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Coordinates: 38°01′26″N 77°43′01″W / 38.023889°N 77.716942°W / 38.023889; -77.716942
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| date-built = 1972<ref name=vdwr2023>{{cite web|url=https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/lake-anna|title=Lake Anna|website=Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources|year=2023|access-date=2 December 2023}}</ref>
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'''Lake Anna''' is one of the largest [[freshwater]] inland [[reservoir]]s in [[Virginia]], covering an area of {{convert|13000|acre|km2}}, and located {{convert|72|mi}} south of [[Washington, D.C.]] in [[Louisa County, Virginia|Louisa]] and [[Spotsylvania County, Virginia|Spotsylvania]] counties (and partially in [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange County]] at the northern tips). The lake is easily accessible from [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]], [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. and is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state.
'''Lake Anna''' is one of the largest [[freshwater]] inland [[reservoir]]s in [[Virginia]], covering an area of {{convert|13000|acre|km2}}, and located {{convert|72|mi}} south of [[Washington, D.C.]], in [[Louisa County, Virginia|Louisa]] and [[Spotsylvania County, Virginia|Spotsylvania]] counties (and partially in [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange County]] at the northern tip). The lake is easily accessible from [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]], [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state.


==History==
==History==
The [[reservoir]] is formed by the '''North Anna Dam''' on the [[North Anna River]] at {{Coord|38|00|47|N|77|42|46|W|name=North Anna Dam}}. In 1968, Virginia Electric and Power Company (now [[Dominion (company)|Dominion]]) purchased {{convert|18000|acre|km2}} of farmlands in three counties along the North Anna and [[Pamunkey River|Pamunkey]] rivers to provide clean, fresh water to cool the [[nuclear power plant|nuclear power generating plants]] at the [[North Anna Nuclear Generating Station]] adjacent to the lake.<ref>[http://www.dom.com/about/stations/nuclear/north-anna/index.jsp "North Anna Power Station"], Dominion. Accessed on June 30, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830172855/http://www.dom.com/about/stations/nuclear/north-anna/index.jsp |date=August 30, 2009 }}</ref> By 1972 the lake bottom was cleared of all timber and the dam was nearing completion. It was projected to take three years to completely fill the lake, but with the additional rainfall from [[Hurricane Agnes]], the lake was full in only 18 months. The first communities broke ground at about that same time and now some 120 different communities dot the shores of the lake. In June 1978, the first of the two reactors went into commercial operation. The second unit followed in December 1980.
The [[reservoir]] is formed by the '''North Anna Dam''' on the [[North Anna River]] at {{Coord|38|00|47|N|77|42|46|W|name=North Anna Dam}}. In 1968, Virginia Electric and Power Company (now [[Dominion Energy|Dominion]]) purchased {{convert|18000|acre|km2}} of farmlands in three counties along the North Anna and [[Pamunkey River|Pamunkey]] rivers. The aim was to provide clean, fresh water to help cool the [[nuclear power plant|nuclear power generating plants]] at the [[North Anna Nuclear Generating Station]] adjacent to the lake.<ref>[http://www.dom.com/about/stations/nuclear/north-anna/index.jsp "North Anna Power Station"], Dominion. Accessed on June 30, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830172855/http://www.dom.com/about/stations/nuclear/north-anna/index.jsp |date=August 30, 2009 }}</ref> By 1972, the lake bottom was cleared of all timber, and the dam was nearing completion. It was projected to take three years to completely fill the lake, but with the additional rainfall from [[Hurricane Agnes]], the lake was full in only 18 months. The first communities began to spring up around the lake at that time, and now some 120 different communities surround its shores. In June 1978, the first of the two reactors went into commercial operation. The second unit followed in December 1980.


