Clarke County, Virginia— Elevated levels of E. coli bacteria were detected at two testing sites on the Shenandoah River on July 23, 2025, prompting warnings for recreational users, according to Friends of the Shenandoah River (FOSR).
Water samples collected at Castleman’s Ferry public boat ramp in Clarke County and Hawksbill Creek at Luray-Hawksbill Creek Greenway Pocket Park downstream pedestrian bridge in Page County exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended precautionary “do not exceed” freshwater Beach Action Value (BAV) of 235 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water.
At Castleman’s Ferry, E. coli levels reached 365.4 MPN. In contrast, at Hawksbill Creek, levels hit 579.4 MPN, both significantly above the safety threshold and signaling potential health risks for recreators, including families with children…