Newsletter articles

By John Wayne - July 2023

Cutalong continues to move forward with the promise of bringing a full-scale golf course community to Lake Anna.  The Golf Course is in full swing with 18 holes and an impressive member count.  Infrastructure is being built out to include a wastewater treatment facility and the community water system.  LACA is appreciative of the relationship building with the Cutalong Team and continues to work with them to understand their plan and the possible impact on the lake and surrounding community.

In a meeting with LACA representatives in late 2022, Cutalong representatives shared portions of their long-term development plans including Golf Stay and Play facilities, practice facilities, a marina, and boatel’s and of course the phased development of up to 900 homes.  High level information on several of the infrastructure build outs were discussed including the Wastewater Treatment facilities, dredging required for the shoreline development, and others.  Members of the development team indicated their desire to be good neighbors of the Lake Anna community and requested feedback from LACA on what was shared.

At that meeting, the Cutalong developers shared their plan to implement a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) for Phase two of development.  At full operation this will serve many hundred homes and other facilities. They are seeking a permit from DEQ that will create up to 250,000 gallons per day of treated effluent. Just days ago, DEQ provided us notification of this application as an “interested party”.  

The plan is to utilize this effluent for watering the golf course during the growing season, and then, during the winter season, to release the effluent into Blackwater creek, which will eventually make its way to Lake Anna.  There is a commitment from the developer to utilize a state-of-the-art Alternative Onsite Septic System which will lower the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that are contained in the effluent below that required by current state law.  Further, the developer indicated that they will acquire the state required offset credits to account for their nutrient loading of the lake and will work within the Lake Anna Watershed to implement these credits.  Since that meeting, LACA considered the plans and developed additional ideas for mitigation of any nutrient loading of the lake.  We presented these thoughts in a discussion with the Cutalong Team early last month.

Regarding nutrient loading and credits, we asked that Cutalong develop and implement a project that directly impacts Lake Anna and further mitigates the specific nutrient loading from the effluent released into the watershed.  Suggested approaches are to:

• Develop a “wetland” project that is positioned to directly mitigate the nutrient loading contained in the planned release of the effluent from the Cutalong Phase Two WWTF.
• Develop floating wetlands that are placed in the lake in proximity to the inflow of any runoff from the Phase Two WWTF.
• Ensure that any other projects for credits from the Phase Two WWTF nutrient loading are implemented within the Lake Anna Watershed.

From our recent discussions, the Cutalong team has indicated that they share a common goal with us, to produce low-load effluent, reuse effluent for the golf course to protect the local aquifer and mitigate discharge with onsite nutrient credit generation.  They are working through mitigation strategies and have created a high-level survey of the property which identifies the potential for onsite remediation, through restoration.  They also indicated that based on LACA’s recommendations regarding on-site wetland creation and the creation of floating wetlands, they will seriously assess the potential for inclusion of these approaches in their overall strategy. We are pleased that the Cutalong Team is focused on this issue, and we continue to encourage them to actively pursue our recommendations or other mitigation strategies that will negate the impact of adding nitrogen and phosphorus into the Lake Anna watershed.

LACA has also considered other aspects of the development plans including dredging, marina buildout and the desire to contain noise and other impacts of the waterfront and shoreline development.  Through our internal discussion the following ideas were developed that are thought to be good for the community and the relationship between the Cutalong community and other Lake Anna constituencies.  

We asked the Team to consider several ideas surrounding shoreline and waterfront development that we believe can meet the needs of the Cutalong community and be least impactful to current Lake Communities.  These include developing marina, boatel and community docks and slips in a way that is least intrusive.  We suggested that no commercial activities be included in their waterfront plan including fuel distribution, public restaurant accessible from the water, concerts provided to the public, etc., thus limiting traffic coming to the facilities by water from other parts of the lake.  The Team has committed to ensure that current noise, lighting and other county ordinances and regulations are implemented and followed mitigating the impact on current and future lake area residents.

As dredging operations may expose the lake to nutrients, metals, and perhaps other chemicals that reside in the lake bottom, we asked that the Team commit to an open process that is executed based on what is best for the Lake.  This should include providing updated diagrams of the dredge site and plans for LACA and community review. We have also asked the Team for a commitment to test the lake bottom prior to the dredge so that proper precautions can be taken and notifications to the communities can be made to mitigate any ill effects from the dredge.  They have indicated their desire to work with us by sharing their current plan for dredging with the LACA Board and we will share that with our membership once the final approvals are in place with the Corps of Engineers and Dominion.  The plan appears to cover a fraction of the area previously included in their dredging plan, which is good for the lake. 

