Dock Watch Begins for the 2025 Season

Following a sleepy winter Dock Watch season where only 5 docks collected samples, the full set of 20 docks started the 2025 season on April 1.

Every other week, 10 docks collect water samples, measure water clarity, take water temperatures and report weather observations. Lab volunteers check those samples for presence of cyanobacteria, the microscopic lake plankton that can overgrow and cause Harmful Algal Blooms given the right conditions.

The Dock Watch Volunteers continue to collect and monitor samples until the end of October, when those 5 lonely docks continue through the winter. The Dock Watch 2024 Annual Report is on the SMLA website.

Two student interns from Virginia Western Community College will join the program this summer to learn and help with lab work. Look for announcements as we start compiling data for the season!