News

FOSR’s Summer E.coli Testing Program Results for July 10, 2024

07.10.2024 FSMB North Fork Shenandoah River at Meems Bottom covered bridge in Shenandoah County VA

Below is the link to the E. coli results for the water samples collected yesterday, 07.10.2024, as part of Friends of the Shenandoah River’s Summer E. coli Testing Program.  The Friends of the Shenandoah River provide, as a guideline, the US Environmental Protection Agency recommended precautionary “do not exceed” freshwater Beach Action Value (BAV) of 235 CFU of E. coli bacteria per 100mL of water sample for early alert to for those planning on recreating in natural freshwaters, including families with children. https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FOSRs-2024-Summer-E.-coli-Testing-Program-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-07.10.2024-.pdf

 

Shenandoah River watershed aquatic ecosystem is under increased stress

On July 10th, 2024, the water level on the main-stem Shenandoah River at Morgan Ford bridge had  receded so much that the bank is now at our mid-river site, FW-35MID, which has occurred 16 days earlier compared to last year (July 26th, 2023). Also, during this sampling event the water temperatures at these sites averaged between 80-84°F.  Site FP02 on the South Fork Shenandoah River at Newport PBR in Page County sampled above this average at 86.9°F, a measure that I don’t recall previously recording in my time doing field work. With both stressors (high water temperatures and decreasing water levels), the Shenandoah River watershed aquatic ecosystem is under increased stress.

 

NEWS RELEASE: Shenandoah National Park Temporarily Suspends Fishing

Effective immediately, Shenandoah National Park’s streams and rivers are closed to fishing due to low flows and high water temperatures.

Pass Run, Shenandoah National Park, 2023 NPS/Photo 

Dry conditions have led to extremely low stream flows throughout the park, including some river sections that are completely dry. Hot weather has also led to high water temperatures. Despite some rain on Wednesday, June 26, river flows remain low and are expected to continue dropping with continued hot, dry weather.
Low flows and high temperatures create extremely stressful conditions for fish, and dissolved oxygen can decline to fatal conditions. The additional stress of angling during these conditions could harm the native brook trout populations, which are already low across much of the park. This closure is for all streams within park boundaries including both open-to-harvest and catch-and-release waters. The closure will be lifted when stream conditions improve. Stream flows are expected to remain low until significant precipitation occurs across the area.
Although it has been rare for the park to close fishing in the past few decades, it was done in response to drought conditions in 2021 and 2023.  https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/news/shenandoah-national-park-temporarily-suspends-fishing-2024.htm

Water levels continue to decrease

07.10.2024 Site: FW35 located on the Shenandoah River along the bank at Morgan’s Ford bridge public boat launch, Warren County VA. No H2O sample was collected at this site because the water level has receded so that the bank is now at the mid-river site, FW35MID.

Today, Wednesday July 10, Madison and I were out collecting the water samples for the FOSR’s Summer E. coli Testing program. We had beautiful skies, there was a hot breeze, and temperatures were climbing! We are concerned and can see a decrease in the water level since we were at the sites last week.

“Is the River Safe”?

We are frequently asked, “Is the River “safe?”  As much as we might want to, we are not able to state whether a section of the

07.01.2024 FSSP North Fork Shenandoah River @ public boat launch in Strasburg Park, Shenandoah County, VA

 River is safe or not because while in the River one could step on a bottle top or fish hook causing injury, hit a submerged log, or come in contact with other hazards.  What we do provide is weekly real-time scientific-based accredited E. coli concentration results for river recreation users to make their own informed decision about potential associated health risks when recreating in the areas of the river tested.  It is also important to remember that these results provide a snapshot of the E. coli bacteria concentrations at the designated sites on the date, time, and under the conditions that the water samples were collected.  Overall the E. coli bacteria levels at the sites that Friends of the Shenandoah River (FOSR) monitor on the North Fork, South Fork, and Main-stem as part of our summer E. coli Testing Program at public access sites have been below the the US Environmental Protection Agency recommended precautionary “do not exceed” freshwater Beach Action Value (BAV) of 235 CFU of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water sample for early alert to recreators, including families with children. Any single sample above the freshwater BAV could trigger an alert notification until another sample below the freshwater BAV is collected.  If conditions remain the same, dry, the trends indicate that E. coli levels may remain below 235 at the River sites tested.

The two sites that have routinely exceeded freshwater Beach Action Value (BAV) of 235 CFU of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water sample are tributaries.  Site FPHCTL located on the Hawksbill Creek  of Luray off Virginia Ave. (Rt. 340) @ Pocket Park in Town of Luray in Page County.  The other site is FW36, the water sample is collected from Manassas Run, a tributary that flows into the River, upstream of its confluence with the Main-stem of the Shenandoah River in Warren County.

We monitor three sites near Morgan’s Ford bridge in Warren County, FW 35, FW35Mid, and FW36.

