Halifax County commissioners, acting on a request last month from the Lake Gaston Association, today approved a letter to be sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requesting Dominion Energy to increase its budget to address noxious aquatic weeds.
The LGA and Lake Gaston Weed Control Council have made similar requests to the governing bodies in both North Carolina and Virginia, County Manager Dia Denton said.
“As one of the five counties that surround Lake Gaston, Halifax County has a vested interest in Dominion Energy’s Shoreline Management Plan five-year review for the Roanoke Rapids and Gaston Hydropower FERC Project Number P-2009,” the letter signed by board Chairman Vernon Bryant says. “Specifically, addressing noxious aquatic weeds such as hydrilla and the cyanobacteria Lyngbya in a more meaningful and demonstrative way would enhance not only the shoreline viability and appearance but also the ability of residents and visitors to enjoy the amenities provided by a large lake.”
The letter says noxious aquatic vegetation and algae have presented a long-term challenge on Lake Gaston. In 2025, the annual Lake Gaston shoreline survey indicated a continuing problem, and in some locations, a significant increase in aquatic vegetation/algae was noted relative to past surveys.
Each of the five counties that surround Lake Gaston contributes $116,000 per year to the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council to manage invasive/noxious aquatic vegetation/algae, including the purchase and application of authorized herbicides/algaecides by licensed application providers.
In addition, the city of Virginia Beach, which gets its drinking water from Lake Gaston, contributes $350,000, and the Commonwealth of Virginia and state of North Carolina have contributed $400,000 and $300,000, respectively, in recent years.
“Dominion has periodically contributed to the stocking of sterile grass carp, which is not a significant contribution for the effective management of aquatic vegetation/algae across the 350 miles of Lake Gaston shoreline owned by Dominion,” the letter says. “The financial implications of managing aquatic vegetation/algae on Lake Gaston have increased substantially in recent years due to the cost of herbicides and licensed applicator labor costs.”
The letter says that Halifax County requests FERC to require Dominion Energy to supplement the efforts of each county and state, and that Dominion is responsible for the lands above and below water from the lakeside high-water mark to the shoreline, across the lake bottom, and up to the high-water mark on the other side of the water. “Simply contributing funds for grass carp is not enough, and more funding is needed. Today, some responsible aquatic vegetation/algae control has been implemented in accordance with recommendations by North Carolina State University and the Technical Advisors Group and decisions by the LGWCC, but more funding is required to achieve the desired long-term lake sustainability. The goal is not to eradicate the aquatic vegetation/algae but to manage the native species responsibly using trained professionals.”
The letter asks Dominion to match the city, county, and state funding for the management of aquatic vegetation/algae on Lake Gaston. “Specifically, we request Dominion budget a minimum of $10,000,000 over the next five years to fund aquatic vegetation/algae management, including treatment, of this ongoing and growing problem. Without this support, along with community education, communication, and awareness, this problem will worsen.”
It is possible, the letter says, that lakefront property owners may apply unapproved chemicals on their own, thereby negatively affecting the environment for wildlife, native vegetation, and humans.
More specifically, and based on the recommendations from the technical advisory group that includes North Carolina State University and the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council, the county requests Dominion support the following funding:
Match the funding from the five counties at $580,000 annually
Match the funding for the city of Virginia Beach at $400,000 annually
Treat additional Lyngbya — 500 acres at roughly $1,000 per acre or $500,000 per treatment with at least two treatments per year at a minimum of $1 million annually
The minimum annual total should equal $1.98 million for a 5-year minimum of $9.90 million.
"In 2004, the Dominion license issued by FERC was renewed for 40 years without sufficient requirements for aquatic vegetation management,” the letter says. “If Dominion’s responsibilities are left outdated until a future license renewal, and the management of aquatic vegetation/algae is insufficiently funded, the LGWCC may not be able to raise the necessary funds from each of the counties and states in the future.”
