At only one River site this week, the northernmost testing site on the Main-stem Shenandoah River, FC08 Castleman’s Ferry public boat launch in Clarke County VA, the E. coli level of 365.4 CFU/100mL exceeded the EPA’s recommended threshold for freshwater recreation.
Following significant rainfall, it’s not uncommon to see a spike in bacteria levels. Rain can wash pollutants such as animal waste, fertilizers, sewage, and other contaminants into the River. As illustrated in the infographic, the three upstream sites along the Main-stem from FC08 Castleman’s Ferry reported lower E. coli levels, as the “flush” of pollutants from the past weekend’s heavy rains continues to move downstream.
We encourage all River users to stay informed by following FOSR’s summer weekly E. coli testing updates. Your donations make it possible for us to continue providing these vital water quality results.
