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  • June 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Greg Baker - June 2021

    Annual Meeting/Bundles/Volunteers/RV Park

    Annual Meeting

    The LACA board is happy to announce our annual meeting will be held in person on July 31st from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM at the North Anna Nuclear Information Center. (Dominion Energy has graciously agreed to host our meeting.) Please check our website’s home page for details. Due to space limitations, our annual meeting is only open to LACA members. Please arrive at 9:00 to have informal breakout sessions with our committee chairs and meet our board members. The official meeting will begin at 9:30.

    We are excited to announce that Professor David Schmale, the head of the Schmale Laboratory at Virginia Tech will be our guest speaker. Dr. Schmale and his team have been working with LACA over the past two years to study Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB) and their causes at Lake Anna with the use of drones. Dr. Schmale was the first to develop an autonomous drone to sample microorganisms in the lower atmosphere and is a renowned expert in HAB.

    What is a BUNDLE and why should you care?

    Our website provider considers each of our members a “bundle” which allows for two people per household to be included on your LACA membership. The bundle administrator is the lead person on the membership and the only person in the household that has the right to vote in our elections. A bundle member is a second person in the household that can be added to your membership.

    Why is this important?

    Both bundle administrators and bundle members receive our monthly newsletter and our E-Grams with timely and important information from LACA. Most importantly, both members of your household can and should respond to our biennial survey which shapes the direction of our organization. We encourage you to add your spouse or significant other so their voice can also be heard. The survey will be distributed to both bundle administrators and bundle members in late June.

    Steps to add a bundle member to your household membership:

    1: Go to our website at www.lakeannavirginia.org and make sure you are logged in with your email and password.

    2: Once logged in to the LACA website, click on your name at the very top of the home page and you will be brought to your profile page.

    3: Just after the Membership details, under the section titled, Bundle Summary, click on Add a Member and follow the prompts. Only one additional household (bundle) member is allowed per membership.

    Please note that if you have your spouse or significant other’s email under your profile, please edit your profile and remove that email address to prevent duplicate communications from going to that address. If you would like to swap the bundle administrator and the bundle member for voting privileges, please email me at greg.baker@lakeanavirginia.org

    Volunteers Desperately Needed!

    Our long time Land Use Committee Chairman and Belmont Regional Director, Allan Lassiter and our Assistant Treasurer, Scott Webster are both sadly selling their lake homes and moving out of the area. This is a huge loss to your LACA board, their contributions to LACA have been immeasurable!

    In our normally scheduled election cycle, the following positions are up for election this July: President, Treasurer & Regional Directors for Belmont and Partlow voting districts within Spotsylvania County.

    Alan Bennett and I have agreed to run for reelection for the positions of President and Treasurer. However, we strongly encourage anyone interested in either of these positions to volunteer.

    The following positions are or will soon be vacant and we are desperately seeking volunteers to get involved with LACA and help preserve and protect the lake.

    Land Use Committee Chairman

    Assistant Treasurer

    Belmont Regional Director

    Partlow Regional Director

    If you are interested in learning more about the regional Director position, please click here

    If you are interested in learning more about the board, the time commitment, how the elections work or interested in volunteering in some other capacity than the positions above, please email me at greg.baker@lakeannavirginia.org

    Four Seasons RV Resort Poll Update

    LACA recently conducted a poll of our membership on the proposed Four Seasons RV resort on the Upper Pamunkey Creek. Part of LACA’s mandate in preserving and protecting Lake Anna is monitoring development around the lake. LACA will likely never “support” a development and rarely “opposes” a development unless it is considered especially egregious. (An exception might be a desperately needed urgent care center or a fire & rescue expansion at the lake like the one being proposed at New Bridge.)

    Our goal is to work with the developer, the planning commission and the board of supervisors in the early stages of a proposed development to help encourage positive changes. We have met with the Four Seasons developer twice and had several text/calls with them requesting improvements/alterations with their plans. They have made some concessions. For example, they have agreed to lower the number of docks from 300 to 49.

    LACA has heard more from our membership on the proposed Four Seasons development than any other development in recent memory. This along with the proposed location of a commercial endeavor on such an environmentally fragile section of the lake caused our board to poll our membership to determine the views of our membership and whether our membership thinks we should take a position on this particular development.

