Get Involved:. Please contact the SMLA office or President and express your desire to serve. (All positions must be filled by an SMLA member)
How to Help
Current Opportunity: Our Save our Streams (SOS) program will hold a spring workshop for new volunteers on Saturday, March 4th. [read more]
You can volunteer for…
- Being an office volunteer
- Collecting water samples
- Identifying the organisms in a stream to determine water quality
- Working on the Vessel Pump Out program
- Collecting weed samples
- Monitoring parts of the lake for floating debris
- Organizing and participating in a Lake Cleanup Day in your neighborhood
- Preparing articles for newspapers or the website
- Developing marketing materials for the organization
- Providing annual auditing services for the Treasurer
- Representing one of the three counties by attending County Board of Supervisors meetings and reporting back to the SMLA Board of Directors
You can work with:
- Homeowners on the Buffer Landscape Program to educate them on Lake saving techniques to reduce nutrients and sedimentation from entering the Lake.
- Members of the Water Safety Council to concentrate on safe boating issues and implement related programs.
- Local businesses, marinas, and the public to distribute and sell our Lake Maps/Charts.
- Marketing professionals to help spread the good news about SMLA and the work we do.
You can study-up on a topic and work with others on issues as they present, such as:
- The Shoreline Management Plan
- AEP Relicensing
- Local Government relations and interface
- Environmental Education programs
- Water level issues
- Bacteria sources and farm animal retainer ponds
- Fish habitats
You can interface with:
- Ferrum College as they analyze data and prepare reports on water quality
- Game and Inland Fishery as they address fishing issues
- Blue Ridge Soil and Conservation as they address soil erosion issues
You may also have expertise that would help us with:
- Watershed issues
- Wetland Restoration Programs
- Storm Water Runoff
- Fertilizers and how they impact water quality
- Landscaping and Plantings to reduce erosion
- Fish habitat(s)
You Can Research, Benchmark, and/or Survey:
- What other lake organizations are doing to protect their lake and watershed.
- In fact, if what we are currently doing is not the best of fit for your interests, or expertise, you may also bring to us new ideas and programs. That’s how we grow!