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

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

Below is the link to the E. coli results for the water samples collected yesterday, 06.11.2024, as part of Friends of the Shenandoah River’s Summer E. coli Testing Program. To confirm the previous 3 consecutive elevated E. coli readings at site FPHCTL, Hawksbill Creek Town of Luray off Virginia Ave., we performed a compliance QC split sample and collected a sample identified as FPHCUB upstream of site FPHCTL. The location of the upstream site, FPHCUB, was selected to potentially eliminate the semi-exposed sewer line the runs through Hawksbill Creek at site FPHCTL as seen in photo. With the elevated readings found upstream, it appears that this sewer line is not the culprit. We will continue to investigate if funding/donations continue to be available. To support our efforts please go to the donate tab.

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FOSRs-2024-Summer-E.-coli-Testing-Program-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-06.11.2024.pdf

These are the E. coli results for the water samples collected on Wednesday June 05, 2024 as part of Friends of the Shenandoah River (FOSR) Summer E. coli Testing Program at public access locations on the Main-stem, South Fork, and North Fork of the Shenandoah River.  On this day, 4 out of 16 of the sites tested exceeded the threshold limit of 235 E. coli CFU/100 mL utilized by FOSR for primary recreational activities in freshwater streams and rivers. Prior to October 2019, Virginia’s water quality standard for freshwater beach advisories or closures was a single sample maximum of 235 E. coli CFU/100 ml of sample. Virginia no longer has a single, instantaneous, sample maximum threshold for E. coli for primary recreational contact in freshwaters.

After 3 consecutive weeks of elevated E. coli readings at the FPHCTL Hawksbill Creek site located in the Town of Luray we have decided to also test at a site upstream next week. The purpose for doing this will be to attempt to isolate potential cause(s) of the repeated abundance of E. coli at this site.

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FOSRs-2024-Summer-E.-coli-Testing-Program-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-06.05.2024.pdf

 05.30.204 FPHCTL Hawksbill Creek, Town of Luray, Page County VA E. coli reading 980.4 MPN  CFUs per 100mL of sample

These are the E. coli results for the water samples collected on Thursday May 30, 2024 as part of Friends of the Shenandoah River (FOSR) Summer E. coli Testing Program at public access locations on the Main-stem, South Fork, and North Fork of the Shenandoah River.  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.

On May 30, 2024, 1 out of 16 of the sites tested exceeded the criteria utilized by FOSR of 235 E. coli CFU/100 ml.  Prior to October 2019, Virginia’s water quality standard for freshwater beach advisories or closures was a single sample maximum of 235 E. coli CFU/100 ml of sample. Virginia no longer has a single, instantaneous, sample maximum or any criteria for primary recreational contact in freshwaters.