Carvin's Cove supplies drinking water to the Roanoke Valley, and as it turns out, it's a great place to fish. It's one of your choices if you want to participate in the Blue Ridge Games.

As the Roanoke Valley stays in a drought, 10 News is checking in on how that’s affecting Carvins Cove, the primary drinking water source for much of the Roanoke Valley.

Thousands of athletes completed a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run Sunday for the 70.3 Ironman in Roanoke.

Thousands of athletes from all over the world are coming to the Roanoke Valley for the Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge Triathlon.

Thanks to Lisa for sending us today’s Pictures of the Day from Carvins Cove!

2,500 athletes will compete in Virginia's Blue Ridge IRONMAN this Sunday.

Thanks to Elaine for sending us today’s Picture of the Day from Carvins Cove.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Carvins Cove Nature Reserve has been free throughout the advent of COVID-19, but time is running out to enjoy the water without opening your wallet. Dozens of visitors came out to enjoy Carvins Cove’s last free weekend. Some visitors such as Mark and Maureen Rimer say they will keep coming to the cove, regardless of the cost. “Every time we have come over, we wonder if we have to pay or if we don’t, it’s not really an issue,” Maureen Rimer said. “We figure when it is time to pay, we’ve been here so many times for free that we really owe it to them.”You have to bring your own boat to the reservoir; Carvins Cove has stopped its boat rentals because of COVID-19.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Wednesday’s rain has caused plenty of flooding across the region, and it comes as no surprise that the water levels at Carvins Cove continue to rise. Two feet of water is now flowing over the Carvins Cove Dam spillway, prompting a a State II flooding notification. Stage II is used when potential failure or storm development are quickly accelerating that could result in failure of the dam. This action is not an indicator of any imminent dam failure, as a 2014 study showed it would take 14 feet of water to cause failure, according to the Western Virginia Water Authority. The 80-foot tall concrete dam has a 112-foot wide spillway and holds 6.42 billion gallons of water at full pond.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – The spillway of the Carvins Cove dam in Roanoke County is seeing two feet of flowing water. Two feet of water flowing over the spillway is not an indicator of imminent dam failure, however, according to the Western Virginia Water Authority, which owns the dam. Officials with the Water Authority told 10 News the flood of 1985 was the last time there were two feet of water flowing over the dam. Four feet of water flowing over the dam would trigger a “Stage III” emergency, which could mean dam failure is imminent. Water Authority officials said they don’t expect the dam to reach a Stage III designation and there is no danger to the public on Wednesday night.

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA – As people in Southwest Virginia prepare to get fresh air this weekend, some popular spots are now closed to limit the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Matthew Webb, a 19-year-old student from North Carolina, drove all the way to Virginia to camp along the Appalachian Trail this weekend. Hiking and biking trails will stay open, but you need to stay in groups less than 10 people. The U.S. Forest Service temporarily closed all trail heads, facilities and access points to the Appalachian Trail (AT). “But I’ll live with it.”Different cities and towns across southwest Virginia have made different decisions about whether or not to close playgrounds or parks, so it’s important to check before you go.

"Outdoor recreation has proven to be a recession-proof industry and a driving force in the American economy," said Gov. Northam came to Carvins Cove Thursday to launch the new Department of Outdoor Recreation. Seeking to highlight tourism and promote outdoors business is something Pete Eshelman, Roanoke Regional Partnership outdoor branding director, knows well. It's a $22 billion a year industry in Virginia alone and the Roanoke Valley wants a big slice of it. "Together, these efforts will further position Virginia as the top outdoor state on the east coast and the natural fit for outdoor business," said Northam.