Newsletter articles

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

By David Reichert – March 2023

This nearly $10,000 grant will be used for educational outreach, to purchase and plant native flora and to measure the impact of these plantings on the local water quality. The goal is to start creating a self-sustaining natural filter for the nutrients that otherwise would enter the lake and cause harmful algae blooms.

Launched in 2007, Clear into the Future® (CITF) is a DuPont initiative to protect and improve the natural environment through community engagement and education. Clear Into the Future® is an employee-driven program that provides funding for projects in DuPont Communities that are organized by non-profit and academic institutions and aligned with the purpose of CITF: to drive positive impact by protecting the environment and empowering our communities to thrive.

We are all familiar with the Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) in Lake Anna, but how many of us understand how robust shoreline plant buffers and submerged aquatic vegetation can help reduce HABs? The outreach portion of this program will focus on increasing awareness of how property owners along the feeder streams and lakefront can have a positive impact on reducing HABs.

Most of the grant money will be spent on purchasing native aquatic flora to be planted in the northern areas of the lake near the confluence of the tributaries and the lake. The goal of the plantings is for the vegetation to absorb existing nutrients and those additional nutrients being fed into the lake thereby reducing the food available for harmful algae growth. To maximize the number of plants we can buy, we will use volunteer labor during the spring growing season to perform the planting. We’ll issue a call for volunteers a couple months before the planting season.

The final portion of this project will be to expand the existing water quality monitoring program to add sampling in the areas of the plantings. By combining the legacy monitoring data with the new data, we hope to be able to show measurable water quality benefits from the plantings.

david.reichert@lakeannavirginia.org

By Maureen Daniels – March 2023

Here’s what our members/neighbors, said in our LACA survey:

Top three priorities:

1. 99% Water Quality and Testing

2. 95% Boating Safety and Emergency Services

3. 90% Wakes, Erosion, Safety, Setbacks

As Chair of Safety and Emergency Services, I will focus on feedback specific to that.

Q11 Wakesurfing

In 2019, the question focused on 100/200 foot setbacks. 82% favored setbacks (200 for wake surfers and 100 for all other towed sports)

In 2021, other options were presented which decreased specific support for setbacks:

        Limit wake surfing to wide portions of the Lake— 63%

        100/200 foot Setbacks—58.4%

        Allow additional No Wake Surfing Zones—58.4%

Q12 Adverse Impact of Waves Caused by Wake Surfing Boats

        Experienced an injury from wake surfing boat—4.5%

        Damage to docks, seawall, rip rap—24.5%

        Property erosion caused by large waves from WS boats—37%

        No adverse effects from WS boats—42%

        “Other” section elicited 97 comments from people sharing their negative experiences with wake surfing waves/boats.

Among the 97 comments made by boaters were descriptions of how large waves/wakes/speed affected them:

gazebo supports eroding; don’t ski or tow on weekends; spent thousands of dollars on erosion control measures; swamped by jet skier doing donuts; annoying wakes from wake board boats when floating, paddle boarding, fishing; knocked off fishing boat into dock by wake surfing boat; swamped by wake surf boat passing less than 50 feet; thrown off standard skis; creates dangerous conditions for kayaks, canoes, fishing; large waves impact my ability to safely pull water skiers; bothered by wake surfing while on the water and also waves hitting our seawall; swamped kayaks; damaged bulkhead; slammed by waves; coming too close to other vessels; increase in erosion; swamped causing pontoon to submarine; skiers, wakeboarder, and tubers endangered by large wake surfing wakes; stressed due to trying to safely dock with 4 foot waves pushing the boat; waves coming over pontoon boat; swamped jon boat; have to vacate certain areas due to wake surf waves; almost knocked off boat, almost fell off boat, fallen off paddle board; kayak swamped; hard to control water craft; waves crashing over dock; unable to slalom ski; dislodged jet ski floating docks; experienced concerns about my safety; lost 3 feet of land due to erosion; installed 31 tons of Gabion stone to stop erosion; small children floating off my dock are often affected by swells.

Other comments: on private side, wake surfing should only be at the dikes in areas 200 feet wide and 300 feet long; leading and biased questions; rip rap should be used instead of seawalls; should limit on private side too; limits are unfair to wake surfers, shoreline damage is mitigated with bulkheads; clamp on jet ski platform was knocked off; monitor this but we should NOT ban wake surfing, people should be forced to protect their land with rip rap or others; wake surfers have so much fun with no liability for property damage.

