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Lake Anna Civic Association requests $10,000 from county for water-quality testing after 2024 outbreaks
Summary
A representative of the Lake Anna Civic Association asked the board for $10,000 in FY26 support to fund volunteer-run water quality testing, including expanded E. coli sampling around major holiday weekends; the group said Spotsylvania previously funded $10,000 in 2023 but provided $5,000 in the two most recent years.
Greg Baker, representing the Lake Anna Civic Association, presented the county with a request for $10,000 in FY26 to support the association’s water-quality testing and monitoring program.
Baker said the Lake Anna Civic Association is a volunteer environmental-advocacy organization (formed in 1992) that runs DEQ-certified citizen water‑quality testing, including E. coli and cyanobacteria testing and a benthic invertebrate stream-monitoring program. He said that in 2024 the lake experienced a significant E. coli outbreak around Memorial Day that sickened more than 25 people and hospitalized seven.
The association uses county and other grant funds to pay for lab analysis, supplies and equipment maintenance; the group owns test instruments that Baker estimated cost roughly $10,000 each. He told the board Spotsylvania funded the association at $10,000 in 2023, but at $5,000 in FY24 and FY25. He asked the board to return to full funding of $10,000 for FY26 so the group can expand sampling and fill data gaps, including additional E. coli testing around the three major holiday weekends.
Ending: Supervisors did not take an immediate vote on the request; Baker said requested funds would pay for lab analysis, supplies and equipment upkeep. The request will be available for the county’s upcoming budget process.
