Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Program Marks 40 Years of Stewardship

The Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026—coinciding with Smith Mountain Lake’s 60th birthday.

Ferrum College in Franklin County launched the program in 1985 and has managed it ever since. By 1986, it had evolved into the robust system of scientific monitoring that continues today, supported by faculty, lab managers, student technicians and dedicated community volunteers.

The Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) funds the program through grants from Appalachian Power Company and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), as well as annual membership fees. SMLA also provides volunteers who collect samples from more than 50 sites across the lake from mid-May to early August. Data is shared publicly throughout the monitoring season on the SMLA website.

In the early 1980s, Ferrum College was transitioning from a junior college and developing its environmental science programs. Even then, Smith Mountain Lake—though young—was already showing signs of strain from rapid shoreline development.

In 1985, funding from the Virginia Environmental Endowment helped Ferrum assess the effects of that growth on lake health. Franklin County and the West Piedmont Planning District made the initiative a top priority.

Meanwhile, SMLA President Jim Morse launched a volunteer water-clarity program at 45 sites in 1986. The following year, SMLA merged its efforts with Ferrum’s scientific research, forming the unified Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) Program.

Back then, there were 39 “basic” monitoring stations and 33 “advanced” sites testing for Total Phosphorus and Chlorophyll-a. Today, the network includes 56 basic and 28 advanced stations—evidence of how the program has grown with the lake itself.

By 1991, the Commonwealth of Virginia began contributing funding, with SMLA providing additional support. Appalachian Power Company joined as a major funding partner in 2003, ensuring the program’s continued success.

By 2005, Ferrum College earned DEQ certification for its lab analyses of bacteria, Chlorophyll-a and Total Phosphorus, establishing rigorous quality-assurance protocols. Data from the program is now uploaded to DEQ’s Citizen Science database.

The program has also expanded its volunteer corps to more than 80 trained lake monitors who sample water every other week during the summer—using their own boats and fuel.

Ferrum has broadened its research to include bacterial (E. coli and fecal coliform) and plankton sampling, key indicators of ecosystem health and potential harmful algal blooms. The college also added Total Phosphorus testing at 20 tributaries around the lake.

In 2023, Ferrum upgraded its scientific vessel to a modern pontoon boat, allowing for safer navigation and expanded capacity for equipment and research teams. The American Electric Power Foundation provided the grant for this important investment.

Milestones and Memories: A Look Back at 30 Years

Just a decade ago, in 2016, the program marked its 30th anniversary in conjunction with Smith Mountain Lake’s 50th celebration. Elected officials, Appalachian Power representatives and SMLA volunteers gathered at Ferrum College to honor three decades of scientific achievement. Plans are already underway for an even bigger 40th-anniversary celebration in 2026.

The Next 40 Years of Water Stewardship

New technologies continue to enhance the program’s research capabilities. In 2024, Ferrum received funding from the Smith Mountain Lake Water Quality Alliance to acquire an ELISA reader—specialized lab equipment used to detect cyanotoxins produced by cyanobacteria, the organisms behind harmful algal blooms. Ferrum is now pursuing additional DEQ certification for this testing.

Each year, two to three Ferrum student technicians are hired to collect and analyze samples. More than 110 students have participated over the years, many going on to careers in environmental science across the country.

One such alum, Nick Sink, now works for Appalachian Power as a Plant Support Specialist. He credits his experience with the WQM program for preparing him for his career and emphasizes the program’s critical role in producing reliable, high-quality data for the community.

A Legacy Worth Protecting

The program’s 40th anniversary also honors the visionaries who built its foundation. Among them are Dr. Carolyn Thomas, who helped launch the program in 1985 and guided it for decades, and Dr. David Johnson, who advanced the research alongside her. Today, Ferrum’s program is led by co-directors Dr. Delia Heck and Dr. Clay Britton, with support from longtime faculty member Dr. Bob Pohlad and others.

Thanks to their leadership—and the dedication of volunteers and supporters—Smith Mountain Lake residents and visitors alike enjoy cleaner, healthier waters.

As the program looks to its fifth decade, SMLA invites community members to join in the celebration. Annual memberships, donations and volunteer efforts all help sustain this essential work. Together, we can keep Smith Mountain Lake thriving for generations to come.