We have asked the Cutalong Team to consider the development of a “Promissory Agreement” with the community that among other things includes the implementation of communications avenues with the surrounding community providing updates at appropriate times on upcoming development activities. These could include Town Hall meetings, the development of a website detailing development plans and progress, schedules, alerts to critical operations such as dredging schedule, and others. 

We appreciate the relationship that is developing with the Cutalong Team and look forward to continuing to work with them as they work towards the development of their vision for the Cutalong community.

John.wayne@lakeannavirginia.org

By Al Bennett – June 2023

Historically, the number of fatalities in the United States from lightning strikes per year is 51.  In the last 10 years and due to advanced warning and more public awareness, the average number of fatalities is 23.  Each year, the National Weather Service publishes a list of people that have died because of lightning and that list includes people that have died while boating, jet skiing, swimming, and fishing.

Unfortunately, a lightning strike recently caused fatalities on Lake Anna. This tragic incident involved a family of eight who were cruising the lake on a pontoon boat.  They found themselves caught out on the water while a severe thunderstorm was passing through our area.  A bolt of lightning struck their pontoon boat, killing two family members.

The remainder of this article is meant to increase everyone’s knowledge and awareness of the danger thunderstorms present.  First, a few facts about thunderstorms and lightning, published by the National Weather Service and Arizona State University:

• The average thunderstorm is 6-10 miles wide.
• The average thunderstorm travels at a rate of 25 mph.
•  It is not possible to have thunder without lightning. Thunder is a direct result of lightning.
• Lightning can have 100 million to 1 billion volts, 10,000 to 200,000 amps, and contain billions of watts.
• Energy from lightning heats the air anywhere from 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit to up to 60,000 degrees Fahrenheit.  Note, the temperature at the surface of our sun is about 10,000 degrees.
• The average lightning strike is 6 miles long.

To see a short video clip of lighting hitting a docked sailboat, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgaRtqKGNKk or search YouTube for Sparks Fly as Lightning Hits Sailboat in Boston Harbor.  The lightning strike occurs within the first 10 seconds of the video and it is a very strong visual to remind us that we do not want to be on a boat that is stuck by lightning.

You can estimate how many miles you are from a lightning strike by using the flash-to-bang method.  After seeing a flash of lightning, count the number of seconds until you hear the associated thunderclap and divide that number by five.  This method will give you a good approximation of how many miles you are away from the lightning.  For example, if five seconds have elapsed, you are one mile away.  Similarly, if 25 seconds have elapsed from flash to bang, then you are 5 miles away.

Do not put yourself, family, and/or friends at risk. To prevent being caught in a thunderstorm, you should apply the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.  Based on the flash-to-bang method and not being able to count to 30 after seeing a strike and not hearing thunder, lightning is occurring less than six miles away.   You are now well within the range of a lightning bolt of average length.  If this condition exists, you should immediately cease water sports activities and seek shelter.

alan.bennett@lakeannavirginia.org

By Irene Luck - June 2023

The Lake Anna Civic Association presents a “Jack Bertron Distinguished Service Award” at its annual meeting in July.  The award honors an individual or an organization that demonstrates an exceptional effort through their outstanding work for the benefit of LACA in its efforts to preserve and protect Lake Anna and its pristine beauty.  To learn more about the criteria for this important award, please click here or click to see a list of the past winners. 

Nominees should be emailed to webmaster@lakeannavirginia.org no later than July 1 and please include a brief summary of why you feel they deserve the honor.

irene.luck@lakeannavirginia.org

By Dave Reichert – June 2023

LACA received a $9975 grant from DuPont to execute a project to raise awareness of how landowners can help reduce HAB and install native plants to consume nutrients that otherwise would be available for promoting harmful algal blooms. Two events were completed and additional plantings are being scheduled. We are currently looking for landowners with a long, shallow-water shoreline for in-water installation of native plants. We are also looking for owners of shorter shorelines who are interested in receiving free native aquatic plants in exchange for doing the planting themselves. We are focusing on locations up lake where the benefits of the new plantings would be greatest.