  • Site FW35 – the water sample is collected along the bank of the Main-stem Shenandoah River at Morgan’s Ford bridge public boat landing immediately downriver of the confluence with Manassas Run
  • Site FW35Mid – the water sample is collected mid-width (in the middle of the third pylon out from the eastside) of the Main-stem Shenandoah River at Morgan’s Ford bridge
  • Site FW36 – the water sample is collected from Manassas Run, a tributary that flows into the River, upstream of its confluence with the Main-stem of the Shenandoah River

Site FW 36, Manassas Run, typically has elevated E. coli levels that at times can contribute to higher E. coli levels along the bank, at site FW35, then the E. coli levels measured just straight out further in the middle of the River at site FW35Mid.  Typically, people, especially children, can be seen playing in the river along the bank just downstream of the confluence of Manassas Run.  We collect the three samples at this site to make people aware of the immediate effect a tributary can have on water-quality just downstream of a confluence.

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FOSRs-2024-Summer-E.-coli-Testing-Program-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-07.01.2024.pdf

Shenandoah River Watershed is Facing Challenges

Below is the link to the E. coli results for the water samples collected yesterday, 06.26.2024, as part of Friends of the

06.26.2024 FC01 Shenandoah River at Berry’s Ferry PBR Rt. 50 bridge, Clarke County VA

Shenandoah River’s Summer E. coli Testing Program.  The Friends of the Shenandoah River provide, as a guideline, the US Environmental Protection Agency recommended precautionary “do not exceed” freshwater Beach Action Value (BAV) of 235 CFU of E. coli bacteria per 100mL of water sample for early alert to for those planning on recreating in natural freshwaters, including families with children.  There are two sites that have repeatedly exceeded the “early alert threshold” these are:

  • FW36 – Manassas Run upstream of the confluence with main-stem Shenandoah River, just upstream of the Morgan Ford public boat landing in Warren County VA.  On 06.26.2024 the E. coli level measured at this site was 435.2 MPN of E. coli colony-forming units per 100mL of water sample
  • FPHCTL – Hawksbill Creek off Virginia Ave. (Rt. 340) @ Pocket Park in the Town of Luray, Page County VA. On 06.26.2024 the E. coli level measured at this site was 980.4 MPN of E. coli colony-forming units per 100mL of water sample

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FOSRs-2024-Summer-E.-coli-Testing-Program-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-06.26.2024-V.pdf

On June 24, 2024, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, issued a drought warning advisory to include 12 counties, seven of which are in the Shenandoah River watershed.  “Precipitation deficits in combination with increased temperatures have resulted in rapid intensification of drought throughout the majority of the Commonwealth with substantial below-normal observations noted within the Northern Virginia and Shenandoah drought evaluation regions.  A drought warning advisory indicates a significant drought is imminent and is in effect for the Shenandoah region, which includes Augusta,  Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren, and Clarke counties.”  https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Home/Components/News/News/233/16

On June 26, 2024, when visiting FOSR’s Summer E. coli Testing Site FPM13 Moody public boat launch at Mile 13 on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in Page County, VA., we observed possible algal blooms and filamentous algae. We submitted a report to VA Dept. of Health and VA Dept. of Environmental Quality. Please visit the link below for information and precautions related to HABs.  https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/harmful-algal-blooms/

 

VA DEQ Issues Drought Warning for Counties in the Shenandoah River Watershed

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a drought warning advisory that includes the following counties in the Shenandoah River watershed: Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren, and Clarke.  The continued high temperatures and little to no measurable rain, has caused a rapid decline in surface waters (streams and rivers) and in the groundwater in the watershed.  Please do your part to conserve water.

Click on the link to read more about the drought warning advisory https://www.deq.virginia.gov/Home/Components/News/News/233/16

Possible Harmful Algal Blooms on South Fork Shenandoah River

Today, June 26, 2024, when visiting FOSR’s Summer E. coli Testing Site FPM13 Moody public boat launch at Mile 13 on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River in Page County, VA., we observed possible harmful algal blooms and filamentous algae. We submitted a report to VA Dept. of Health and VA Dept. of Environmental Quality. Please visit the link below for information and precautions related to HABs.

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/harmful-algal-blooms/

Prepared for the next FOSR’s Summer E. coli Testing Event on Wednesday June 26, 2024

We are ready to head out tomorrow morning, Wednesday June 26, to collect the water samples for the Friends of the Shenandoah River’s summer E. coli testing program. The E. coli bacteria concentration results will be posted on Thursday, June 27, after the required incubation period, the results have been read, and validated.

Photo: Friends of the Shenandoah River’s water-quality testing laboratory Intern/Laboratory Assistant Madison Upperman collecting a water sample to be tested for E. coli concentration.

FOSR’s Summer E. coli Testing Program Results for Wednesday, June 19, 2024

As the temperature outside rises the cool waters of the Shenandoah Rivers maybe calling to you.  The goal of FOSR’s summer E. coli testing program is to provide frequent, real-time accredited E. coli concentration results for river recreation users to make their own informed decision about potential associated health risks when recreating in the areas of the rivers tested.  Below is the link for the E. coli results for the water samples collected yesterday, 06.19.2024, as part of Friends of the Shenandoah River’s Summer E. coli Testing Program.

fosr.org/…/FOSRs-2024-Summer-E.-coli-Testing-Program-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-06.19.2024-1.pdf

 

 

 
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