How can LACA help to achieve fair use of shared space and respect for the notion that one person’s right to enjoy their favorite sport should not interfere with another person’s right to do the same?

Our survey reflects your thoughts and provides guidance for LACA. We hear you:

63% think wake surfing should be limited to wide parts of the Lake

58.4% believe there should be 200 foot setbacks for wake surfing and 100 foot setbacks for towed sports.

58.4% think there should be additional No Wake Surfing Zones in narrow sections of the Lake.

15.3% support banning wake surfing and only 6% think LACA should not take any further action.

As Chair of Safety and Emergency Services, I value your opinions. Thank you! Your responses will help shape our actions going forward.

We continue to work closely with all first responders on Lake Anna which includes law enforcement, fire and rescue, and 911 Communications Directors from Louisa and Spotsylvania Counties, Conservation Police from Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. We are committed to making our Lake safe for all its users.

mo.daniels@lakeannavirginia.org

By John Conway – March 2023

When I was a boy up until I turned 18 years old, there were only two creeks (Pamunkey Creek and Terry’s Run) and where they came together was known in those days as the “Fork Field”. From that area the “river” became known as the North Pamunkey which ran onward to what was known as the “Splits” where it met the North Anna River.  My father referred to that area as “Miss Molly Gardner’s home place.”  These creeks and rivers all became part of Lake Anna, little known to many as the streams before Lake Anna was ever established.

The story that I am about to tell would not have been possible without my father and mother’s love and commitment to their three sons. They always felt being good stewards of the land was particularly important.

Helen Lucille Brogdon and James Ashby Conway met at the War Department (now known as the Defense Department) in Washington, DC.  During WWII.  In the latter part of 1942, my mother and three girlfriends came by train from Birmingham, Alabama to seek work and, of course, adventure.  My mother had gone to a small business school in Birmingham and found a clerical job which, during WWII, was in high demand.

My father, being born and raised in Virginia, thought that he would finish his basic training and do his part either in Europe or the Pacific.  Dad had gone to a technical school and had experience in electronics and radio before the war.  When the time came for him to be assigned for duty, he had another physical exam, and it was found that he had a heart murmur.  He was told he would not be allowed to go overseas.  My father always said afterwards how disappointed he had been, but in the same breath would tell us that he would not have met our beautiful mother if he had gone.

My two brothers and I spent our summers on our 188-acre * property.  Pamunkey Creek was on one side with the Woolfolk, Goodwin, and Harris Farms on our borders.  On the other side of our property was Terry’s Run, where we bordered the Baker Farm (where we always got our fresh milk from cows Mr. Baker milked by hand) and the Woolfolk Farm (Southwind Shores and Sunrise Bay). * Because our property bordered on both streams and both sides of the Pamunkey (where Kelly’s Landing is today), approximately 91 acres ended up under the water when Lake Anna was established.

My mom would pack up the old Studebaker and come to “Conway” as it was known the day after school was out for the summer.   We lived in Waynesboro, and my father worked for General Electric and would come down to “Conway” on the weekends. Note: My dad and mom bought the homeplace known as “Conway” in 1954 from siblings and cousins.

This peaceful and very rural area seemed to me like a place to run and play with no boundaries, and it teemed with adventure.   Fishing was one of the many adventures where I would catch chub or sun perch or an occasional small mouth bass.  It seemed every morning for breakfast my mom would have fried fish and jelly toast and MAN, was that good!  My mom always made homemade grape jelly from our grape arbor and picked wild blackberries and black raspberries for making jam.

Sometimes, I would go fishing from Dillard’s Bridge (where the Cove Restaurant is today) to what we called the “Swimming Hole”.  There was a bend in the Pamunkey with a large sandbar.  A large white oak tree had fallen across and made a nice deep hole for swimming.  It was over 6 feet deep for it was over my father’s head and he was 6 feet 1 inch tall.

When I was little, my mom would go with us to the swimming hole.  She would have sandwiches and candy bars for lunch for us.  Mom would relax on the sandbar while my brothers and I wrestled on the big log to see who would end up as “king” of the log. I was the youngest so most of the time I would be tossed off the log.  Today where that swimming hole was located is across from Kelly’s Landing about 150 feet west from a large outcrop of rocks on our property that we call “the fishing rock”.  Those rocks visible today were under a large canopy of mixed hardwoods (hickory, poplar, oak and river birch) and were not exposed until the lake was created.

