Whether you live at Smith Mountain Lake, or downstream on the Staunton River, this drought has everybody feeling the pain. The Department of Environmental Quality is holding a meeting Thursday night in Gretna to talk about how much water Appalachian Power can release from the lake during drought conditions.

We talked to concerned citizens on both sides of the issue, and found that everyone is going to have to share the flow.

Watt Foster, Concerned About River Levels - "You'll see the tip of those rocks showing, and that's a good flow."

As low as the Staunton River is now, Watt Foster says you can almost walk all the way across it and start fishing. But residents downstream from the Smith Mountain Lake dam are concerned about more than just recreation. Campbell County supervisor J.D. Puckett worries about downstream industries and the public's need for drinking water.

J.D. Puckett, Campbell County Supervisor, Brookneal - "We're not asking to open up and let all the waters keep flowing this way. But we will share the pain with you."

And folks at Smith Mountain Lake need their fair share of the water too. Boaters need room to navigate around the lake, especially rescue boats. Stanley Goldsmith says drinking water is a big deal on the lake as well.

Stanley Goldsmith, Tri-County Licensing Committee - "The future holds that fact that there's going to be more and more people relying on the lake for drinking water, and that's got to prevail. I mean that's the important consideration for the future."

Appalachian Power has a permit to hold water in the lake to generate electricity. The energy company needs to hold a certain amount of water in order to supply enough power. That puts Appalachian in the middle of both groups.

John Shepelwich, Appalachian Power - "We have to deal with all of those interests and try to respond to every one of them as best we can."

Goldsmith - "Everybody needs to realize that they all have to experience the pain."

And at the public hearing, both groups need to feel it together.