News

Passage Creek E. coli Results in Elizabeth Furnace Day Use Area

Yesterday, Thursday September 15, I collected water samples to measure the E.coli levels in segment of Passage Creek that flows through the Elizabeth Furnace Day Use Recreational area. This was in preparation for the US Forest Service and @ShenandoahRiverkeeper RioPalooza event being held tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 17.

 
As a reference point, the FOSR uses the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019 which was a single sample threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use. Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.

FOSR’s Summer E. coli Test Results for Thursday, September 08, 2022

The E. coli levels at 3 of the 12 sites tested on Thursday, September 8, 2022, exceeded the 235 E. coli CFU/100 mL threshold for recreational use. These three sites were;
  • Fw35 – Main-stem Shenandoah River along the stream-bank at Morgan’s Ford public boat landing in Warren County, VA. The water level and flow in the main-stem of the Shenandoah River at Morgan’s Ford PBL had increased enough for a water sample to be collected at site FW35.
  • FW35Mid – Main-stem Shenandoah River mid-river at Morgan’s Ford public boat landing in Warren County
  • FSSP North Fork Shenandoah River at Strasburg Park public boat landing, Shenandoah County, VA

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/FOSR-2022-Summer-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-09.08.2022.pdf

Although a water sample was collected at site FW36, Manassas Run upstream of the confluence with the Shenandoah River at Morgan’s Ford public boat landing in Warren County, VA, there isn’t any data because the sample was dropped during the set up for E. coli testing.  Also, access to the Opequon Creek site is still  blocked by down tress and brush preventing a water sample from being collected at this site.

As a reference point, the FOSR uses the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019 which was a single sample threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use. Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.

The FOSR is providing these data for you to make an informed decision regarding recreation in the Shenandoah River watershed based on the sites tested.

 

 

 

 

Algal Mats spotted on North Fork Shenandoah River, Deer Rapids Public Boat Ramp

When collecting a water sample on 09.01.2022 at Site FSDR – North Fork Shenandoah River, Deer Rapids PBR, Shenandoah County, VA for the FOSR’s Summer E. coli Testing Program, I observed Algal Mats. 

Decreasing Volume of Water Flowing in the Shenandoah River South Fork

Today, the volume of water flowing through the South Fork of the Shenandoah River at the Front Royal PBL in Warren County VA is below the 91-year median daily statistic.

 

FOSR’s Summer E. coli Test Results for Thursday, September 01, 2022

The E. coli levels at 2 of the 12 sites tested on Thursday, September 1, 2022, did exceeded the 235 E. coli CFU/100 mL threshold for recreational use. These two sites were
  • FC05, Lockes Landing PBL Main-stem Shenandoah River in Clarke County VA
  • FW36 Manassas Run above the confluence with Main-stem Shenandoah River at Morgan’s ford PBL in Warren County VA.

 

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/FOSR-2022-Summer-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-09.01.2022.pdf

The water level in the main-stem of the Shenandoah River at Morgan’s Ford PBL has receded so that now the edge of the streambank is at the mid-river site FW35 MID. Again, I was unable to collect a water sample at the Opequon Creek site because access was blocked by down tress and brush.

As a reference point, the FOSR uses the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019 which was a single sample threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use. Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.

The FOSR is providing these data for you to make an informed decision regarding recreation in the Shenandoah River watershed based on the sites tested.

FOSR’s Summer E. coli Test Results for Thursday, August 25, 2022

The E. coli levels at all of the 13 sites tested on Thursday, August 25, 2022, did not exceeded the 235 E. coli CFU/100 mL threshold for recreational use.

I was unable to collect a water sample at the Opequon Creek site because access was blocked by down tress and brush.

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FOSR-2022-Summer-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-08.25.2022.pdf

As a reference point, the FOSR uses the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019 which was a single sample threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use. Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.

The FOSR is providing these data for you to make an informed decision regarding recreation in the Shenandoah River watershed based on the sites tested.

FOSR’s Summer E. coli Test Results for Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The E. coli levels at all of the 14 sites tested on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, did not exceeded the 235 E. coli CFU/100 mL threshold for recreational use.

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FOSR-2022-Summer-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-08.17.2022.pdf

As a reference point, the FOSR uses the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019 which was a single sample threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use. Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.

The FOSR is providing these data for you to make an informed decision regarding recreation in the Shenandoah River watershed based on the sites tested.

 

 

 

FOSR’s Summer E. coli Test Results for Tuesday, August 02, 2022

Of the 14 sites tested on Tuesday, August 02, 2022, one exceeded the 235 E. coli CFU/100 mL threshold for recreational use. The site that exceeded was:

  • FCOC – Opequon Creek, Clarke County, VA,  E. coli 461.1 MPN CFU per 100 mL of sample

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/FOSR-2022-Summer-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-08.02.2022.pdf

As a reference point, the FOSR uses the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019 which was a single sample threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use. Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.

The FOSR is providing these data for you to make an informed decision regarding recreation in the Shenandoah River watershed based on the sites tested.

Potential Algae Blooms Observed in the NF Shenandoah River

On July 20, 2022 while collecting water samples we observed what appeared to be a mix of green algae and aquatic vegetation in the North Fork Shenandoah River at the Strasburg Park and Deer Rapids public boat landings in Shenandoah County, VA.. Your help is needed in reporting the status of algae blooms in the River.

To report sightings (a picture documenting your observation is very helpful), follow this link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/…/harmful-algal-bloom…/

New White House Public Boat Landing on the SF Shenandoah River is Open

 

The “new” White House/Salem public boat landing on the east side, river right, of the South Fork Shenandoah River in Page County, VA,  is now open.  The new ramp is located just left, south, of the east and west bound Rt. 211 bridges off Kauffmans Mill Road (Rt. 646) west of Luray. The temporary ramp that was located on the west side of the River is no longer accessible as it is being removed.

 
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