Membership in SMLA is your best and easiest opportunity to ensure that the Lake that you have known and loved will continue to be environmentally preserved, safe in all recreational activities, and a place where you kids and grandkids will seek to enjoy. Join us and participate in one of our many Lake- protecting activities. It is your best and cheapest “insurance” you can buy to maintain your property value by preserving our treasure – The Jewel of the Blue Ridge.
What Does the SMLA Do For Smith Mountain Lake?
SMLA’s focus is purely environmental. Through our focused activities SMLA strives to retain the pristine beauty of our lake encouraging resident’s and renters’ piece of mind. This translates to a vibrate local economy in support of our business partners. Below are current activities and reports that demonstrate SMLA’s level of commitment to our Lake. Other interesting and exciting accomplishments and activities can be viewed by browsing the website tabs at the top of every page.
85
Monitoring Sites for Key Parameters to Determine Lake Aging
23.12
Tons of Debris Removed During Lake Cleanup Days
5,000
Gallons of Effluent Disposed of Annually
5,000
Sterile Carp Introduced Have Eliminated Invasive Weeds
Smith Mountain Lake has been listed buy Boat U.S. magazine in their April/May edition as one of the top eight lakes in the country, and most recently, the June/July edition of Garden and Gun Magazine as one of the top 10 “Summer Lake Escapes”.
While long-term trends are consistent, increased amounts of chlorophyll-a have contributed to increased sightings of algae blooms.
SMLA T-Shirts Now Available On-line!
Show your support for SMLA! Colorful, high quality SMLA T-Shirts are now available on our website Shop page. Find great T-Shirts for all of the family in 4 different exciting colors from Small to 3XL sizes.
SMLA Newsletter “Lake Matters: March 2019” Published
Read our newest newsletter: Articles on Buffer Landscaping, Water Quality Monitoring training day announcement, and results of the Save Our Streams efforts for 2018.
Long-standing Members Retire from SMLA Board
The Smith Mountain Lake Association Board of Directors acknowledged outgoing Directors at its January meeting. Lorie Smith, President, presented Bob Camicia with a certificate acknowledging his leadership and service to the Association. Mr. Camicia is a former President and Lake Council Co-Chairman in addition to a vast number of initiatives he has championed. The Board also acknowledged Larry Iceman (past President/Lake Council Co-chair/Water Quality Monitoring) and Casey Kroll (Aquatic Animal Invasive Species) for their leadership and service. Mr. Iceman and Mr. Kroll were unable to attend the meeting.
Algae Reports at SML
In early 2019, several residents of Smith Mountain Lake reported an increase in the amount of algae or “green stuff” they are seeing in the lake and especially along the shoreline. The Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) took quick action to investigate these sightings, and several samples were collected and analyzed.
Living around the Lake with the record low temperatures we’ve experienced lately makes it important to review how to survive immersion in super-cold water.
During exercise and high temperatures, our body dissipates heat by sweat and evaporation. Similarly, when immersed in cold water, the body loses heat through the contact of water with the skin. As surrounding water sucks heat away from the body, hypothermia (the lowering of the body’s core temperature) sets in, we become weak and lethargic, and we can quickly drown.
When the face is immersed in water that is seventy degrees Fahrenheit or less, the MDR (Mammalian Diving Reflex) kicks in. So how does the MDR help us survive? The body automatically ….