Group voices environmental concerns over area watershed

Cite evidence of E. coli bacteria contamination in two tributaries

By Kaitlin Mayhew -- kmayhew@nvdaily.com

WOODSTOCK -- The Lake Laura Dam has been slated for renovations to comply with new state codes for more than a year, but some studies show it also needs environmental improvements.

A public meeting to discuss the impending changes is scheduled Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Bryce Resort, which owns the dam. Dr. Hays B. Lantz Jr., a member of the Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River who has lived on Lake Laura for 30 years, believes that the environmental degradation of the lake should be discussed at the meeting as well.

The two tributaries that run into the Lake Laura watershed are contaminated with E. coli bacteria, according to research by the river group. Samples were collected several times a month for two years, many of which showed high E. coli concentrations, Lantz said.

"E. coli is an intestinal bacteria that lives in all warm blooded animals," Lantz said. Its existence in waterways is an indicator of possible solid waste contamination.

"Upstream we are getting solid waste, both animal and human, going to the tributaries that flow into Lake Laura," he said. "It means they have high bacterial and sewage content and are not safe for recreational use," he said.

The presence of E. coli in water used for swimming and other activities could cause a variety of water-borne illnesses.

However, Lantz said that during most of the year the lake itself does not show elevated levels of E. coli.

"[The bacteria] typically need a host organism to really live long outside of that host. Most of it dies by the time they get to the beach area," he said. "But when you get a lot of rain or snow, the E. coli with all that sewage is being flushed into the lake very quickly and that is when we are seeing elevated levels."

However, one major step in reducing the E. coli content of the tributaries will take place in 2012 when Orkney Springs and Shrine Mont reroute their sewage to the Stoney Creek Sanitary District.

Currently, the sewage flowed to what Lantz called "a small treatment plant that cannot handle that amount of sewage" and then into the tributaries.

"That's going to cut down a lot on the E. coli numbers," he said.

Another big problem, Lantz said, is that the lake is slowly filling in and developing swamp-like characteristics due to increased sedimentation.

The sediment is washed in from upstream, and creates shallow areas in the water. The higher the lake floor is, the more of it can be reached by sunlight, which allows plants to grow.

"Every year the algae blooms, it gets a green scum on top of the water. It's getting worse every year at Lake Laura," Lantz said. "I've seen that progression over about 30 years."
He said the impending dam renovation would be the perfect time for the Bryce Resort to address some of these issues.

"Ideally, when the dam is redone, if the lake is drained or drawn down, they could come in and remove much of the sediment," he said.

A two-year study was commissioned by the Fairfax Saltwater Conservation District, which owns the dam. The engineers made recommendations including elevations to the dam walls and a couple of different types of spillways that would funnel out excess water in the event of heavy floods.

These changes would help the dam meet state dam safety requirements and reduce potential flooding in areas around the dam, especially residences.