As part of the educational outreach, 27 students from Anna Burkett’s Louisa County High School biology class and a dozen volunteers descended on the Quaglio property on Pumunkey creek for a day of learning about native plants, water quality, and the micro-organisms living in the water. They also planted 200 native plants in the water and along the shoreline. With very little arm twisting, the students convinced school superintendent Doug Straley to don waders and do some planting in the water. The weather was fabulous and the consensus was that this should become an annual event. The students followed up with a wonderful thank you note.

The second event saw the planting of 900 native shoreline and aquatic plants along the common area at Clearview Shores. We did save a small portion of the plants for volunteers to plant along their own shoreline. Mother nature smiled upon us again with a sunny morning for our planting event which was completed in just a couple hours.

If you are interested in volunteering your up-lake shoreline for in-water planting or volunteering your time, please reach out to our LACA Environmental Chairs Lara.Weatherholtz@lakeannavirginia.org, and Mark.Debord@lakeannavirginia.org.

david.reichert@lakeannavirginia.org

By Sue Biondi - June 2023

Dear Member,

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

President

Treasurer                                                        

Region #1 - Jackson/Cuckoo - Private           

Region #3 - Partlow                                        

Region #5 - Belmont       

All members are eligible to submit their name as a nominee.  Incumbents for each of these 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 President include serving as the Chairman of the Board, being responsible for the administration, management and coordination of the Association business, and shall execute the orders and resolutions of the board. 

Duties of the Treasurer includes receiving, disbursing and accounting for Association funds.  In addition, filing annual tax returns and other tax-exempt reporting requirements. Position descriptions for officers may be read in Policy #003 found 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 Owners’

Associations (POA)s and/or serve on the various board committees.  The position description is contained in 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 responding to this email.  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!

sue.biondi@lakeannavirginia.org

By Harry Looney – April 2023

This is a follow-up to our newsletter in 2022 on the same subject.  You can find the 2022 newsletter at this link. The Virginia Household Water Quality Program is hosting their 2023 clinics on the dates included in the table below for each of the Lake Anna surrounding counties.  The county point of contact to register for the clinic is also provided in the table.  You can get additional information on all 2023 clinics at https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/events.php.  

Spotsylvania	August 23rd	Kayleigh J Mize / mizekj@vt.edu 540-507-7571
Louisa	September 27th	Crysti Hopkins / hcrysti2@vt.edu 540-967-3422
Orange	September 27th	Clare Lillard / lclare4@vt.edu 540-672-1361

The cost for this testing is $65. Commercial labs will often charge more than $300 for this type of well water testing so the Virginia Household Water Quality Program is a great way to get your water tested for a minimum amount of money. You can find out more about the Virginia Household Water Quality Program at this link. 

The Virginia Household Water Quality Program is managed by the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE).  You can find the VCE home page at https://www.ext.vt.edu. You can visit your local VCE office in the table provided below or by using this link to their online listing.

Spotsylvania 8am-4:30pm M-F (540) 507-7570

Louisa 8:30am-5:00pm M-F (540) 967-3422

Orange 8am-5pm M-F (540) 672-1361

harry.looney@lakeannavirginia.org

By John Wayne – April 2023

Developer Trey Wills continues to demonstrate an interest in Lake Anna with plans for a residential development on the Hayden property and a “mixed use” residential and commercial development on a collection of properties on the northeast end of the 208 bridge known as the Hairfield property. 

Hayden Property

As you recall, in July of 2022, a rezoning package for the Hayden property (Former site of the proposed RV Park) was submitted to County Planning for a Planned Residential Rural (PRR) Development. The proposed development intended to utilize the PRR-4 subcategory with an allowable density of one (1) parcel per two (2) acres, or sixty-six (66) allowable lots.  The plan also proposed to take advantage of the “lakefront preservation alternative” which permits one acre lots on the waterfront of Lake Anna.  The plan as drawn used the creeks and small stream beds on the property as “waterfront” and proposed mostly one acre lots throughout the development. This plan was questioned by LACA and apparently also met with concerns from County Staff regarding the proposed use of PRR-4 zoning and density. 

On November 14, 2022 the Developer submitted a new plan to Re-Zone the property to PRR-3, with 40 single family detached lots and homes placed on the two parcels making up the roughly 132 acres.

“Once again hearing and understanding the concerns of the County Staff, the developer has elected to drop to the PRR-3 sub-category with an allowable density of one (1) parcel per three (3) acres, or forty-four 44 allowable lots. However, the included rezoning package proposes to only develop forty (40) single-family detached lots. The proposed PRR-3 development intends to use the lakefront preservation alternative in order to preserve and protect the water quality and scenic resources of Lake Anna.