    The poll was conducted over 3 days, and we had an overwhelming response with close to 400 members expressing a view. We had numerous productive comments as well. Over 93% of or members opposed the development and over 91% of our members fell that we should officially oppose the development. The results are summarized below:

    LACA recently met with staff of the planning commission to express our concerns with the development and share some of our suggestions. If you would like to see the Power Point Presentation that was made on your behalf, there is a link to the presentation on our website here.

    greg.baker@lakeannavirginia.org


  • June 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Irene Luck – June 2021

    Do you know someone around Lake Anna who consistently works to keep the natural beauty we enjoy here preserved for future generations?  Is there someone who advocates for the lake consistently under the cover of anonymity or without lot of fanfare?  Consider nominating them for the 2021 Jack Bertron Distinguished Service Award.

    Each year, the LACA board solicits nominations for the Jack Bertron Distinguished Service Award which is presented at the annual meeting in July.  Nominations can come from board members or from the general membership.

    When the recognition was first given in 1996, a few years after the Lake Anna Civic Association was formed, it was called the “Good Neighbor Award” but in 2002 after the death of LACA’s founder Jack Bertron Sr. the honor was renamed to recognize him.

    Bertron saw a need to unite the lake community which covers three governmental jurisdictions to protect and preserve the beauty of the lake and to work towards common goals despite the different leaderships.

    Over the years the honor has been bestowed on numerous supporters and friends of Lake Anna, not just LACA members, and continues to recognize those who strive to keep Lake Anna a great place to live and recreate.  They include the Department of Conservation and Recreation, representatives of the Department of Environmental Quality and boards of supervisors’ members.

    Nominees may be individuals or organizations who have exhibited an outstanding effort on behalf of either LACA or the Lake Anna community in general.  Those activities should reflect the mission of LACA to preserve and protect the cleanliness, beauty and safe use of Lake Anna and its watershed through communication, advocacy, education, and community involvement.

    Nominees for the award will be accepted through June 30, 2021 and may be submitted to Greg Baker, president, at greg.baker@lakeannavirginia.org or Irene Luck, webmaster, at irene.luck@lakeannavirginia.org

    When submitting a nomination, please include a summary of the nominee’s activities on behalf of LACA or the lake and please include your contact information should we have further questions.

    A complete list of winners can be found on the LACA website here and more specific qualifications is also available here.

    This year’s honoree will be recognized with a plaque at the annual meeting currently scheduled for Saturday, July 31.  For more information or if you have questions, contact Irene Luck at irene.luck@lakeannavirginia.org


  • June 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Rick Nehrboss - June 2021

    Coming to your inbox soon!

    We are in the process of putting the final touches on the 2021 LACA Membership survey to send out to all members later this month. We cannot overemphasize how important your feedback from the survey will be to us and would love for you to take 18 minutes out of your busy lives to complete it!  If you have a family membership, you both can fill out a survey, and we understand that even family members may have differences in opinion!

    There are several reasons why LACA conducts our biennial survey. The first and probably most important reason is to inform our strategic planning process. The survey results help us see the bigger picture. The second reason is to guide LACA’s budget decisions concerning the allocation of scarce resources. The data we receive from the survey helps us lobby the local governments for additional resources and gives us an indication of which programs may need more or fewer resources. Third, the survey results allow us to measure our performance. Are we communicating efficiently and effectively? Are our programs and information dissemination methods meeting our member’s expectations? Fourth, the survey is yet another means for the

    LACA leadership to engage our members about the Lake Anna community. Finally, the survey allows our members to have a voice, and tell the LACA leadership what is important to you and

    your family.

    We send out this survey every two years, and this year the survey is organized based upon our LACA committees with the following questions:

    ● Water Quality (Questions 1-6)

    ● Environmental Preservation (Questions 7-10)

    ● Emergency Services and Safety (Questions 11-15)

    ● Land Use (Questions 16-17)

    ● Membership and Marketing (Questions 18-23)

    ● General Topics (Fireworks, Annual Meeting and Comments) (Questions 24-31)

    We will compile the survey responses and present the results at the upcoming annual meeting and your comments and opinions will help shape our programs and activities for the next two years! We would love to get responses from all our members! Help us, help you enjoy Lake Anna!

    rick.nehrboss@lakeannavirginia.org


  • May 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Jean McCormick – May 2021

    About 95% of boaters fuel their boats before launching. Therefore, most of our boat engines are subjected to ethanol infused gasoline that is sold in most retail gas stations.