==Description==
==Description==
Lake Anna is approximately {{convert|17|mi|km}} long from tip to tip, with {{convert|200|mi}} of shoreline.<ref name="waste">{{cite web |url=https://www.dom.com/corporate/what-we-do/electricity/generation/nuclear/north-anna-waste-heat-treatment-facility |title=North Anna Waste Heat Treatment Facility |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Dominion Resources, Inc. |accessdate=2015-01-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406145900/https://www.dom.com/corporate/what-we-do/electricity/generation/nuclear/north-anna-waste-heat-treatment-facility |archivedate=2015-04-06 }}</ref> The lake is divided into two sides: the public side (also known as the "cold" side) and the private side, working as a [[cooling pond]] (also known as the "hot" side). The public side is roughly {{convert|9000|acre|km2}}, while the private side is roughly {{convert|4000|acre|km2}}. The private side is formed of three main bodies of water, connected by navigable [[canal]]s. The public and private sides are divided by three stone dikes. The private side has no marinas or public access ramps; only property owners and North Anna Power Station employees have access to the waters of the private side. The public side has several marinas and boat launches, including a boat ramp at the state park. The public side sees significantly higher boat traffic than the private side, especially on summer weekends.
Lake Anna is approximately {{convert|17|mi|km}} long from tip to tip, with {{convert|200|mi}} of shoreline.<ref name="waste">{{cite web |url=https://www.dom.com/corporate/what-we-do/electricity/generation/nuclear/north-anna-waste-heat-treatment-facility |title=North Anna Waste Heat Treatment Facility |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Dominion Resources, Inc. |accessdate=2015-01-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406145900/https://www.dom.com/corporate/what-we-do/electricity/generation/nuclear/north-anna-waste-heat-treatment-facility |archivedate=2015-04-06 }}</ref> The lake is divided into two sides by three stone dikes. The public side (also known as the "cold" side) is roughly {{convert|9000|acre|km2}}, while the private side (known as the "warm" side) is roughly {{convert|4000|acre|km2}}.


The private side is formed of three main bodies of water, connected by navigable [[canal]]s. This side has no marinas or public access ramps; only property owners and North Anna Power Station employees have access to the waters on the private side.
⚫
The public side is known as the "cold" side because it provides water to cool the generators at the power plant; the private or "hot" side receives warm water discharge from the power plant. The private side can be substantially warmer than the public side, especially near the discharge point, where it can be too hot for swimming. The private side has an extended [[water sports]] season. Some water circulates back out of the private side into the public side through underground channels; consequently, the public side is warmer in the southern area near the dam. In the winter, some fish migrate to these warmer waters.


The public side has several marinas and boat launches, including a boat ramp at an adjacent state park. The public side sees significantly higher boat traffic compared to the private side, especially on summer weekends.
⚫
Preliminary steps toward the addition of a third reactor have raised protests from environmentalists and property owners, who fear an increase in the water temperature and a decrease in the water level, particularly on the private side. According to Dominion, the water discharged from the plant is usually about {{convert|14|F-change}} warmer than the intake water.<ref name="waste"/>


⚫
The public side is known as the "cold" side because it provides water to cool the generators at the power plant; the private or "hot" side receives warm water discharge from the power plant. The private side can be substantially warmer than the public side, especially near the discharge point, where it can be too hot for swimming. The private side has an extended [[List of water sports|water sports]] season. Some water circulates back out of the private side into the public side through underground channels; consequently, the public side is warmer in the southern area near the dam. In the winter, some fish migrate to these warmer waters.
===North Anna Dam===
⚫
[[Image:LakeAnnaDam.jpg|thumb|left|200px|North Anna Dam]]
⚫
The dam creating the lake, North Anna Dam, is a {{Convert|5000|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-long}} and {{Convert|90|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-high}} earthen [[embankment dam]]. It is {{Convert|30|ft|m|0}} wide at its crest which sits at an elevation of {{Convert|265|ft|m|0}} above sea level. The dam's spillway is located in the center of its body and is {{Convert|200|ft|m|0}} wide, containing three main {{Convert|40|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-wide}} and {{Convert|30|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-high}} [[radial gate]]s. Two smaller {{Convert|8.5|ft|m|0|adj=on}} wide and tall gates on the outer edges of the spillway section maintain normal discharges. Normal elevation for the reservoir is {{Convert|250|ft|m|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=North Anna Safety Evaluation Report|url=https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/esp/north-anna-ser/section-2-4.pdf|publisher=U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission|accessdate=23 October 2011|date=June 2005}}</ref> The dam's hydroelectric power plant is located on the west side of the spillway and is supplied with water via a {{Convert|5|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-diameter}} [[penstock]]. The plant consists of two small open runner turbine-generators, the larger with a 775&nbsp;kW capacity and the smaller rated at 225&nbsp;kW for a combined installed capacity of 1 [[megawatt]].<ref name=study>{{cite web|title=Fish Passage Study For Lake Anna Dam|url=http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0202/ML020230069.pdf|publisher=Virginia Power|accessdate=23 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=LACA Tour of Lake Anna Spillway and Dam|url=http://www.lakeannavirginia.org/LACA_TOUR_OF_LAKE_ANNA_DAM.pdf|publisher=Lake Anna Civic Association|accessdate=23 October 2011}}</ref>