Other fishing trips began at the swimming hole where I would walk and fish along Pamunkey Creek until I got to Andy Bennett’s Bridge going in a northwest direction (Runnymeade).  For much of the fishing I would wade in the water as it was much easier to get to the “good fishing holes”.

On the north bank of Pamunkey Creek before Bennett’s Bridge, Henry Holladay had a team of work horses that he was still using for his farm.  When I was very small, I remember he would come to our place with his team and mow a small field with his sickle mower.  I was fascinated by this.  When he was finished, he would stop to rest his horses and he would pick me up and place me on one of the horses.  I can still feel the horse’s sweaty back while I was hanging on to his collar. Little did I know, I would have my own work horse to plow on our farm in West Virginia in the mid-70’s.

There were two freshwater springs on our land, both on the Pamunkey Creek side.  One of them came pouring out from a rock about the size of a 55-gallon drum.  My father kept it clean by digging it out so we could go there and drink the cool refreshing water.  He kept a metal ladle hanging on a tree to use for dipping.  I can still taste that water and how good it was.  This spring was approximately 200 yards downstream from the swimming hole.

The other spring was located upstream from the swimming hole in what is now a small cove.  That spring was a good place to play.  The spring bubbled out of the ground under some large rocks.  On one rock, (a boulder about the size of a pickup truck), there was a place in the top of the rock that was scooped out.  In my mind, I wondered if it had been where early native Americans may have used it to grind corn, or most likely, acorns into meal to make Appone or Ponop cakes.  Native Americans lived in this area thousands of years ago.  I have no proof of the use of this rock, but it seems probable.  As a boy, I was fascinated by that area, and the mystery of its origins. 

There were many lost historical features on our property.  One such feature on the Terry’s Run side was a huge (4 to 5 feet wide) beech tree that we referred to as the “initial tree”.  There were initials carved into the tree from my family on back to those of my grandfather, Raleigh Travers Conway, great uncles, the Mansfield’s (of the Baker Farm) and Raleigh Dillard’s initials and many more that I did not know.  It was a remarkable piece of history.  I wish it was still there but, unfortunately, the lake swallowed it up.  What a loss.

By Sue Biondi – January 2023

There is a new development proposed at the lake, so in “light” of that development, I thought I would resurrect an article I wrote several years ago about light pollution around the lake.  The impact of the lighting in and around this development, as well as private home lighting, will be quite detrimental to the area in many ways.

When you decided to light up the pathways to your home, light up the surrounding trees and place floodlights on and around your home and dock, did you take a moment to consider how those lights will impact the surrounding nighttime environment?  Were you disappointed when, in the city, you were unable to see the stars, galaxies or even the Milky Way?  You tried to see the shooting stars that the weatherman said would be occurring that evening and through the night, but never saw even one.  How could this be, you asked.   Oh, it must be all the city lights.  Then, you came to the lake.  You went out at night and saw a million, gazillion stars, even the Milky Way.  You saw so many shooting stars you lost count.  Now, let’s go back and consider the lights at the development and the ones you installed around your house and dock.

According to Wikipedia, “Light pollution, also known as photo pollution, is the presence of anthropogenic (resulting from the influence of human beings on nature) light in the night environment. It is exacerbated by excessive, misdirected or obtrusive uses of light, but even carefully used light fundamentally alters natural conditions.  As a major side-effect of urbanization, it is blamed for compromising health, disrupting ecosystems and spoiling aesthetic environments.”  Various categories of light pollution are light trespass, over-illumination, glare, light clutter and skyglow.  Sometimes, these categories may overlap one another.  Living in a very rural area, outdoor lighting usually occurs via streetlamps as a sole source of lighting roadways, and the need for outdoor lighting is minimal or non-existent, except for the occasional front door lamp.

Light trespass occurs when light from one source enters another’s property and disturbs the darkness of one’s neighbor.  At times, this may cause sleep deprivation due to a disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm.  Several cities have developed standards to protect citizens against light trespass.  Light trespass can be reduced or eliminated by selecting lighting fixtures which limit the amount of light and redirecting light away from neighbor’s property.

Over-illumination from commercial, industrial and residential sources uses approximately four or five million barrels of oil per day.  About 30-60% of energy consumed in lighting is unneeded or frivolous.

