Virginia Department of Health Lifts Harmful Algae Bloom Advisory for the North Fork

On Friday, September 17th, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) lifted its harmful algae bloom advisory for the 52.5 mile stretch of the North Fork, between Chapman’s Landing and Riverton. Samples collected along the river on September 14th, 2021 showed no cyanobacteria cells present and toxin levels well below those that pose a risk to human health. You can see the locations sampled on the map below.

Municipal water supplies in Strasburg, Woodstock, and the City of Winchester have been monitored throughout this advisory, and toxin levels have remained below VDH and EPA health advisory levels during the entire advisory period.

While algal mats have dissipated and cyanobacteria cells are not currently being detected, algae conditions can change with favorable conditions. Please stay alert and avoid any discolored water, scums, or algae mat material when you are out recreating on the river. Click here to read the VDH press release lifting the harmful algae bloom advisory.

Friends of the North Fork will be digging into this summer’s algae blooms, where we are with this year’s fish populations, and water resources in the Northern Shenandoah Valley in our virtual Autumn Lecture Series, The State of the River: Its Health and Ours. Presenters will include officials from the VDH, DEQ, DWR and Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission. Stay tuned for lecture dates and how to register!