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

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/

These are the E. coli results for the water samples that were collected yesterday, Tuesday, July 18, 2023.  The sites located on the Main-stem, North Fork, and South Fork of the Shenandoah River had relatively low levels of E. coli, while the E. Coli levels in Manassas Run however remain elevated.

• FW 36 – 435.2 MPN E. coli  Manassas Run, upstream of the confluence with the Shenandoah River at Morgan Ford low water bridge in Warren County, VA

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FOSR-2023-Summer-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-07.18.2023.pdf

As a benchmark, the FOSR uses the single sample concentration threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use that was included in the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019.  Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli concentration/levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.  These data represent a snapshot of the water quality on the date, time, and under the conditions that the water sample was collected.

These are the E. coli results for the water samples that were collected yesterday, Tuesday, July 11, 2023.  The sites located on the Main-stem, North Fork, and South Fork of the Shenandoah River had relatively low levels of E. coli, while the E. Coli levels in Manassas Run however remain elevated.

https://fosr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FOSR-2023-Summer-Quantitative-E.-coli-Concentration-Results-through-07.11.2023.pdf

• FW 36 – 248.1 MPN E. coli  Manassas Run, upstream of the confluence with the Shenandoah River at Morgan Ford low water bridge in Warren County, VA

As a benchmark, the FOSR uses the single sample concentration threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use that was included in the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019.  Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli concentration/levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.  These data represent a snapshot of the water quality on the date, time, and under the conditions that the water sample was collected.