    Ethanol is used as an “oxygenate” and is added to fuel to help reduce hydrocarbon emissions that cause air pollution. It is a highly refined grain alcohol, approximately 200 proof, that can be produced from natural products such as corn, sugar cane and wheat.  The term “ethanol blended fuel” or E10 refers to fuel that contains 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline.

    Ethanol is also used to enhance the octane rating of gasoline. Higher octane gas resists detonation. So, it burns rather than explodes. But raising the octane level of gas is expensive. Therefore, premium fuel costs more than regular unleaded. Ethanol molecules contain oxygen, which allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel. That results in fewer emissions and less environmental pollution.

    Most marine engine manufacturers suggest that 10% or less ethanol gasoline be used in their products.

    However, there are three main problems with ethanol:

    1.   Since ethanol is an alcohol, it can dry out rubber compounds in your fuel system. This can lead to cracked and brittle fuel lines, floats and seals. If that causes a gas leak, an ignition spark can cause an explosion.

    2.   Ethanol likes water. Gas with added ethanol can attract and absorb about 10 times as much water and still burn through the engine. Water can enter when fuel containers are filled. That mix can cause corrosion of internal parts and condensation. When water comes into contact with ethanol blended fuel, the fuel and water can separate to form distinct layers in your tank. The upper gasoline layer will be depleted of ethanol and have a reduced octane level. The lower layer becomes a corrosive mix of water and ethanol. An engine won’t run on this water soaked, highly corrosive ethanol solution which ultimately can sink to the bottom of the tank. This situation usually requires that you drain and clean the tank before refilling it with fresh, hopefully, ethanol-free gasoline. 

    3.   Ethanol is a powerful solvent, and, over time, it can dissolve fiberglass fuel tanks. It also reacts with fuel filters and carburetors. Ethanol is an excellent cleaner, but at levels found in E10 gas, it can act as a solvent that can clean sludge but can also dissolve polymers (term used to describe plastics). This could stop your engine!

    On the other hand, non-ethanol gas lasts much longer while in storage. It is not as likely to succumb to oxidation or evaporation. If stored properly, ethanol-free gas can last up to six months without deterioration. This six-month shelf life makes ethanol -free gas ideal for use in seasonal boat engines. E10 gas has a three month or less, shelf life before the deterioration process begins.

    If you find yourself having to use E10 gas in your boat or any other small engine that is seasonal and sits for periods of time, think about the following tips:

      Never use E10 gas that is over 90 days old. Ethanol shortens the shelf life and old gas is likely to absorb water and cause problems.

      Limit sludge build up. Keep up with your maintenance schedule, changing filters, etc.

      Take care of problems immediately. Repetitive performance issues such as a carburetor that is continually fouling needs a proactive approach.

      Drain fuel, replace with fresh—ethanol free—gas, if possible. Use quality fuel treatment to counter act some of the effects of ethanol in the gas. But read labels carefully—-many fuel additives contain ethanol or other alcohol products.

      The best additives do not have alcohol in them.  A quality fuel additive treatment should combine combustion improvement, alcohol free protection, and detergents in a single product.  The best products have excellent non-alcohol-based water absorbing ingredients. These additives improve fuel efficiency that has been lost to ethanol, improve engine performance and cut engine emissions. These products also clean your injectors, valves and other engine parts that may be fouled due to ethanol’s solvency sludge deposits.

    Following these tips should help your boat engine run well, even if fueled with E10 gasoline.


  • May 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Steve Shubick - May 2021

    As we all know, Lake Anna is a great place. Whether you want to boat, fish, swim, camp, relax or just enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, our lake is a great spot. But the Lake Anna Civic Association needs your help to make sure the lake continues to offer this great lifestyle.

