Water Quality Impacts of Dam Removal on Blackwater Creek

In Lynchburg, Virginia, the dam of College Lake was breeched in a strong storm in the fall of 2018. The City of Lynchburg deemed it necessary to drain the lake in its entirety for the safety of property owners downstream in case of complete dam failure. In the study of College Lake, I assessed biological and physical components of water quality downstream of the lake. Additionally, I assessed upstream water quality to quantify the changes downstream. I also assessed Ivy Creek, a tributary to Blackwater Creek, to analyze water quality standards without the presence of College Lake. The resulting data suggests a high increase in sediment due to the exposed lakebed of College Lake and a decline in water quality standards without the presence of the lake. This indicates a strong need for sediment management in the future