The summer season is upon us and the Friends of the Shenandoah River is here to provide you with E. coli data courtesy of our VA DEQ Level III water quality testing laboratory. These data can help you to make an informed decision about potential health risk exposure to pathogens associ
ated with the presence of E. coli in the water when recreating in the River at the specified sites.
This is the link to find the first set of E. coli data for Summer 2023.
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.
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;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.
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. 
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
