For the past 37 years, the Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) has employed an all-volunteer team of 50 plus lake residents to regularly collect water samples and measure water clarity at 84 sites on Smith Mountain Lake (SML). These water samples are analyzed for chlorophyll and phosphorous content by scientists at the Ferrum College Water Quality Lab, who also perform bacteria sampling, algae sampling, and depth profiling at various sites around the lake.