Additionally, the property does have a platted access easement out to the west through the adjacent parcels over to Rt. 522. Though this access has not yet been developed, plans are already under review within Orange County and VDOT for the development of this entrance into the property.

The development will adhere to the minimum lot size of two (2) acres, which may be reduced to one (1) acre consistent with the lake front preservation alternative, and a minimum lot width of One hundred fifty (150) feet, which may be reduced to one hundred (100) feet for lots of less than two (2) acres, again under the lake front preservation alternative.”

The application outlines various amenities to be provided for the subdivision including a small clubhouse and pool, boat ramp and covered boat docks (a maximum of 1 per lot) along Lake Anna. 

The Application has undergone review by County Staff with comments provided to the developer early this year.   

Hairfield Property

What has been known as the Hairfield property is the proposed site for a two-phase development requiring rezoning from its current Resort Agricultural (R-A) designation to Planned Development Housing One (PDH-1) and Resort Commercial (R-C) zoning designations, necessary to accommodate the phased development.  The property consists of five (5) parcels generally located in the 4700 block of Courthouse Road (Route 208) to the east and south of High Point and Anna Point Marinas, three on the south side of Courthouse Road and two on the north side: Parcels 69-A-69A, 69-A-66, 69- A-66A, 69-A-69, and 69-A-65; together totaling just over 243 acres. The properties are bounded to the south by Lake Anna and existing residential properties, to the north and east by farmland and single-family residential homes. The subject parcels and adjoining Spotsylvania County parcels are currently zoned R-A. The site is currently minimally developed with a few single-family residences and abandoned buildings including the old Hairfield Grocery store on the corner of Ridge Road and Courthouse Road.

According to the application, the proposed residential development will consist of approximately 214 acres utilizing the PDH-1 subcategory with an allowable density of one (1) parcel per one (1) acre, or two-hundred fourteen (214) allowable lots. However, the plan is to only develop seventy-seven (77) lots, with the majority of the lots ranging between one (1) acre and three (3) acres in size.  PDH-1 lot size requirements are a minimum lot size of one (1) acre with a minimum width of 100 feet.

Phase two is envisioned to be a commercial development along both sides of the Courthouse Road frontage utilizing the Resort Commercial (R-C) zoning designation. The proposed commercial development will consist of approximately 29 acres and provide much-needed commercial development along this area of Lake Anna.

Two new entrances are proposed for the development strategically located on the south side of Courthouse Road (Route 208) to meet access management and sight distance requirements with one being placed directly across from the existing Ridge Road. The north side of the development will utilize both the existing Ridge Road and Corene Road. Detailed trip generation and turn lane analysis revealed that turn lanes along Route 208 are not warranted for the residential development. The existing access point from Seay Point Road that serves the existing residences to the south of the affected property will be maintained as a part of this development both throughout construction as well as at the end of the project.

The proposed development will include several amenities that make this a more desirable place of residence including a swimming pool and clubhouse, proposed adjacent to the boat ramp along the southwestern portion of the property. The clubhouse complex will serve as a lake-front node for community recreation.

This application was filed in late February and is under review by County Planning Staff as the first step in the rezoning process. 

For both development activities, the zoning and planning process will include Community Meetings as well as Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors Public Hearings.  Visit the LACA Website at https://www.lakeannavirginia.org/Land-Use  to follow the progress and be alerted to important dates for hearings and other community meetings where you can learn more about these developments, share your opinions and make your desires known to our County officials.

jwwayneiii@gmail.com

By Pamela Hahn – April 2023

Do you know that our environment is at a critical turning point?  Don’t worry- I’m not about to start a rant about climate change (that’s for another day).  Are you aware that native plants sustain our local fauna who in turn pollinate the plants we need to survive? Did you know that we are currently at risk of losing so many local species that entire ecosystems are in danger.

These native plants produce oxygen and clean water and control flooding and local pests.  I don’t know about you- but, in the 6 years I’ve lived here, I have noticed that I am seeing less bees, butterflies and insects in general.  Do you remember all the fireflies from your childhood or even from your kid’s childhood?  We live in the country- we should be seeing loads of fireflies in the summer.  Funny thing- many of these insects are native to our area- but as people cut down the woods, rake up the leaves and replace everything with lawns, we destroy the natural habitat and these insects start to die off.

