MONETA — In an effort to better confront any future outbreaks of harmful algal blooms, the Smith Mountain Lake Association has partnered with several local organizations, businesses and residents to form a new alliance tasked with proactively monitoring the water.
The Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Alliance grew out of the Smith Mountain Lake Association's harmful algal bloom working group formed late last year. It was created following the discovery of dangerous blue/green algae last summer that led to a swim advisory that severely impacted tourism on the lake for several weeks.
The SMLA is joined by the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission, Ferrum College and the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce in addition to several lake-area businesses and residents in forming the alliance. Keri Green, SMLA's chair of the lake quality council, said the goal is to have all groups working together this year if harmful algal blooms should return.
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"We welcome the opportunity to expand and evolve our reach," Green said.
The SML Water Quality Alliance will be meeting monthly, and additionally when needed, to discuss steps to prevent future major outbreaks of harmful algal blooms and find better ways to address them if they are discovered.
A website is also being created for the SML Water Quality Alliance. It is expected to go online sometime next month.
Green said the discovery of harmful algal blooms in June had a major impact on tourism due to a swim advisory put in place by the Virginia Department of Health. The advisory followed the discovery of cyanobacteria in the blue/green algae that could produce harmful toxins that cause skin rash and gastrointestinal illnesses, such as upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Green algae, the most predominate algae found at Smith Mountain Lake, is not harmful.
While the VDH only gave a swim advisory for the Blackwater River arm of the lake for several weeks, it led to a reduction in visitors to the lake. Green said one goal of the alliance is to better inform the public what a swim advisory is and let them know they can still enjoy the lake.
"The bottom line is, the lake is not closed if this happens again," Green said.
The alliance is currently working with the VDH and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to find better ways to collect samples of any future harmful algal blooms discovered. Last year it took weeks before results were provided from samples collected, further delaying the swim advisory. Large sections were also included in the advisory even if harmful algal blooms were only found in a small area.
Green said work is being done to find was to speed up the process. While she said nothing has changed with the VDH and DEQ process, the formation of the alliance and other groups such as a dock monitor program should be helpful in locating any harmful algal blooms more quickly.
"I do think we will be out in front of it," Green said of monitoring this year.
The SMLA also purchased equipment including a microscope that will be used to analyze any water samples at the organization's office in Westlake. While it will not be certified to officially handle testing for the VDH, it will allow a better understanding of any samples collected.
The closest lab certified by VDH to test harmful algal blooms is at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Green said SML Water Alliance partner Ferrum College is currently working with SMLA to get the necessary certification to speed up the process, but she stressed that still could take some time.
There already have been some early reports of algal blooms found around Smith Mountain Lake as the weather begins to warm. With the creation of the SML Water Alliance and other efforts, Green said the community will be ready this year if any future blooms are found to be harmful.
"We are going to be better prepared this year," Green said.