By Mark DeBord – November 2025

This is  taken largely from an article by Al Bennett that was first published in October 2018 and reprinted in 2023.  It is a seasonal reminder that blowing leaves into the Lake is not a good practice.  As homeowners, it is difficult for us to control the amount of nutrients that enter our lake from upstream sources; however, as residents we can control what enters the lake from our respective properties.

Fall is a beautiful time at Lake Anna. The changing colors create spectacular viewing on the water. But these colorful leaves present a problem. It’s completely natural and inevitable that some falling leaves will end up in the lake. However, we should do our best to not  add to that natural process.

Blowing leaves into the lake is not a good idea. Leaves blown into the lake rarely settle at the shoreline of origin.  They are carried by wind and current to other locations before they reach bottom.  In coves, it is usually the few lots at the back of the cove that receive the leaf debris.  They are unsightly and over time, sedimentation buildup will cause these owners to lose water depth and will leave them with a muck-bottom.

Decaying leaves release nutrients, primarily carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous.  These nutrients are great for soil, but excess nutrients are a pollutant to lakes like ours.  These nutrients, especially phosphorous, are a fertilizer for hydrilla and algae, promoting their growth.  As hydrilla growth spreads, herbicides and/or carp are then needed to control its growth. 

Similarly, excessive nutrient levels can contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels by causing abundant growths of phytoplankton (microscopic plants and algae) called blooms. Living phytoplankton may deplete oxygen levels during the night and as the phytoplankton die, decomposition of the organic material by bacteria consumes oxygen. Depleted oxygen levels is harmful to the fish population.

Let’s all be good neighbors and good stewards of our lake’s ecosystem by not blowing leaves into the lake.  Instead, please consider collecting and finely mulching your leaves. You can spread them across your yard so that their nutrients can be returned to your soil or use them as mulch around your plants, providing additional protection against hard freezes this winter.

mark.debord@lakeannavirginia.org