Dock Watch Program Update

The Dock Watch program is having a successful second year. Volunteers have collected and analyzed over 325 samples. There have been approximately 200 detections of the presence of target cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon, Microcystis, Dolichospermum, Planktothrix and Raphidiopsis) in these samples. Three of these were at elevated levels.

From May to the end of October samples are collected at 22 docks throughout the Smith Mountain Lake watershed. At the beginning of November the winter sampling season will begin with samples being collected at 5 docks every other week.

We were pleased to present some of the Dock Watch data as well as information on the SMLA Water Monitoring Program and Save Our Streams at the Virginia Water Monitoring Council Conference held in September in Hanover, Virginia. The Conference also provided an opportunity for us to learn about other monitoring and citizen science programs throughout the state. We intend to prepare a summary report at the end of 2025 at which time we will begin planning for the 2026 sampling season.