⚫
Preliminary steps to add a third reactor have led to protests by environmentalists and property owners, who fear a subsequent increase in the water temperature and a decrease in the water level, particularly on the private side. According to Dominion, the water discharged from the plant is usually about {{convert|14|F-change}} warmer than the intake water.<ref name="waste"/>
==Use and recreation==
{{Advert| Section|date=June 2012}}


===Events===
===North Anna Dam===
⚫
[[Image:LakeAnnaDam.jpg|thumb|left|200px|North Anna Dam]]
Lake Anna is the site of several major water-related events including:
⚫
The dam creating the lake, North Anna Dam, is a {{Convert|5000|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-long}} and {{Convert|90|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-high}} earthen [[embankment dam]]. It is {{Convert|30|ft|m|0}} wide at its crest and sits at an elevation of {{Convert|265|ft|m|0}} above sea level. The dam's spillway is located in the center of its body and is {{Convert|200|ft|m|0}} wide, containing three main {{Convert|40|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-wide}} and {{Convert|30|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-high}} [[radial gate]]s. Two smaller {{Convert|8.5|ft|m|0|adj=on}} wide and tall gates on the outer edges of the spillway section maintain normal discharges. Normal elevation for the reservoir is {{Convert|250|ft|m|0}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=North Anna Safety Evaluation Report|url=https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/esp/north-anna-ser/section-2-4.pdf|publisher=U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission|accessdate=23 October 2011|date=June 2005}}</ref> The dam's hydroelectric power plant is located on the west side of the spillway and is supplied with water via a {{Convert|5|ft|m|0|adj=mid|-diameter}} [[penstock]]. The plant consists of two small open runner turbine-generators, the larger with a 775&nbsp;kW capacity and the smaller rated at 225&nbsp;kW for a combined installed capacity of 1 [[megawatt]].<ref name=study>{{cite web|title=Fish Passage Study For Lake Anna Dam|url=http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0202/ML020230069.pdf|publisher=Virginia Power|accessdate=23 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=LACA Tour of Lake Anna Spillway and Dam|url=http://www.lakeannavirginia.org/LACA_TOUR_OF_LAKE_ANNA_DAM.pdf|publisher=Lake Anna Civic Association|accessdate=23 October 2011|archive-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425084019/http://www.lakeannavirginia.org/LACA_TOUR_OF_LAKE_ANNA_DAM.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Wildlife==
The Kinetic Race weekend in May ( half-distance race on Saturday and a sprint-distance race on Sunday)
Fish species present in Lake Anna include [[largemouth bass]] (''Micropterus salmoides''), [[bluegill]] (''Lepomis macrochirus''), [[redear sunfish]] (''L. microlophus''), [[channel catfish]] (''Ictalurus punctatus''), [[white bullhead|white catfish]] (''Ameiurus catus''),<ref name=vdwr2023/> [[yellow bullhead]] (''A. natalis''), [[brown bullhead]] (''A. nebulosus''),<ref name=2016popreport>{{cite web|url=https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/Lake-Anna-Popular-Report-2016.pdf|title=Lake Anna Fisheries Management Report, Popular Format, Federal Aid Project - F111R|publisher=Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources|date=March 2016|access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref> [[black crappie]] (''Pomoxis nigromaculatus''), [[white perch]] (''Morone americana''),<ref name=vdwr2023/> [[American gizzard shad]] (''Dorosoma cepedianum''),<ref name=2016popreport/> [[threadfin shad]] (''D. petenense''), [[blueback herring]] (''Alosa aestivalis''), [[creek chubsucker]] (''Erimyzon oblongus'') and [[white sucker]] (''Catostomus commersonii'').<ref name=2016popreport/> [[Striped bass]] (''Morone saxatilis'') and [[hybrid striped bass]] are maintained by stocking. [[Blue catfish]] (''Ictalurus furcatus''),<ref name=vdwr2023/> [[grass carp]] (''Ctenopharyngodon idella'')<ref name=2016popreport/> and [[saugeye]] may be present due to past introduction.<ref name=vdwr2023/> As of 2017, the exotic [[northern snakehead]] (''Channa argus'') has established a self-sustaining population in Lake Anna.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/snakehead/|title=Northern Snakehead|website=Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources|access-date=23 June 2024|date=11 May 2018}}</ref>


