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.