Glare is created by light that shines horizontally and comes in varying types: An example of blinding glare is staring at the sun, which may cause temporary or permanent vision deficiencies.  Disability glare happens when oncoming car lights temporarily blind a driver.  Or light within fog that scatters and does not allow for contrast of objects.  Discomfort glare occurs on a bright day where sunglasses are needed for comfort and less eye irritation.

Light Clutter is a form of light pollution that is excessive and inappropriate artificial light, also known as “clutter.”  It includes bright, confusing and excessive groupings of light sources, commonly found in over-lit urban areas.  Examples are overly lit office buildings, shopping malls, highway signs and sports stadiums.  This type of lighting may have a harmful effect on motorists as well as aviation, causing confusion for pilots and vehicle accidents.

The effect of light on ecosystems is profound. It poses a serious threat to nocturnal wildlife and has a negative impact on plant and animal physiology.  It can confuse animal navigation, alter competitive interactions, change predator-prey relations and cause physiological harm.  The rhythm of life is orchestrated by the nature patterns of light and dark, so interruption to these patterns impacts the ecological dynamics. 

Light pollution around lakes prevents zooplankton, such as Daphnia, from eating surface algae, causing algal blooms that can kill off the lakes’ plants and lower water quality.  Daphnia normally dwell deep below the water in the day and ascend to the surface at night to feast on algae.  Darkness triggers the migration to the surface.  Nighttime lighting can prevent the zooplankton from floating up to their meals, which could lead to algae blooms that overwhelm the other life in the lake.

Astronomy is very sensitive to light pollution.  Skies viewed in the city are significantly different from skies viewed in a dark environment.  Skyglow (the scattering of light in the atmosphere) reduces the contrast between stars and galaxies and the sky itself, making it much rarer to see fainter objects.  Skyglow is the bright halo that appears over urban areas at night, a product of light being scattered by water droplets or particles in the air.

Insects flying around the porch light distracts them from feeding, finding mates, or producing offspring.  It is recommended to use a warm colored LED light, which attracts fewer insects.  They also scatter less intense light into the atmosphere than blue LED lights. 

The population around the lake is increasing, with new homes and developments emerging at a rapid rate.  This article should serve as a reminder to all to consider your neighbors, the environment and the impact of lighting up the night sky.  On a clear night, venture outside, look up and enjoy the light show that Mother Nature has provided for us.  That should encourage you to turn off the lights.

sue.biondi@lakeannavirginia.org

Jean McCormick – January 2023

Here are the new Virginia State Boating Regulations that went into effect January 1, 2023.

MOVE OVER REGULATION

This new requirement is like what motorists on the highway are expected to do. When approaching or passing within 200 feet of any law enforcement vessel or emergency services vessel that is displaying flashing blue or red lights, a boater shall slow to "no wake" so that the effect of the wake does not disturb the activities of law enforcement or emergency services personnel.

CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY

This new regulation requires that boat operators clean any aquatic organism or vegetation from the vessel's trailer and equipment before departing the boating area. The regulation also requires boat operators to drain and take reasonable measures to dry bilge tanks and ballast tanks before departing a body of water.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

The update to the Virginia requirement for fire extinguishers mirrors the new federal fire extinguisher regulation.

This stipulates those boats, model year 2018 or newer, must carry 5B, 10B or 20 B weight rated fire extinguishers. It also stipulates that fire extinguishers on any vessel must not be expired. A fire extinguisher that is 12 years older than the date it was manufactured is considered EXPIRED.

jeanmccor12@gmail.com 

By Carrie Hicks - January 2023

For over 30 years, Louisa County Resource Council (LCRC) has been serving the community, providing food and essential services to families in need in Louisa.  While the primary focus of LCRC’s mission has been—and always will be—fighting food insecurity, the local nonprofit has seen tremendous growth over the past few years, developing programs to meet many of the most critical needs of Louisa County’s most vulnerable citizens.

LCRC’s five food programs serve approximately 2,700 people monthly. From the Community Cupboard that operates as the primary food program to specialized programs like the Children’s Feeding Program, 60-Plus Feeding Program, Emergency Food Pantry, and the Grocery Assistance Program (GAP) that assists clients who have incomes above federal poverty levels, but who still struggle to put food on the table—LCRC aims to ensure that no one who comes in for assistance leaves hungry.