Species of [[submerged aquatic vegetation]] in the lake include ''[[Hydrilla verticillata]]'', southern naiad (''[[Najas guadalupensis]]'') and ''[[Chara (alga)|Chara]]'' sp. American waterwillow (''[[Justicia americana]]'') grows as an emergent plant.<ref name=2016popreport/>
The Giant Acorn triathlon weekend in the fall, featuring an International/Olympic-distance triathlon followed by a sprint-distance triathlon on the next day.<ref>[http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=1486 "Giant Acorn triathlon festival"], official site. Accessed on April 5, 2010.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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[[Category:Reservoirs in Virginia|Anna]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Virginia|Anna]]
[[Category:Dominion Energy]]
[[Category:Dominion Energy]]
[[Category:Cooling ponds]]

Latest revision as of 05:05, 14 August 2024

For the lake in Minnesota, see Anna Lake. For the lake in Ohio, see Lake Anna Park.
Lake Anna
The North Anna Nuclear Generating Station is seen at the center of this aerial photograph.
Location of Lake Anna in Virginia, USA.
Location of Lake Anna in Virginia, USA.
Lake Anna
Location of Lake Anna in Virginia, USA.
Location of Lake Anna in Virginia, USA.
Lake Anna
LocationLouisa / Spotsylvania / Orange counties, Virginia, US
Coordinates38°01′26″N 77°43′01″W / 38.023889°N 77.716942°W / 38.023889; -77.716942
Typereservoir
Basin countriesUnited States
Built1972[1]
Max. length17 mi (27 km)
Surface area13,000 acres (5,300 ha)
Max. depth80 feet (24 m)

Lake Anna is one of the largest freshwater inland reservoirs in Virginia, covering an area of 13,000 acres (53 km2), and located 72 miles (116 km) south of Washington, D.C., in Louisa and Spotsylvania counties (and partially in Orange County at the northern tip). The lake is easily accessible from Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charlottesville, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the state.

History

[edit]

The reservoir is formed by the North Anna Dam on the North Anna River at 38°00′47″N 77°42′46″W / 38.01306°N 77.71278°W / 38.01306; -77.71278 (North Anna Dam). In 1968, Virginia Electric and Power Company (now Dominion) purchased 18,000 acres (73 km2) of farmlands in three counties along the North Anna and Pamunkey rivers. The aim was to provide clean, fresh water to help cool the nuclear power generating plants at the North Anna Nuclear Generating Station adjacent to the lake.[2] By 1972, the lake bottom was cleared of all timber, and the dam was nearing completion. It was projected to take three years to completely fill the lake, but with the additional rainfall from Hurricane Agnes, the lake was full in only 18 months. The first communities began to spring up around the lake at that time, and now some 120 different communities surround its shores. In June 1978, the first of the two reactors went into commercial operation. The second unit followed in December 1980.