    The pandemic brought more people than ever to the lake last summer as people looked for a way to enjoy family and friends while still social distancing and staying safe. Even though COVID is waning, all indications are this year will be another busy year.

    An important part of LACA’s mission is to serve as the voice of our membership to ensure the lake continues to be the best it possibly can be. Both now and in the years to come. We all know there is strength in numbers, and the best way to make our voice speak as loudly as possible is to increase our membership.

    LACA has begun our Drive To 1000 membership campaign.  Increasing our membership is key to our success when promoting the issues we believe are important to the long-term health and wellbeing of the Lake Anna area.

    We want you to tell your friends, neighbors, and anyone else who enjoys the lake about the benefits of being a LACA member, and we’re willing to pay you to help us spread the word.  

    Direct prospective members to our website and have them sign up for membership (https://www.lakeannavirginia.org/join-now). Just be sure to tell them to list you in the “referred by” field.  For every new member that lists you as the referring member, we’ll enter your name into a drawing for a $500 gift card from a local business or restaurant. Get four new members, get four entries into the drawing. And if they sign up for multiple years (at our discounted rate), you’ll get an extra entry for each additional year. 

    And to sweeten the pot even more, for every four members you refer, you’ll get a $50 gift card. And we’ll even pay a $100 cash prize to the current member who gets the most total new members!!  We’ll hand out these prizes as soon as we reach our goal of 1000 total members.

    Ask any realtor in the area and they’ll tell you that our community is growing at an unprecedented rate.  LACA plays an important part making sure that growth is well managed. We’re working on your behalf to learn more about what can be done to stop or reduce the harmful algae blooms (HAB) that seem to be increasing each year. We are in constant contact with state and local officials to make sure that new residential and commercial projects make sense for our area. We work with local law enforcement and safety organizations to help promote safe enjoyment of the lake.  And don’t forget, LACA is the organizer and sponsor of our great July 4th fireworks!

    As a LACA member, you know how important these and other issues are. Our membership drive is the best way you can be sure the lake is what we all want it to be, both now and in the years to come.

     


  • May 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Election Committee - May 2021

    By LACA Election Committee - May 2021

    Each year, LACA holds a general election and elects one half of its Officers and Regional Directors to a 2-year term.  Last year, LACA held a very successful election electronically and we will be doing the same this year.  Voting will be open from 15 June through 24 July, with results announced at the 31 July Annual Meeting.

    The positions that will be on this year’s general election ballot will be: President, Treasurer, Regional Director for members residing in Spotsylvania County’s Partlow voting precinct, and Regional Director for members residing in Spotsylvania County’s Belmont voting precinct.

    Normally, this year we would also be electing a Regional Director for LACA’s “private side” members; however, and due to a vacancy, a special election was held earlier this year and “private side” members elected Colleen Delawder to be their Regional Director.

    Also, LACA has a vacancy in the Assistant Treasurer position so in conjunction with this year’s general election, a special election will be held to fill this opening. The position has one year remaining on its current term. Next year, the Assistant Treasurer position will be on the general election ballot for its full 2-year term.

    LACA is actively seeking members to run for each elected position. In order to run for one of the two Regional Director positions, the candidate must own property in the region she is running.  Currently, there are no candidates running for the Partlow Regional Director or Assistant Treasurer positions.

    Every member will be eligible to vote for the President, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer positions but only those members who own property in the Partlow or Belmont precincts will be eligible to vote for their respective Regional Director.    

    It’s never too early to be thinking about volunteering to be on LACA’s board.  Next year, LACA will be holding elections for Vice President; Secretary; Assistant Treasurer; Regional Director for members residing in Spotsylvania County’s Brokenburg voting precinct; Regional Director for members residing in Louisa County’s Mineral and Louisa voting precincts; and Regional Director for members residing on the “public side” of Louisa County’s Bumpass, Elk Creek and Fredricks Hall voting precincts.

