Problem Statement

As it increases in popularity for recreation and industry, the health of Lake Anna is being put under a microscope. What was once an occasional nuisance, the prevalence of toxic and nontoxic algal blooms within Lake Anna has increased in the past decade, particularly in the upper forks of the lake. Multiple stakeholders collect data, but the fragmentation of this information makes it difficult to analyze relationships; compiling data on how land use and water quality have changed will be essential in combatting future bloom events. We will investigate various sources to find existing data, analyze this data to see how conditions have changed, and map these changes to pinpoint pollution hot spots within the watershed. We will then compile a report communicating our findings and recommendations. This report will also detail our investigation, analysis, and mapping (IAM) process so that it can be adapted for use in other lakes with HAB issues. Our deliverable will help Lake Anna stakeholders take a unified approach in combatting HABs, and lay a framework for assessing HAB issues throughout the United States.