Lake Anna dock sign program underway
Posted on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 9:53 am
Maureen Daniels shows off the prototype of the dock signs to those in attendance at the Lake Anna Civic Association’s annual meeting.
The Lake Anna Civic Association launched a new safety program for Lake Anna at its annual meeting on Saturday, July 28. The dock sign program is another component in safety markings on the lake to assist those with an emergency in pinpointing their location as well as helping first responders reach the scene in a timely fashion.
The voluntary program was presented by Maureen Daniels, Lake Anna Civic Association’s Emergency Services/Safe Boating Coalition Committee chairman. The committee consists of representatives of LACA, local law enforcement and emergency services from Louisa and Spotsylvania counties, and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Coast Guard Auxiliary, lake Anna State Park, Dominion Power, Lake Anna Business Partnership, and Lake Anna Chamber of Commerce.
The weatherproof signs are 8 x 16 inches in size with a bright yellow background and black lettering and feature two letters and a three-digit number, i.e. LU006. The letters will designate which portion of the lake the sign is placed with the number randomly assigned. The lake is divided using the Route 208 Bridge as either lower or upper so the example above is a sign on the Louisa side up lake (LU). For safety purposes, the sign does not contain any visible personal information but will have the address listed in the emergency services departments for dispatching.
“No matter whether you are new to the area or have lived here for many years, you need to pay attention to where you are on the lake,” Daniels said. “Should something happen, if you can see one of these signs, or one of the other markings, dispatch can get help to you quicker.”
The dock signs complement the bridge marking signs that LACA, Dominion and the Virginia Department of Transportation have undertaken as well as the maps which were developed last year. Each is designed to assist people in knowing where they are as they enjoy the lake, according to Daniels, who is the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Lake Anna Flotilla Commander.
The program was conceived in January of this year and quickly accepted by those in emergency services and law enforcement.
“They told the committee members it is frustrating when they receive an emergency call on the lake and ask where they are, they don’t know,” Daniels said. “When asked to describe what they see, they tell them docks, trees, islands, and there are lots of those on the lake, so we thought, ‘Let’s take advantage of all the docks’ and the program was conceived.”
The initial phase is underway to get as many subdivision common areas and private docks marked as possible. The signs are being fabricated by Rainbow Graphics in Mineral and being overseen by Louisa County Fire Chief Keith Greene, who will take each application and verify the address as he assigns the nomenclature. Rainbow Graphics will then make the sign and mail it to the applicant.
“If you have a better place to put the sign than on the dock so it is more visible, do so,” Daniels told the approximately 100 members in attendance. “Use your imagination, go out on the water in front of your property and see where the sign might be the most visible.”
The second phase will be to try and mark other areas of the lake that are not sufficiently covered, such as the islands owned by Dominion.
At the meeting, Daniels had applications available which were quickly snatched up. The application is also available on the Lake Anna Civic Association’s website, www.lakeannavirginia.org, and each county’s website has a link to the application as well.
“This initiative should be viewed as a ‘work in progress,’” said Daniels. “As with anything new and innovative, we should expect that we have not planned for every contingency that may arise. Flexibility and willingness to change and revise the process when necessary will help ensure its long term success.”
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