a desert. We should be seeing lots of boats; we don't," said Shannon Spivey, who has been going to Lake Chesdin for 25 years. "We see barren terrain, sticks, you know, stumps? what's underneath the water generally." It's going to take a lot of rain to bring the water level back up, and if it doesn't happen soon, the area could be seeing mandatory water restrictions as early as this Wednesday.
