I have been asked if the fish in the North Fork, South Fork, and Main-stem of the Shenandoah River are safe to eat. To answer this question here is the link to the  VA Dept Health Fish advisories

This is the link to the VA Dept of Health website page with information about fish consumption advisories:

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/public-health-toxicology/fish-consumption-advisory/

The Shenandoah River brings out the impromptu artist in some of us.

For several weeks now garbage has been piling up at the Lockes Landing public access area off Rt. 621 in Clarke County. This past Wednesday when I was there to collect a water sample I ran into three young gentlemen from Watermelon Park. They had just finished filling a frontend loader with all of the garbage that had been pilling up at the ramp. They were very concerned about the degradation of the site and the potential human health and safety risks. We thank you and the river thank you! Everyone do your part; take your trash with you!

As everyone is gearing up for the 4th of July, these are the E. coli levels of the water sample that were collected yesterday, Wednesday, July 1.   If the conditions remain relatively the same as when these water samples were collected, these results may provide a baseline.

FOSR 2020 Summer Quantitative E. coli Concentration Results through 07.01.2020

The following are some examples that could cause elevated E. coli levels:

• Tributaries (E.g. Manassas Run on Wednesday, July 1 E. coli levels measured 259.5 MPN CFU per 100 mL of water sample) and at the confluences where these streams flow into the river.
• Areas were cows and other livestock are in the water or on the banks
• Rain: localized and widespread
• Point sources that discharge into the stream or river

These are the E. coli results for the water samples that were collected yesterday, Thursday, June 18, 2020.

FOSR 2020 Summer Quantitative E. coli Concentration Results through 06.18.2020

Several of the sites had elevated E. coli levels. At the following sites the E. Coli levels exceeded the previous instantaneous Virginia water quality standard threshold of 235 E. Coli CFUs per 100ml of sample for primary recreational contact:

• 461.1 MPN E. coli – Shenandoah River at the Route 7 public boat launch in Clarke County VA
• 1203.3 MPN E. coli – Shenandoah River at Morgan Ford low water bridge along the bank of the public boat landing in Warren County
• 1732.9 MPN E. coli – Manassas Run upstream of the confluence with the Shenandoah River at Morgan Ford low water bridge in Warren County
• 980.4 MPN E. coli – Manassas Run at Dismal Hollow Road and Gore Road
• 290.9 MPN E. coli – South Fork of the Shenandoah River at Front Royal public boat landing off Luray Ave in Warren County
• 579.4 MPN E. coli – South Fork of the Shenandoah River at relocated Salem/White House public boat landing on west side of river/river left in Page County
• 920.8 MPN E. coli – North Fork of the Shenandoah River below Meems Bottom covered bridge in Mt. Jackson, Shenandoah County

In a freshwater system, these data represent a snapshot of the water quality on the date, time, and under the conditions that the water sample was collected.