Appalachian Power Company (APCo) will conduct a required test of its generating units at the Claytor Hydroelectric Project in southwest Virginia on Thursday, July 30, 2026. The test will temporarily increase downstream flows on the New River, with impacts varying by distance from the dam. Areas closest to the dam, including Radford, can expect river levels to rise by approximately 2.5 feet Thursday afternoon. Recreational and commercial users of the river and shoreline areas should be aware of temporarily higher water levels and faster-moving water. This capacity test applies only to the Claytor Hydroelectric Project.