Newsletter articles

By Mark Debord – October 2024

Dominion Energy Virginia is seeking proposals to evaluate the feasibility of developing a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the North Anna Power Station. SMRs have a smaller footprint than traditional reactors, can be manufactured at off-site facilities and shipped for installation. This makes them less expensive to construct than traditional reactors.  What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? | IAEA

Dominion announced the Request for Proposals (RFP) at an event on July 10 at the North Anna site. The RFP is not a commitment to build an SMR at North Anna. It is merely a first step in evaluating the technology and the feasibility of a SMR at the North Anna site.

"For over 50 years nuclear power has been the most reliable workhorse of Virginia's electric fleet, generating 40% of our power and with zero carbon emissions," said Robert Blue, chair, president and CEO of Dominion Energy. "As Virginia's need for reliable and clean power grows, SMRs could play a pivotal role in an 'all-of-the-above' approach to our energy future. Along with offshore wind, solar and battery storage, SMRs have the potential to be an important part of Virginia's growing clean energy mix." 

The North Anna site is currently home to two pressurized water reactors, which began commercial operation in 1978 and 1980. Under their current licenses, North Anna units 1 and 2 can continue to operate through 2058 and 2060.

mark.debord@lakeannavirginia.org

By Sue Biondi – October 2024

No doubt you have heard the expression “they mix like oil and water.”  That expression is used when two things are incompatible.  The expression couldn’t express more the incompatibility of water and electricity.  This article is a must read for all LACA members and all who frequent the lake, whether on or off water. 

On July 4, 2024, at Smith Mountain Lake, an adult male jumped into the water at a private home dock and immediately showed signs of struggling.  His two friends jumped in the water to help him, and immediately felt like they were being shocked.  They managed to pull the victim out of the water and began CPR until medics arrived.  The person succumbed to the event.  Information about this tragedy can be found on You Tube and WJLA ABC7 News. 

There are no visible signs of electricity in the water.  If someone enters electrified water, it can cause paralysis, leading to the inability to swim or tread water.  Electricity passes through the body and may cause instant death.  This is especially hazardous in fresh water (a lake) due to lower water conductivity.  Many drowning deaths are incorrectly classified as a “drowning,” but are electric shock deaths.  A boat lift with faulty wiring that connects to shore power can be a source of electrified water, as well as improperly wired pumps, boats or lighting, improperly grounded wires, or stray current in the ground.  Anything requiring electricity around the water should be installed by a certified electrician. 

Electric service around docks and marinas should include Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) that are compliant with the National Electric Code (NEC) 2011 and Marine Ground Fault Protection Article 555-3.  These GFCIs should be tested at least monthly.  Only use extension cords that are specifically intended for marine use and are in good condition.    NEVER use household cords near water.   Become familiar with the location of power breakers on your dock and in the house so power can be shut off quickly.  If you feel a tingle while swimming, swim away from the dock and do not use a metal ladder to exit the water.  The water should be inspected and tested using a qualified electrician. 

Another hazard to consider is CARBON MONOXIDE (CO).   Poorly tuned boat engines produce CO.  Proper ventilation for engine and generator exhaust vents must be clear and pipes should be inspected for leaks.  Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, fatigue, confusion, dizziness, nausea or seizures, all like symptoms of seasickness.  Get a person into fresh air and call 911 for assistance.  DO NOT swim near a boat’s exhaust vents.  DO NOT sit on a boat platform while the boat is idling.

This article is intended to promote education and boating safety.  For more information, sources include www.nfpa.org/education and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (703-841-3229.

sue.biondi@lakeannavirginia.org

By Mark Debord – October 2024

Shoreline vegetation is a critical piece of the efforts to limit the runoff of nutrients that lead to Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB). Last year, through a generous grant from DuPont, LACA members and other volunteers planted between 2500-3000 native plants.  Lake Anna Civic Association - Another DuPont Clear Into the Future Grant for LACA (lakeannavirginia.org). LACA received additional grants from DuPont and Dominion Energy that we’ll use to continue and expand that work in 2024.

In addition to the role that shoreline vegetation plays in reducing nutrient uptake in the lake, it is an important part of erosion control, storing carbon, and water purification. It also provides critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife at Lake Anna. Understanding Living Shorelines | NOAA Fisheries. 