My husband and I decided when we built our home in 2016 that we wanted to be a part of the solution.  We left a large natural riparian forest buffer along our entire waterfront.  When our builder said we needed grass to cover our drain field- we seeded and said good luck as we do not use chemicals of any sort in our yard.  This led to many weeds and clover overtaking the grass in most places.  Interestingly, as these weeds bloomed, the bees began to visit.  We went to the nursery and asked for native plantings for our foundation beds. We were naive and trusting and it turned out that most of the plants while propagated in North America, are originally from east Asia.  This means that the flowers and berries that these plants produce were not a food source for our fauna and could even possibly kill them.

We moved to the Lake full time in March 2020.  It was the first spring we spent at the house.  We soon realized that we needed to do more to support the local environment.  We were fighting a losing battle trying to grow things by amending our rocky acidic soil.  With the world shut down, we now had the time to try to brainstorm a solution to our problem. I recalled a conversation that we had with the winemaker at Barboursville Vineyard the prior winter- the vineyard had recently installed a meadow of native plantings to attract pollinators.  I began to wonder if we could do something similar and slowly get rid of any invasive species.

Native plantings means something different to everyone. If you go to most nurseries you will find plants that are native to North America, hybrid plants that have been propagated in the US, and then if you are lucky, you will even find some plants that are native to the Southeast.  What if I tell you that you can find plants that are native to within 20 miles of your home? These are the plants that will thrive in your environment.  They relish the rocks and clay, the droughts and the rain squalls.  These are the plants that our local bees, butterflies and beneficial insects thrive on.  These are the plants that we chose to embrace for the majority of our project.  Our goal is to follow the mission of https://homegrownnationalpark.org - “to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function”.

We began working with https://centerforurbanhabitats.com a year ago to create a new habitat for our local fauna.  Our first concern was an area on the side of our house that remained wet for days after every rainstorm. 

It was always muddy and slushy and nothing would grow there.  This mess became a combination of two large swales. The primary swale is the “wet” swale which can run off into the attached “dry” swale when necessary.  To take full advantage of this natural catch basin, we also ran the gutters from our roof into the primary swale.  Great side benefit: we no longer have any water issues near the foundation of our house. Less than one year later, our first swale has become a vernal pool providing a habitat for our local frogs and dragonflies while attracting birds, butterflies and other insects.

Did you know that the mid-Atlantic Piedmont is a breeding ground for around 140 species of birds? Sadly, over the past few decades, many of these species have declined due to habitat loss. When I discovered this, I knew we needed to be part of the solution. Part two of our project was to create a meadow in an unconventional area that could provide a habitat for our local birds.  Added benefit- the meadow filters storm runoff which also protects the lake!

All the plants that were used are native to within 20 miles of our house. We were shocked at how quickly our gardens sprang to life.  One year ago, we had two muddy holes in our side yard and a barren backyard.  Now we have diverse plantings that have attracted insects, amphibians and birds to our yard.

To purchase local native plants, check out these sites:

https://twinleafnativenursery.com

https://www.littlebluestem.net

http://www.hummingbirdhillnatives.com

pamela.hahn@lakeannavirginia.org

By Greg Baker – April 2023

I am shocked at how quickly we are almost a third of the way through 2023. With warm weather approaching, I hope all our members are enjoying the lake and all that she has to offer. Memorial Day, the unofficial start to the boating season at Lake Anna is just around the corner and I thought it appropriate to share what LACA is doing surrounding Harmful Algal Blooms this coming summer and ask for your help. (Again)

First, Kick the HAB was a roaring success financially. We asked for our member’s support and you did not let us down. Our fundraising goal was $110,000 and I am happy to report that our members and others that love the lake contributed over $145,000.

I wrote an article for the Lake Anna Life & Times recently that goes into the success (and some failures) of our first Kick the HAB program. The article explains what we learned from the work LACA was able to perform based on your generosity. If you would like to get into the specifics of what our volunteers accomplished, you can read that article online here.

I also spoke at the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting to debrief our elected officials on our efforts. The Free Lance Star wrote an article about the debrief which you can read online here. There is also a link within the article to the video of the debrief that I presented.

As the year ended, LACA had funds left over from the Kick the HAB program. After serious discussions, the board decided to leverage our success and our member’s generosity on behalf of Lake Anna. LACA retained a law firm that specializes in legislative efforts to persuade the state legislature to appropriate funds in the state budget specifically to combat HAB at Lake Anna. Not to study the issue further, but to actually provide funding for mitigation and remediation for HAB. The goal of the funding would be to eliminate or reduce recreational, no-swim advisories from Virginia Department of Health for the year.