In addition to the various food programs, LCRC offers a Dental Assistance Program, a Community Closet that provides clothing, medical equipment, and household necessities at little or no cost to those in need, and the most recent addition to the program catalog: Wheels for Work.  Wheels for Work assists clients with emergency automobile repairs.

LCRC is fortunate to operate our food programs Monday-Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. with extended hours on Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.  The Community Closet is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of each month.  Several remote distribution sites are also set up throughout the county on various days throughout the month to bring food allotments closer to clients who have difficulty getting transportation to our main facility. 

LCRC does all this—moving approximately 3 million pounds of food through the facility each year and—with only a handful of part-time staff.  This is due to the incredible volunteers that put in over 1,300 hours of community service each month. “Our volunteers are truly what keeps LCRC running.  We could not do what we do without them.  We are so grateful for the many like-minded individuals who donate their time and share in our mission.  We are always looking to bring new faces into our fold and welcome new volunteers,” said LCRC Executive Director, Lloyd Runnett.

With the increased need our community is facing and the exponential growth of the programs and operations over the past few years, LCRC is currently in search of an additional staff member. “Since the addition of our fourth warehouse across the street from our main facility, we are now operating over 15,000 square feet of space, prompting the need for a Warehouse and Facilities Manager to join our staff,” Runnett said.

If you are interested in joining the LCRC team, becoming a volunteer, or donating to LCRC’s programs, contact (540) 967-1510 or email louisaresource@gmail.com. You can also visit louisaresource.org for more information.

louisaresource@gmail.com

By Sue Biondi - January 2023

If you’re new to the area or just forgot, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has planned a large roundabout, also known as a traffic circle, at the intersection of Rt 522 and 208, also known as Ware’s Crossroads.  Construction is set to begin this year.  This intersection is listed in VDOT Culpeper District’s “Top 100” intersections, based on the number of serious or fatal crashes.  Refer to VDOT’s website, which has links to their public crash database.  Frequently, traffic backs up to Alma Gaynelle Drive (Rt. 1190) and beyond.   During the summer months, you will see cars trailering boats and recreational vehicles, motor homes, 18 wheelers hauling logs, and various other large commercial vehicles in this traffic backlog.

Adding to the intersection is a proposed shopping center located west and south of Rt. 522.  Opinions vary depending on whether drivers have experienced navigating through a roundabout.  Some see them as a great solution as opposed to placing a traffic light, or worse yet, a 3-way stop sign, and some see them as a nuisance.   A recent newspaper article explained the pros and cons of installing roundabouts, and here are some highlights of the research.

According to research by Lee Rodegerdts, an engineer and amateur photographer from Portland, Oregon, no federal agency tracks the nation’s roundabouts, rotaries or traffic circles.  Rodegerdts wrote the book “Roundabouts: An Informational Guide”. Through research, when he began, he counted about 300 roundabouts nationwide.  Just 25 years later, he counted about 9,000.  The modern roundabout relies on a geometric design that forces traffic to slow down.  In traditional rotaries and traffic circles, traffic moves faster and vehicles already in the circle often must yield to newcomers. 

In the United States, the fastest roundabout growth is in suburbs and rural areas, as it is difficult to fit roundabouts into the dense urban environment.  Statistics show that a roundabout will reduce fatal crashes by 90 percent and cut all car-crash injuries by at least 75 percent.  At a rural two-way stop, a roundabout can slash all traffic injuries, both fatal and nonfatal, by almost 90 percent.  A roundabout prevents a vehicle from driving through at 60 miles per hour and T-boning another vehicle, a common occurrence in typical rural intersections. 

Roundabouts can reduce pollution and allow designers to fit more traffic in a smaller space.  Interestingly, Florida has the most roundabouts, Nebraska the most roundabouts per person, and Maryland has the most roundabouts per mile of road and is considered the roundabout champion.  Virginia ranks #14.  For photos of roundabouts, traffic circles, rotaries and traffic-calming circles, refer to the article written by Andrew Van Dam, November 25, 2022.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that roundabouts keep traffic flowing and reduce crashes that occur in intersections.  The inner circle can include plantings that make it aesthetically pleasant.  The community will have to adjust to the change to this intersection, but when there are no longer the traffic tie-ups and accidents, they may have a change of heart in rejecting the decision to install a roundabout as opposed to a traffic light. 

sue.biondi@lakeannavirginia.org