In March 2023, Dominion Energy established the Lake Anna Reservoir and Waste Heat Treatment Facility (WHTF) Vegetation Management & Herbicide/Pesticide Treatment Policy.  Lake Anna Reservoir and WHTF Vegetation Management & Herbicide/Pesticide Treatment Policy (cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net).  The purpose of the policy is to protect aquatic vegetation at the lake (note that hydrilla is managed under a separate policy).

Under the policy, landowners should not treat more than what immediately prevents access to swimming areas, boat docks, and the main water body. Before removing any vegetation along the shoreline or in the water, whether with chemicals or physical removal, a landowner must apply to Dominion for prior approval. The application and accompanying instructions are attached to the policy in the link above.

Preventing HABs requires a group effort. Protecting Lake Anna’s shoreline vegetation plays a critical role in that.

mark.debord@lakeannavirginia.org

By Greg Baker – July 2024

Elections

The LACA elections are live. LACA’s board is made up of 11 volunteers representing the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. In addition, members of LACA are represented by one of 6 Regional Directors, each representing members that closely correlate to the county voting districts.

LACA’s board members serve a two-year term and approximately half of the board is up for election each year. With the Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and the Regional Directors from Jackson/Cuckoo-Public Side, Brokenburg and Mineral/Louisa up for election in even years. The President, Treasurer and Regional Directors from Jackson/Cuckoo-Private Side, Partlow and Belmont up for election in odd years.

In addition to the voting members of the board, the LACA leadership group also includes the chairs and co-chairs of our various standing committees. These include the Water Quality, Environmental Preservation, Emergency Services & Safety, Land Use, Membership & Marketing, and our Fireworks Committees. (To learn more about one of these committees, please click through to our website.)

You can learn a little more about our leadership group by clicking on the following links:

Board

Committee Chairs

The current election is in process and while we do not have any contested seats, please take the time to vote to show your appreciation for the many hours that our LACA leadership devotes to the community. Voting is limited to the primary member in the household or what is called the “Bundle Coordinator.”

We do have an opening on the board for the Regional Director position for the Jackson/Cuckoo-Public Side. If you reside within this region and are interested in learning more about the role, please email me. You may learn more about the role by clicking here.

Annual Meeting

The LACA annual meeting will be held at a new location on Saturday July 27^th, 2024 at The Barn at Callie Oppie’s Orchard on Route 522 very close to the intersection of Route 522 and Route 208 intersection. (The site of the new and much anticipated traffic circle.)

The official meeting will begin at 9:30AM, however please arrive at 9:00 to meet the LACA leadership and spend some time with the committee chairs. A light continental breakfast will be available.

You will hear reports from each of our committee chairs. The election results will be announced, and we will give an update on the $1MM in funding that Lake Anna received from the state to fund the Lake Anna Cyanobacteria Mitigation and Remediation Program.

We also have arranged to have special guest speakers from the Virginia Department of Natural Resources. Stacey Brown, DWR’s boating division director along with Sgt. Alan Hatmaker will speak to DWR’s Perspective on Boating Safety on Lake Anna. This is also an opportunity for us to express support for additional police presence on Lake Anna.

Attendance to the LACA Annual meeting is limited to members in good standing with LACA. To register for the event, you may follow this link. Space is limited so it is important to register in advance of the meeting. If two of you plan to attend, please note that both attendees must register prior to the event. We will attempt to host a Zoom option, but our technology is limited, so we encourage you to attend in person if possible.

What are Bundles and why does it matter?

LACA uses a third-party website host/membership management company, Wild Apricot. Wild Apricot uses terminology of “bundle coordinator” and “bundle member.” A bundle coordinator is the primary member in your household and the only member that is allowed to vote in our elections. LACA allows for each member to represent two members of the same household. The bundle member is that second member.

Why does this matter? If you add a second member to your household membership, that person is also invited to participate in all our surveys that drive LACA leadership’s decisions related to our mandates. In addition, those members may attend LACA events and receive newsletters and E-Grams.

How do you go about adding a bundle member?

1: First make sure that you are able to log into your profile on the LACA website: www.lakeannavirginia.org If you visit our website and see your name at the top of the page, you are logged in and if you click on your name you will be directed to your profile page. If you do not see your name, you will instead see “log in.” To add a bundle member, you will need to log in using the email address you used when you joined LACA. You may need to reset a password if you are unable to log in.

2: Once logged in and you see your name at the top of the web page, click your name and you will be directed to your profile page.