The law firm’s efforts were fruitful and the issue was addressed in both the senate and house budgets. The house budget has $1 million dollars set aside specifically for fighting HAB on Lake Anna and the senate budget has $500 thousand set aside. Many of our members responded to our E-Grams and wrote emails of support for this funding. I have to believe that those emails were a big help and the board appreciates everyone that sent one.

Unfortunately, the house and senate were not able to come to a compromise on the proposed budgets and passed a “skinny” budget to keep the state government operating with a plan, but with no additional spending. For now, our funding effort is in limbo. However, we are very hopeful that after the state primaries in mid-June, the assembly will reconvene specifically to pass a new budget. Be assured that neither the house nor the senate is happy with the “skinny” budget and are motivated to pass a more robust budget. Our hope is that the $1 million set aside in the house budget will be included in the final budget.

Regardless of the outcome of this effort, the board and our volunteers are not satisfied with continued recreational advisories and just studying the issue. We are motivated to continue to come up with solutions to this problem. With that said, LACA is excited to announce our effort for 2023, Kick the HAB … AGAIN!

We hope to raise $50,000 from your additional generous tax-deductible donations to execute several additional projects in 2023. Our volunteers have identified three locations on the lake to install Ultrasound Systems that have been proven to be effective in keeping HAB in check. Assuming we reach our fundraising targets, these Ultrasound technologies will be installed on Duckinhole Creek, portions of Pamunkey Creek and Goldmine Creek to test the concept at Lake Anna.

To learn more about the program, you can read an article authored by our hard-working Water Quality Committee Chair, Harry Looney on pages 6 & 7 in the Spring 2023 Lake Anna Life and Times. You may read the article online here. There is also additional information on the program on our website.

All the research that we are doing related to mitigation and remediation of HAB is being shared with the appropriate state agencies. If we are successfully in the state providing funding for HAB remediation and mitigation, this effort will provide some possible blueprints on how to quickly implement our efforts on a larger scale for the entire lake.

None of this will happen without your help! Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Kick the HAB … AGAIN! You can donate by clicking this link and be sure to indicate that the donation if for Kick the HAB … AGAIN! Please help us spread the word with your neighbors and friends that might not be members and look out for fund raising events during the summer.

Thank you for your support!

greg.baker@lakeannavirginia.org

By Jean McCormick – March 2023

The sport of SUP boarding has exploded.  Hundreds of folks are getting on the waters of Lake Anna with their boards for the first time.  It is great, it is fun, but do you know what you need to have and do to be legal.

The U.S Coast Guard has determined that SUP boards operated outside a surfing or swimming area are “vessels” under the United States Coast Guard and DWR restrictions.   The following refers to what it means for you when you are outside of those areas.

Life Jackets

Each paddler must have a USCG approved Type I, II, III, or appropriate Type V life jacket onboard. This jacket must be the appropriate size and fit for the paddler.  It doesn’t have to be worn, although that’s certainly the wisest plan, and one which is strongly recommended.

Paddlers under the age of thirteen must wear a USCG approved Type I, II or III life jacket when outside of the safe area while on federal waters.  

A Type V jacket can be worn if it is USCG approved and applicable for the activity. But, if it is an inflatable, the wearer must be at least 16 years old.

Belt, pouch type inflatable jackets must be worn on the person to meet the life jacket regulation. The wearer must be at least 16 in order to wear this type of life jacket.

Sound Producing Device

All paddlers must have a whistle or some type of sound producing device, such as a horn, bell, etc. on board when he is outside of the safe area. This is for his safety to warn other boaters of his whereabouts.

After Sunset

If a boarder is on the water after sunset, he will need to carry a flashlight or similar lighting device to warn other boaters of his whereabouts.

If you have this gear and follow these rules, you will be legal under the USCG and DWR regulations.

Remember on a SUP board you are the most vulnerable person on the water. Watch out for power boats and other crafts; use your signaling devices to help them spot you.  Wearing brightly colored life jackets and other apparel on busy waterways can be a life saver.

Also, many boating accidents involve alcohol: it is best to leave the celebration until you get back to shore.

Even though attaching a leash to your board is not a requirement, it is a wise move and will save you much time and energy.

Have a great time on the water and above all, be safe!

jeanmccor12@gmail.com