All previous advisories on the Pamunkey and North Anna Branches of Lake Anna in Orange, Louisa and Spotsylvania counties remain in effect. For details on those areas, see the Aug. 24 news release. Due to new reports, additional areas on Lake Anna were sampled on August 28, 2018. The results of these samples indicate that concentrations of potentially harmful algae species exceed safe swimming levels at Fishermans Covein Spotsylvania County. A no-swimming advisory has been issued for Fishermans Cove. Please see the interactive Harmful Algal Bloom Map for the complete list of areas on Lake Anna under advisory at this time.
The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, which includes the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Old Dominion Phytoplankton lab, will continue to monitor water quality in the lake. The advisories in effect will be lifted only after a minimum of two consecutive weeks of acceptable levels for algal cell counts and/or toxin concentration. For more information on acceptable algae levels, see the Virginia Department of Health Recreational Advisory Guidance for Microcystin/Microcystis at www.SwimHealthyVA.com.
To prevent illness, people should:
- Avoid contact with any area of the lake where water is green or an advisory sign is posted.
- Do not allow children or pets to drink from natural bodies of water.
- Keep children and pets out of the areas experiencing a harmful algae bloom and quickly wash them off with fresh water after coming into contact with algae.
- If you or your animals experience symptoms after swimming in or near an algal bloom, seek medical/veterinarian care.
- If you suspect you experienced health-related effects following exposure to a bloom, contact the Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Hotline at 1-888-238-6154
- To learn more about harmful algae blooms or to report an algae bloom or fish kill visit www.SwimHealthyVA.com
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