1st Tip - Pedlar Reservoir, Pedlar River Stream Gage

Our first stop was at the Pedlar Dam where we where given a brief tour of the inner mechanics and enjoyed the beautiful view of the lake. We then headed to the Pedlar river where we took data for our discharge data analysis lab. We measured river depth and timed floating orange peels to determine the rivers velocity. We even had the chance to take a dip in a deeper section of the river before heading off for lunch. 

1st Trip - Blue Ridge Parkway, Peaks of Otter

We ate lunch at the Blue Ridge Parkway which offered stunning views of the valley below. As we drove down the mountains, we stopped for a short hike and even got to view some of the local wildlife. Finally we took a walk around the scenic Peaks of Otter Dam before heading back to campus. 

2nd Trip - Smith Mountain Dam, Leesville Dam, Smith Mountain Lake

During our field trip to the Smith Mountain and surrounding area, our class got to explore the Smith Mountain and Leesvile Dam and cool off in the Smith Mountain lake. We learned about how the Smith Mountain and Leesville Dam work in tandem to maintain optimal water height for generating hydropower during peak hours of the day. We even got to watch the Leesville Dam release water into the river! We then headed to the Smith Mountain Lake to relax in the water and eat lunch.

3rd Trip -Big Otter River, Blue Ridge Parkway

We gathered depth data for determining the altitude changes of the river in relation to the type of flow, and then we went swimming near a rock chute. We then ate lunch at the blue ridge parkway