Description

[edit]

Lake Anna is approximately 17 miles (27 km) long from tip to tip, with 200 miles (320 km) of shoreline.[3] The lake is divided into two sides by three stone dikes. The public side (also known as the "cold" side) is roughly 9,000 acres (36 km2), while the private side (known as the "warm" side) is roughly 4,000 acres (16 km2).

The private side is formed of three main bodies of water, connected by navigable canals. This side has no marinas or public access ramps; only property owners and North Anna Power Station employees have access to the waters on the private side.

The public side has several marinas and boat launches, including a boat ramp at an adjacent state park. The public side sees significantly higher boat traffic compared to the private side, especially on summer weekends.

The public side is known as the "cold" side because it provides water to cool the generators at the power plant; the private or "hot" side receives warm water discharge from the power plant. The private side can be substantially warmer than the public side, especially near the discharge point, where it can be too hot for swimming. The private side has an extended water sports season. Some water circulates back out of the private side into the public side through underground channels; consequently, the public side is warmer in the southern area near the dam. In the winter, some fish migrate to these warmer waters.

Preliminary steps to add a third reactor have led to protests by environmentalists and property owners, who fear a subsequent increase in the water temperature and a decrease in the water level, particularly on the private side. According to Dominion, the water discharged from the plant is usually about 14 °F (7.8 °C) warmer than the intake water.[3]

North Anna Dam

[edit]
North Anna Dam

The dam creating the lake, North Anna Dam, is a 5,000-foot-long (1,524 m) and 90-foot-high (27 m) earthen embankment dam. It is 30 feet (9 m) wide at its crest and sits at an elevation of 265 feet (81 m) above sea level. The dam's spillway is located in the center of its body and is 200 feet (61 m) wide, containing three main 40-foot-wide (12 m) and 30-foot-high (9 m) radial gates. Two smaller 8.5-foot (3 m) wide and tall gates on the outer edges of the spillway section maintain normal discharges. Normal elevation for the reservoir is 250 feet (76 m).[4] The dam's hydroelectric power plant is located on the west side of the spillway and is supplied with water via a 5-foot-diameter (2 m) penstock. The plant consists of two small open runner turbine-generators, the larger with a 775 kW capacity and the smaller rated at 225 kW for a combined installed capacity of 1 megawatt.[5][6]

Wildlife

[edit]

Fish species present in Lake Anna include largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), redear sunfish (L. microlophus), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), white catfish (Ameiurus catus),[1] yellow bullhead (A. natalis), brown bullhead (A. nebulosus),[7] black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), white perch (Morone americana),[1] American gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum),[7] threadfin shad (D. petenense), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus) and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii).[7] Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and hybrid striped bass are maintained by stocking. Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus),[1] grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)[7] and saugeye may be present due to past introduction.[1] As of 2017, the exotic northern snakehead (Channa argus) has established a self-sustaining population in Lake Anna.[8]

Species of submerged aquatic vegetation in the lake include Hydrilla verticillata, southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis) and Chara sp. American waterwillow (Justicia americana) grows as an emergent plant.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Anna.
  1. ^ a b c d e "Lake Anna". Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  2. ^ "North Anna Power Station", Dominion. Accessed on June 30, 2009. Archived August 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b "North Anna Waste Heat Treatment Facility". Dominion Resources, Inc. Archived from the original on 2015-04-06. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  4. ^ "North Anna Safety Evaluation Report" (PDF). U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. June 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Fish Passage Study For Lake Anna Dam" (PDF). Virginia Power. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  6. ^ "LACA Tour of Lake Anna Spillway and Dam" (PDF). Lake Anna Civic Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Lake Anna Fisheries Management Report, Popular Format, Federal Aid Project - F111R" (PDF). Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Northern Snakehead". Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
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