    Please seriously consider becoming a LACA board member.  To get more information or discuss the responsibilities of this year’s or next year’s elected positions, please contact one of the Election Committee Members:

    Joe Bailey                (540) 223-5120                joe.bailey@lakeannavirginia.org

    Alan Bennett            (703) 623-6028                alan.bennett@lakeannavirginia.org        

    Allan Lassiter           (804) 869-7000                allan.lassiter@lakeannavirginia.org


  • May 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Pamela Hahn - May 2021

    Are you aware that carbon monoxide poses a danger while boating?  Many people assume that because they are outside, there is no possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning.  Sadly, this is just not true.  

    As boaters on Lake Anna, we should all be aware of the risks associated with carbon monoxide.  Many, if not all carbon monoxide poisonings are totally preventable

    How many times have you, a family member or friend, complained of feeling tired, having a headache, or feeling queasy, after a long day on the lake?  Have you, like hundreds of other people, attributed those feelings to too much sun, fun, and alcohol?  Would you be surprised to know that you may have actually been suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning?

    Did you know that boaters are injured or killed by carbon monoxide every year?  This odorless, colorless and tasteless gas can sicken or kill you inside or outside your boat.

    Federal Officials have known for years that carbon monoxide can reach deadly levels inside of houseboats.  Evidence has been found in the last several years that carbon monoxide can accumulate in deadly concentrations behind ski and wakeboard boats.  Did you know that there is also evidence that carbon monoxide levels can be dangerous behind personal watercraft as well? 

    According to the United States Coast Guard, carbon monoxide from boating was responsible for 5 deaths and 31 poisonings in 2019.  Shockingly, these numbers may actually be higher.  Over the years, there have been deaths attributed to heart attack or drowning that actually may have been due to carbon monoxide poisoning. 

    Activities that increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning include “teak surfing”.  This is when a swimmer hangs onto a powerboat’s swimming platform while being towed through the water, eventually letting go when the wake is large enough for body surfing. Swim decks are located where deadly exhaust fumes are accumulating, creating dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.  This activity has been responsible for at least 11 deaths and multiple injuries due to carbon monoxide poisoning. This sport is now illegal in several states and the National Park System, but is still allowed in Virginia. Please be aware that this means that it is also potentially lethal to sit on a swim deck while engines are running and points to increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during towed watersports.

    Any gasoline powered boat engine produces carbon monoxide which can accumulate near the stern. These levels can become quite dangerous when boats are operating at low speed. This news should be of particular concern for those of us on Lake Anna due to the many no wake zones. 

    The United States Coastguard published a leaflet in 2008 detailing the dangers of boating and carbon monoxide.  In it, they listed many real life scenarios of carbon monoxide poisonings.  The following one hit home: “...two women suffered carbon monoxide poisoning while swimming among a number of boats that were afloat in a cove at the far northern end of a lake. Boaters often gather there and leave engines and generators running, creating the potential for CO poisoning. The women were pulled from the water by off-duty firefighters. The women were breathing on their own but in an “altered stage of consciousness” because of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

     Please share this boat safety checklist with your friends and neighbors.  Let’s keep those we love safe from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.


  • April 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Al Bennett – April 2021

    Introduction

    We read and hear a lot about nitrogen and phosphorous as nutrients that significantly impact the aquatic life of our lake.  Typically, the challenge in lakes worldwide is to minimize the presence of these nutrients so that algae and cyanobacteria growth is not overly stimulated.  This article briefly touches on how nitrogen and nitrogen compounds, found in what is called the nitrogen cycle, are used in our daily lives.  The article then explores the nitrogen cycle in a lake like ours (i.e., how nitrogen enters our lake from the atmosphere, is converted into nitrogen compounds, and is released back to the atmosphere).  The focus here is on the natural cycle of nitrogen and not how it enters our lake through manmade means (commercial fertilizer, output from waste treatment, faulty septic systems, runoff from dairy, beef, and chicken operations, etc.).

    Common Uses

    Nitrogen is all around us and is a key to life.  Nitrogen makes up approximately 78% of the earth’s atmosphere and it is essential for the making of DNA and proteins.  About 3.3% of the human body’s mass is made up of nitrogen. In addition to being a key to life, we use nitrogen daily in varying forms.  The below table lists the different forms of nitrogen that occur in the nitrogen cycle and some of their common uses in our daily lives.