3: Once you are the correct page, you will see “My LACA profile” From there, scroll down to a section called ‘Bundle summary” and you will see a green button “Add member.” From there you may add another member of your household as part of your membership. Please note that your family member must have a unique email address that is different from your own.

4: Finally, your bundle member will need to log in and set up a password for his or her new profile.  If you have issues with this process, email me and I will have a member of the LACA leadership group reach out to help.

greg.baker@lakeannavirginia.org

By Maureen Daniels – July 2024

The truth is, the vast majority of folks follow the rules, play well with others, and take responsibility for their actions. It is helpful to keep this in mind as we continue to experience challenges about fair use of our beautiful, geographically limited resource, Lake Anna.

Clearly, the dynamics on our Lake have changed dramatically over the years. There has been an obvious increase in boat traffic with more and more people enjoying a wide range of water sports from low key, relaxing, to demanding, high energy. Boats and jet skis are bigger and faster, and some boats are specifically engineered to produce huge man-made waves that allow riders to surf behind.

The challenge for Lake Anna is to achieve a safe, positive coexistence where everyone can enjoy his/her own pursuit of H2O happiness without interfering with someone else’s right to do the same.

We are all a little to a lot guilty of being self-absorbed and oblivious while engaged in our favorite activities on the water. We get so focused on fishing, skiing, tubing, jet skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing—whatever—we lose situational awareness and that can put ourselves and others at risk.

Let’s get down to basics. . .

Attitude—Having fun on the water requires a serious attitude about safety.

We all share common goals: get out on the water, engage in our preferred pastimes, enjoy making memories, and have the best time ever!

The other, more consequential goal that sometimes gets lost in the “fun in the sun” mentality is one’s responsibility to avoid accidents and bring everyone back to home base without injury. Pay attention. Stay alert. Maintain a safe speed. Keep your head on a swivel. Think safety. Boat safely.

Behavior—Your behavior on the water reflects your attitude about safety. It indicates how much you know and embrace adherence to state laws and basic safety standards.

For example, do this quick indicator of where you are on the “safe to dangerous” behavioral scale:

Do you. . .

•  Make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket? Have all state mandated safety equipment on board?

•  Obey all No Wake zones (whether the police are watching or not.)

•  Stay at least 50 ft from fixed objects like docks, ramps, people in the water?

•  Ever monitor your wake to see how it is affecting those around you?

•  Cut across the bow of other boats?

•  Tow, ski, wakeboard, wake surf, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or fish in the busiest or narrowest parts of the Lake? What if someone goes down in that high traffic area?

•  Allow anyone to ride on the gunwales (sides), sun deck, or dangle feet off the bow while underway? How about your pets?

•  Overload your boat or jet ski beyond capacity?

How did you do? All good? Any room for improvement?

Most accidents on the water are the result of human error. Inattention, inexperience, and bad judgement are leading causes of incidents/fatalities. Think safety. Boat safely.

Common Sense—is uncommon in many circumstances. The basis for a peaceful coexistence among many water enthusiasts doing many different things lies in a communal sense of common courtesy, respect, civility, manners and patience.

Let’s all do our part. Fair use. Fair play. Fair enough!

mo.daniels@lakeannavirginia.org

By Harry Looney – July 2024

The Virginia General Assembly approved an additional $500,000 in the fiscal year 2025 budget for continued efforts on the Lake Anna Cyanobacteria Mitigation and Remediation Program. The program, managed by the Lake Anna Advisory Committee, focuses on the remediation of phosphorus levels in the lake and sediment and nutrients entering the lake from the 218,500 acre watershed. The Lake Anna Advisory Committee will develop a plan for the execution of the fiscal year 2025 funding based on data collected from the efforts being executed this year using the previously appropriated $1 million dollars of state funding.

The Lake Anna Cyanobacteria Mitigation and Remediation Program is currently focused on reducing phosphorus levels in the upper North Anna River and Terry’s Run. EutroPHIX is the company leading the effort on the upper North Anna River and Clean Streams, Rivers, and Lakes is working in Terry’s Run. The reduction of excess phosphorus has been shown through multiple research studies over the past several decades to mitigate cyanobacteria levels. The mitigation effect is achieved through the removal of soluble phosphorus in the water which the cyanobacteria use as a source of food/energy.

