Lake Holiday: Lake & Watershed Management

Lake Holiday is a 249-acre impoundment that acts as the aesthetic center point and primary ecological feature for the Lake Holiday Country Club (LHCC) in Cross Junction, Virginia. The lake is used for boating, swimming, and fishing for the surrounding community.

In 2016, the lake experienced a cyanobacteria-driven harmful algal bloom (HAB) which impacted contact recreation in the lake, as well as aesthetic value. In 2017, the LHCC engaged Princeton Hydro to understand the driving mechanisms behind the bloom and to recommend preventative management techniques to reduce the chances of future bloom formation. The first step in this process was water quality testing of the lake inclusive of in-situ, discrete laboratory, and plankton analyses. This study also included stormwater monitoring of the incoming tributaries throughout the lake. Following this study, Princeton Hydro modeled the watershed-based load of nutrients and hydrology in addition to evaluating the internal phosphorus load. The results of this effort showed the watershed load of phosphorus was the largest driver of algal growth. Following this effort, Princeton Hydro provided design of two emergent wetland best management practices (BMPs) at the mouths of Isaacs Creek and Yeiders Run through 30% completion.

In addition to the projects mentioned above, Princeton Hydro has developed a HAB monitoring, response, and management plan for the community. This plan provides specific volunteer-based monitoring that should be conducted to detect a bloom and includes subsequent information for community notification, follow-up testing, and management.

Throughout these endeavors, the LHCC has hired Princeton Hydro to monitor the lakes’ water quality to track its ecological condition over time and document improvements as management measures are implemented.