    Element/Compound

    Some Common Usages

    Nitrogen

    In liquid form, it is what a dermatologist uses to freeze skin anomalies; used to quickly freeze foods; and used to preserve blood, reproductive cells (sperm and egg), and other biological samples and materials.   In gaseous form, it is the gas released to inflate a cars air bag and it is used in the manufacturing of stainless steel to remove impurities.

    Ammonia

    About 80% produced is used in fertilizer.  Also used as a household cleaner, refrigerant gas, and has a multitude of commercial applications.

    Nitrites

    In the form of sodium nitrite is used as preservative in processed meats.  Also gives meat that pink-red fresh look.

    Nitrates

    Also used as a meat preservative.  Used in several medicines including nitroglycerine and is used as an oxidizing agent in explosives.

    Nitrous Oxide

    Commonly referred to as laughing gas and sometimes used by dentists to sedate patients.  Used as the propellant in aerosol whipped cream canisters and cooking sprays.  In car racing, provides more oxygen to the engine combustion cycle enabling more fuel to be burned and thereby increases engine horsepower.

    Nitrogen Cycle

    The nitrogen cycle in a lake environment is a continuous cycle of biochemical processes, all occurring simultaneously, by which nitrogen is absorbed at the water’s surface, converted into various chemical forms, and then returned to the atmosphere.

    Nitrogen in its natural form is a gas (N2) and like oxygen, nitrogen is soluble in water.   Nitrogen can enter the lake through precipitation, but it mostly enters through diffusion at the water’s surface where the concentration of nitrogen in the atmosphere is much higher than the concentration of nitrogen in the water. The diffusion of nitrogen occurs slowly across the water’s surface and can occur more quickly through sources of aeration such as wind created waves. The amount of nitrogen that can be absorbed by water is approximately 20 mg/l at 68 degrees. 


    Nitrogen is the most plentiful element in the Earth’s atmosphere as well as an important plant nutrient. In nature, nitrogen circulates and is continuously converted chemically from one form into another by bacteria and plants.  The above figure is taken from World Ocean Review.

    Pure nitrogen is unusable to most organisms.  It must undergo a series of transformations to convert it to a compound that can be absorbed by aquatic plants and eventually consumed by fish.  The first step in this process is called nitrogen fixation.  It is a bacterial process whereby bacteria, including cyanobacteria, convert the nitrogen dissolved in water into ammonia/ammonium (NH3/NH4+).  In a lake like ours where the water’s ph (a measure of how acidic/basic water is)is typically below 8.75, more ammonium than ammonia is produced.

    The next step in the overall nitrogen cycle is called nitrification.  It is a two step process where bacteria convert the ammonia/ammonium into nitrite ions (NO2-) and different bacteria then convert the nitrite ions into nitrate ions (NO3-).

    The nitrogen-based ammonia/ammonium and nitrate ion compounds produced through fixation and nitrification are nutrients to the lake’s food chain and are first taken up into the tissues of algae (phytoplankton) and aquatic plants.  Zooplankton (microscopic fish) and some aquatic insects eat the algae which in turn are eaten by small fish.   Larger fish may then feed on zooplankton, insects, and/or smaller fish.  The incorporation of ammonia/ammonium and nitrate into the biological tissues of aquatic life is commonly referred to as the assimilation step in the nitrogen cycle.

    Following assimilation is ammonification.  Eventually, the lake’s bio-mass consisting of phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, and all other forms of aquatic life will die and decompose. In the decaying process, specialized bacteria convert the nitrogen compounds contained within the decaying bio-mass back into ammonia/ammonium.

    This ammonia/ammonium again undergoes nitrification similar to the nitrification step above where the ammonia/ammonium is converted back to nitrate ions. 

    As a last step in the nitrogen cycle, the produced nitrate ions then undergo a denitrification process where denitrifying bacteria convert the nitrate ions back to nitrogen as well as nitrous oxide (N2O).  Both are gases that are released back to the atmosphere.

    The natural nitrogen cycle in marine and terrestrial environments is very similar to that in fresh water environments.  In all cases, nitrogen is extracted from and returned to the atmosphere.  If this were not the case, our atmosphere would quickly be depleted of nitrogen.


