RA Moves To Ensure Reston Lakes Remain Healthy After Algae Bloom

RESTON, VA — Reston Association is taking a number of steps to ensure the community's four lakes will remain healthy, following the appearance of an algae bloom on Lake Thoreau in August.

RA hosted a virtual meeting on Aug. 31 to collect input from residents and answer questions about the ongoing health of Reston's lakes. Based on that feedback, RA has set up a Lakes and Watersheds webpage, where residents can find the latest water quality reports. They can also send their concerns via email to watershed@reston.org.

"Our goal is providing an open two-way channel of communication concerning our lakes and watershed, and thus strengthen our ability to respond promptly to environmental and safety issues," said RA President Julie Bitzer and CEO Hank Lynch, in a Sept. 14 letter to the community.

The community's concerns over water quality may have a monetary impact on RA's finances as well. In their letter, Bitzer and Lynch said the 2021 proposed budget to be submitted to the Board of Directors will include updated recommendations regarding lake management costs.

"A significant portion of that budget money will be spent on treatments and other options to control submerged aquatic vegetation and algae blooms next summer," they said.

In addition, RA plans to host another virtual meeting in October to update the community on the lake health and management plans.

"We are planning two semi-annual meetings to share information, gather input from residents and discuss water quality reports and other related information," Bitzer and Lynch said. "Additionally, our watershed team and Environmental Advisory Committee members will be available to participate in cluster and neighborhood meetings."

Algae blooms occur almost every year in the community's four lakes, according to Larry Butler, RA's chief operating officer, who has been managing the four lakes for over 20 years.

"When conditions are right, regardless of the lake, if you've got the right amount of nutrients — phosphorus and nitrogen, primarily — and ample sunlight and heat, which certainly we had that in July with 23 or so days over 90 degrees, it creates a situation for an algae bloom," Butler said, in a Reston Today video posted on YouTube.

Also see ...

Lake Thoreau Algae Bloom Expected To Disappear In 2-3 Weeks

Virtual Meeting To Address Lake Thoreau Algae Bloom