Steve Lucas, Board Chair, Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District – June 2026

In spite of the drought, the Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District has been diligently working to improve the quality of the water flowing into Lake Anna and the Chesapeake Bay.  The district is currently administrating state and federal grants that connect residents to resources that address water quality concerns.  These programs include the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), the Virginia Agriculture Cost Share Program (VACS), and Goldmine Creek Watershed Septic Program.

The VCAP provides funding for small scale projects that aim to reduce runoff and erosion concerns by implementing practices to increase water infiltration through the use of native plants as well as offering systems for storing water for later dispersal.  Some of these practices include rain gardens, native species meadow plantings, and rainwater harvesting.  In fiscal year 2026, 2 projects have been planned and completed in Louisa County. One rain garden was installed around Lake Anna to capture 1,191sqft of impervious runoff that had been contributing to erosion and sediment loss on a slope leading down to Lake Anna.

The VACS program, on the other hand, is directed at agricultural operations preventing nutrients and sediments from entering waterways.  Fencing cattle out of streams, improving grazing management, and planting cover crops are a few of the measures farmers in Louisa County are taking to protect water quality.  Since July 1, 2025, over 7 miles of fence has been constructed creating over 64 acres of buffers in Louisa County.

The Goldmine Watershed Septic Program addresses septic system issues in an area that runs roughly from the northern town limits of Louisa to Lake Anna east of Blue Ridge Shores.   This program provides financial assistance for pump-outs, repairs, and replacements of septic systems.  In fiscal year 2025, 4 homeowners projects were completed.

In the spring, high schools across the nation put together teams to participate in a competition called Envirothon.  These events test the student’s skills and knowledge in natural resources including water quality, soil science, and wildlife.  Two teams from Louisa County High School have consistently placed high at the regional and state level.  The Thomas Jefferson District also sponsors high school students to attend the Youth Conservation Camp and provides scholarships for college students majoring in environmental fields.  These young people are the ones who will take on the challenges of environmental stewardship in the future.

Thanks to the partnership between funding agencies, Louisa County homeowners, landowners, students and the Thomas Jefferson SWCD, when the drought ends, cleaner water will flow into Lake Anna with the promise of a new generation to take on the challenges.