Both contractors implemented their approved technical approaches in mid-June to reduce excess phosphorus in both tributaries. Those of you living on or near the upper North Anna River from the Harris bridge (route 522) to the headwaters of the lake, including Goldmine and Duckinhole Creeks and all of Terry’s Run saw treatment activities the last 2 weeks of June. All treatments were completed by the fourth of July holiday. The products being used by both contractors were approved by Dominion Energy and reviewed by both the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). The treatments are safe for humans, dogs, aquatic life, and the environment.

The Lake Anna community is thankful for the funding bills introduced by Delegates Fowler and Laufer and Senator McGuire during the last session of the General Assembly for continued state funding for the program. Please contact the LACA Program Manager if you want to get involved in LACA’s volunteer efforts or if you want to get more information on cyanobacteria / HAB issues at Lake Anna.

harry.looney@lakeannavirginia.org

By Mark DeBord and Rick Hoyle – May 2024

This article focuses on the responses LACA received to the survey questions from the Environmental Preservation (EP) committee.  These questions sought to determine member support for current and potential EP initiatives and solicit member concerns about environmental challenges to Lake Anna.

Regarding support for EP initiatives, over half of our respondents indicated they were at least somewhat interested in providing time or financial support for specifically identified EP committee efforts as follows:

Potential Environmental Preservation Activity	Highest Interest	Any Interest
Planting Native Flora on and near shore	37%	58%
Area road cleanups	27%	56%
Shoreline cleanups	35%	60%
Floating Treatment Islands	27%	56%
Stormwater Runoff Control	34%	59%
Seeking private and government funding for preservation efforts	48%	60%
Seeking government intervention/regulation/enforcement to control environmental impacts	44%	58%

EP committee leads are evaluating the efficacy of the Floating Treatment Islands.  In many cases, the anchor ties for these islands break and the islands are washed ashore and/or the plants on the islands die.  This requires significant effort and funding to redeploy and/or repopulate the islands every spring.  The leads are conducting a cost benefit analysis to determine if time and effort is better spent on Floating Treatment Islands or planting native flora on and near shorelines. 

LACA has been fortunate in attracting grants from industry such as DuPont for environmental preservation efforts, especially for planting native flora.  These grants still require the committee leads to coordinate assistance in planting as they did in the Spring of 2023 with the assistance of volunteers and Louisa County High School students.

Floating Treatment Islands have been a major LACA initiative since the last LACA survey in 2019.  Many respondents (42%) expressed interest in supporting this Environmental Preservation initiative through financial (51%) or labor (21%) contributions or having a one deployed in the lake in front of their property (14%).  As stated earlier, the leadership of the Environmental Preservation Committee plans to reach out to these respondents once the cost/benefit analysis is complete to either take these members up on their offer, or request they redirect their generosity to shoreline native flora efforts.

The Environmental Preservation section of the survey also queried members regarding their concerns with plant, animal, or aquatic invasive species.  Thirty-five percent of respondents to this question indicated concern.  Individual comments submitted were especially interesting with 48 citing HAB/Algae/Cyanobacteria, 39 citing snakeheads, 37 concerned with Hydrilla, 12 identifying plants, grass, weeds, or reeds, 7 citing cows, and 4 concerned with beavers.  Although some of these are not invasive, they can certainly cause problems.  One bright point is that some members have found snakehead fish to be very tasty!

The EP committee leads have created an Action Plan with due dates in reaction to the responses received for the questions cited above.  These actions await the approval of the LACA Board even though several of these actions have already been implemented. Further actions may be recommended by the Board and approved actions will be monitored for progress at our monthly meetings. You can expect to see responses soon if not already because of all the survey responses.  Again, membership feedback is extremely valuable and we are determined to implement your suggestions! Thanks again to those who completed our survey!

rick.hoyle@lakeannavirginia.org

lara.weatherholtz@lakeannavirginia.org

mark.debord@lakeannavirginia.org

By Rick Hoyle and Lara Weatherholtz - May 2024

LACA’s annual election is coming up in July and we encourage members to run for board positions.  This year, the following positions are up for re-election:

Vice President

Secretary

Assistant Treasurer   

Regional Director #2 - Jackson/Cuckoo - Public Side               

Regional Director #4 - Brokenburg

Regional Director #6 - Mineral/Louisa 

All members are eligible to submit their name as a nominee.  The incumbent for Vice President and Regional Director #2 - Jackson/Cuckoo - Public Side have decided not to run. Incumbents for all other positions will serve in their position if re-elected.  LACA is always seeking a wider base of membership involvement and looks forward to welcoming new members to the Board.   Board meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month.  The Annual meeting is on the last Saturday of July.