  • April 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Jean McCormick – April 2021

    The Lake Anna Advisory Committee’s (LAAC's) Safety & Navigation Subcommittee is responsible for installing and maintaining all hazard buoys and the No Wake buoys at most bridges on our Lake. The buoys meet Coast Guard standards for Aids to Navigation and, on Lake Anna, are approved by Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). 

    Volunteers from Wolfe Landscaping have generously donated their time to make sure these navigational safety markers do their job—to help identify dangerous parts of the Lake and regulate boaters’ speed under the bridges. These regulatory buoys play a major role in helping to keep boaters safe while enjoying their time on Lake Anna.

    I am asking for help from the Lake Anna community, especially those who live in sight of a buoy, to let me know if one of the buoys becomes damaged, breaks loose from its anchor, gets knocked over, or if its light ceases to function.

    We appreciate all of our “buoy watchers” who have made those calls in the past, and for those folks who were able to secure our buoys at their dock, or even in their driveways, until we could pick them up or reinstall.

    LAAC buoys will have a decal attached that clearly states LAAC’s ownership and asks you to call 540-967-1234. This number connects you to Louisa County’s 911 call center, who will relay that information to the committee for action.

    Thank you for your support of Lake Anna’s navigation safety program.

    Call or email Jean: 571-236-5247 or jeanmccor@aol.com

    Enforcement Update on Red Balls

    LACA was recently informed by Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) of a change in enforcement related to the Red Balls or Buoys that are proliferating on Lake Anna. Prior to this announcement, DWR has considered Red Balls/Buoys on Lake Anna to be illegal and has required removal of the markers. Generally, homeowners install these markers to mark a 50-foot setback from their docks or swimming areas. 

    DWR reviewed Regulation 4VAC15-370-50 and senior staff determined that red balls do not meet the definition of a regulatory marker nor do they affect the "safety, health or well-being of a boating operator." Therefore, DWR will no longer require the Red Balls/Buoys to be removed.


  • April 01, 2021 12:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    By Zach Long - ArborPro Tree Care – April 2021

    Litter is a global problem that is easily solved through community involvement and the participation of each individual. Robert F Kennedy said “It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility, and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future.”

    We are blessed to have such a beautiful body of water so close. A body of water that has a tight knit community surrounding it. We at ArborPro Tree Care feel it is our duty to be good stewards of our land and community. The Lake Anna Business Partnership and Lake Anna Civic Association felt the same way.

    As stewards, it is our duty to do our part in maintaining Lake Anna’s beauty and charm, but who said duty can’t be fun, right?

    Lake Anna Business Partnership’s Lake Anna Clean Up Day will be held Saturday, May 15, 2021. This event will be held in a competitive nature amongst volunteers, as well as local HOA communities, to see who can pick up the most litter on the lake or within their HOA. Anyone can volunteer, and teams of two are encouraged - so invite your friends! Concluding the event, volunteers are invited to HighPoint Marina where the final weigh in will be held to record the weight of each volunteer’s bag(s) of litter. The Lake Anna Business Partnership will be awarding prizes to one person from each class/category at Lake Anna Taphouse, later that same afternoon. 

    To be eligible to win a prize after final weigh in, a volunteer must first submit a registration form online before May 9th, selecting to compete in 1 of 3 classes/categories:

    1. Self-propelled watercraft - (Use your kayak or paddle board from your preferred ramp, and collect as much litter as you can!)

    2. Motorized watercraft - (Use your boat from your preferred ramp, and collect as much litter as you can!)

    3. HOA – (Compete as a member of your HOA instead of as an individual in the above two classes mentioned. You can collect on the roads within your HOA, or launch from your HOA’s ramp and collect litter from within the lake. Your personal litter’s total weight will go towards a chance to win an individual prize. It will also count towards a cumulative total for your HOA. The HOA with the most litter collected will be awarded a plaque.)

    Good natured competition is such a fun way to inspire involvement and community fellowship. There’s no question that Lake Anna is growing rapidly. It’s our duty to make a big area continue to feel like the loving, tight knit community that it truly is. We hope to see you there!

    You can register online for the event by clicking the following link, Lake Anna Clean Up Registration

    For more event details, such as times or team details, visit, VisitLakeAnna.org


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