SMLA Stream Monitoring Results Show Impact of Area Drought

Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) has monitored area stream health for more than 20 years. The latest results show the impact of the area drought.

SMLA Save Our Streams (SOS) sampled 20 streams in spring and fall 2025. The findings are averaged to give each stream an annual score. While 65 percent of streams rated satisfactory in 2024, that number fell to 50 percent in 2025. Spring testing showed better results, but lower water flow in the fall led to lower scores.

SOS program leader Geoff Orth emphasized that pollution was not a significant factor in the lower scores, noting the decline was tied primarily to drought-related conditions. With a return to normal rainfall, stream health is expected to rebound.

Through the SOS program, trained volunteers monitor the creeks and streams that feed the lake, providing critical insight into overall water quality. Understanding the health of these streams is a component of SMLA’s efforts to monitor overall lake water quality.

Stream monitoring is conducted twice a year and focuses on freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates, small organisms that live on the stream bottom. Because different species have varying tolerance to pollution, their presence or absence offers a reliable snapshot of stream health.

Scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating healthier conditions. Each site is sampled twice annually and averaged to account for seasonal variables such as weather, temperature and insect life cycles.

The data collected by SMLA volunteers is fed into a statewide database used by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and complements additional water quality monitoring conducted by SMLA and Ferrum College.

Learn more about the SOS program and the annual results at https://smlassociation.org/save-our-streams/

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.