Duties of the Vice President include assuming the duties of the President in his/her absence, other duties as may be defined by the Board, and coordinating the activities of the Committee Chairpersons with the Board.

Duties of the Secretary include preparing the minutes of all meetings, being responsible for membership records, correspondence, the corporate books and records, and maintaining compliance with applicable state and local corporate reporting requirements.

Duties of the Assistant Treasurer include working in agreement with the Treasurer in receiving, disbursing and accounting for Association funds. In addition, filing annual tax returns and other tax-exempt reporting requirements.

A more detailed description of officer responsibilities is contained in LACA Policy #003 and may be read here.

To run for a Regional Director position, you must own or rent property in that region.  Responsibilities of the Regional Directors include communicating with their respective communities to inform constituents of actions taken by LACA and to solicit their input on current and future issues.  Also, to communicate with Property/Home Owners’ Associations (POAs/HOAs) and/or serve on the various board committees. 

The Regional Director position description is contained in LACA Policy #004 and may be read here.  If you are unsure of what region you live in, see a map of the precincts here or a description of the regional boundaries here

If you are interested in becoming a nominee, please let us know by emailing the authors.  We look forward to hearing from you and will answer any questions you may have on becoming a board member.  It’s the members who make this organization a success!

Rick Hoyle (rick.hoyle@lakeannavirginia.org)

Lara Weatherholtz (lara.weatherholtz@lakeannavirginia.org)

By Harry Looney - May 2024

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a significant concern due to their detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, human health, and local economies. These blooms, characterized by the rapid growth of cyanobacteria, can have devastating consequences if not properly managed. Lake Anna residents have first-hand knowledge of the issues caused by HABs. We have endured six straight years of recreational, “no swim” advisories issued by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for large areas of the lake north of the route 208 bridge based on cyanobacteria cell counts that exceeded established health and safety thresholds.

Research indicates that cyanobacteria thrive on excess nutrient loads (phosphorus and nitrogen) found in the water and sediments of lakes. Historical data collected by LACA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) indicate that large areas of the upper Lake Anna reservoir ecosystem are “out of balance” due to nutrient pollution. These data indicate that areas of the upper reservoir have been eutrophic, meaning there is too much phosphorus, nitrogen, and chlorophyll, since at least 2005 and these areas remain above eutrophic thresholds year-round.

Based on insights gained from LACA’s cyanobacteria monitoring efforts and our demonstration of established, well-researched cyanobacteria mitigation technologies in 2022 and 2023, LACA’s leadership worked to obtain state funding in Virginia’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget to initiate actions to mitigate and remediate cyanobacteria levels in the upper Lake Anna reservoir. Many of you wrote letters of support for the legislation and we thank you for doing that. The result of LACA’s action, your letters of support, and the fact that HAB control is a legislative priority of both Louisa and Spotsylvania counties was a $1 million appropriation from the Virginia General Assembly for cyanobacteria mitigation and remediation. 

The state funding is being executed by the Lake Anna Advisory Committee (LAAC) with Louisa County providing financial oversight and contracting support. A Request for Proposals was released in December 2023 that resulted in the submission of two competitive offers. After careful evaluation of the offers, LAAC and Louisa County awarded contracts in March to Clean Streams, Rivers, and Lakes (CSRL)located in Fairfax, Virginia and EutroPHIX – A Division of SePRO Corporation located in Carmel, Indiana. The contract includes a base year that is funded by the $1 million state appropriation and four, unfunded, 1-year options that can be adjusted and awarded as follow-on funding is received from state and federal appropriations.

The name of the LAAC program is the Lake Anna Cyanobacteria Mitigation and Remediation Program. The goal of the program is to achieve a safe and naturally balanced phytoplankton biomass in the ecosystem of the upper Lake Anna reservoir. The program has two objectives that must be met to achieve the program goal. The first objective focuses on the root cause of the problem, nutrient pollution with a target to reduce and sustain phosphorus levels at all monitoring stations in the upper reservoir below eutrophic levels. The second objective is to achieve ecosystem balance with respect to the phytoplankton biomass across the entire upper Lake Anna reservoir.

