The Smith Mountain Lake Association Water Quality Monitoring program reports that the second round of sampling this summer season shows a slight improvement over the previous set of readings. The results are in line with SML 20-year averages and indicate that the lake remains clean and safe for recreation.
Despite high temperatures and low water levels, Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) Water Quality Monitoring program volunteers were able to collect water samples and take water clarity readings from 84 sites on the lake for the second time this summer.
Water clarity reflects the volume of particles suspended in the water, primarily algae and sediment. The average water clarity across all sites sampled in the lake for the week ending June 6 measured 2.31 meters, a slight improvement compared to the previous week’s reading of 2.15 meters, and nearly identical to the corresponding 20-year average of 2.32 meters.
Chlorophyll-a is a measure of the volume of algae growing in the lake and is expressed in terms of parts per billion, or ppb. The average concentration of chlorophyll-a across all sites sampled for the week ending June 6 was 8.05 ppb, a significant improvement compared to the previous week’s result of 9.87 ppb, though still higher than the corresponding 20-year average of 7.07 ppb.
Phosphorus is a key nutrient for all living organisms. Too much phosphorus in the water can contribute to undesirable growth of algae. The average concentration of Phosphorus across all sites sampled for the week ending June 6 was 31.61 ppb, a significant improvement compared to the previous week’s result of 39.36 ppb, though slightly higher than the corresponding 20-year average of 27.66 ppb.
These results are an average of all the sites monitored on the lake. Results from specific locations around the lake may vary significantly from the lake-wide averages. Detailed results are posted at the SMLA website at www.smlassociation.org, where you can view the results from each of eight zones on the lake.
In addition to the samples collected by volunteers, scientists from Ferrum College collect bi-weekly water samples at 14 locations on the lake and test them for the presence of bacteria. In the week ending June 6, all samples were well within the Virginia Dept of Environmental Quality guideline for bacteria in recreational waters.
About SMLA
The Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) mission is to keep Smith Mountain Lake clean and safe. Established in 1969, SMLA is the longest serving advocate for the SML community. Activities help to retain the pristine beauty of Smith Mountain Lake and the vibrant local economy. SMLA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), volunteer-led organization that relies on memberships, donations and grants to support programs that protect SML.