The technical approach being implemented by both contractors focuses on the use of approved, safe, and environmentally friendly chemicals that “mineralize” the phosphorus and make it unusable by the cyanobacteria biomass. The CSRL technical approach also includes the introduction of beneficial bacteria that consume nutrients flowing into the lake from the watershed. Dominion Energy conducted an in-depth technical review of the EutroSORB and CSRL products and has approved their use in the upper Lake Anna reservoir.

The $1 million state appropriation being used to fund the first year of the contract is sufficient to start phosphorus remediation activities in two of the three upper Lake Anna tributaries. EutroPHIX will be working in the upper North Anna River and CSRL will focus on Terry’s Run. Phosphorus remediation actions will begin in Pamunkey Creek and continue in the upper North Anna River and Terry’s Run in follow-on contract years. Pamunkey Creek was not included in year 1 of the contract due to the funding being insufficient to begin remediation activities in all three tributaries. The decision was also impacted by the ongoing work by DEQ to collect data as part of the state funded study. Neither DEQ nor LAAC wanted to negatively impact the data being collected to identify sources of nutrient pollution in Pamunkey Creek. For those of you living along Pamunkey Creek, the plan is to begin work in your area in 2025.

The EutroPHIX technical approach involves the inactivation of sediment phosphorus with EutroSORB^® G in areas of the upper North Anna River, coupled with an automated injection treatment of EutroSORB^® WC into the North Anna River approximately 1.25 miles north of the lake. EutroSORB contains the naturally occurring element lanthanum that has a very strong affinity to bind and “mineralize” phosphorus. Lanthanum-based products have been used in ponds and lakes of similar size to the upper Lake Anna reservoir for more than 20 years so there is plenty of past evidence that these formulations work well to reduce phosphorus levels. The lower phosphorus levels have the beneficial side-effect of reducing the cyanobacteria biomass due to the reduction of available food/energy sources.

The CSRL technical approach utilizes a calcium silicate formulation called Wollastonite to inactivate phosphorus in Terry’s Run and an innovative approach using bioreactors containing beneficial bacteria near the inflows of the creeks and streams that feed Terry’s Run. The beneficial bacteria are voracious consumers of phosphorus and nitrogen. These bioreactors are used to address the phosphorus and nitrogen flowing into the lake from the watershed.

The efforts completed in year 1 of the contract set the stage for continued treatments across the entire upper Lake Anna reservoir. The approach is designed to be spread out over a 4-5 year period of time to ensure the ecosystem is not “shocked” by a major treatment that lowers phosphorus too quickly for the phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish species to adjust to.

Embarking on a program, especially a complex or large-scale one as is the case for a nutrient remediation effort, involves several stages and a considerable amount of time and effort. It is great to see a full-scale effort being implemented to manage the cyanobacteria issues we experience at Lake Anna. LACA will continue to implement watershed best management practices that complement what is being accomplished in the Lake Anna Cyanobacteria Mitigation and Remediation Program and we will work collaboratively with LAAC and the counties to obtain funding to continue and complete the effort that is just beginning in 2024.

Please contact the LACA Program Manager if you want to get involved in our volunteer efforts or if you want to get more information on cyanobacteria / HAB issues at Lake Anna.

harry.looney@lakeannavirginia.org

By Jean McCormick – May 2024

There are three regulatory markers (buoys) that boaters need to pay close attention to as you make your way around Lake Anna:

1.  No Wake buoys at bridges signal that the boat operator must bring his/her boat or jet ski to a no wake speed going under bridges. No wake is defined, by law, as slowest speed possible to maintain steerage and headway. 

The bridge buoys on Lake Anna have been set to a uniform distance of 75 feet from the bridge. This was a mandate from DWR and will allow law enforcement to regulate boats passing under bridges more safely.

2.   Keep Out buoys alert you to an exclusion zone. On Lake Anna, you must stay out of the area in front of the dam, at the intake zone in front of the North Anna Power Station and the swim area at the State Park. 

3.  Hazard buoys signal something dangerous below the surface of the water. It could be shallow water, rocks, a sandbar, stumps, pipes, remnants of old roads, or structures.

You must pay attention to what these warning markers are telling you.

* Assume hazard buoys are marking an area—not a single point.

*  Never go between a hazard buoy and the shoreline.

*  Sometimes a hazard buoy marks a huge boulder or it might be a bunch of small rocks.

*  The safest approach is to give all marked hazards a wide berth.

THINK SAFETY! BOAT SAFELY!

jean.mccormick@lakeannavirginia.org