Shellfish harvesting waters in Virginia classified as “Conditionally Approved” are in the OPEN status unless a ‘condition’ has been met. If so, these waters convert to closed for a set duration. Rainfall based Conditionally Approved waters are in the CLOSED status for ten days, and open on the eleventh day, when a rainfall ‘condition’ occurs. When rainfall exceeds the condition threshold for a 24-hour (8pm – 8pm) period, these waters will close.
Unless otherwise classified as condemned by separate order…
Current status of Rainfall-based Conditionally Approved Areas for the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels as of Saturday May 8, 2021:
Lynnhaven River Conditional Area C1
– OPEN.
Nansemond River Conditional Area C2
– OPEN.
Linkhorn Bay Conditional Area C3
– OPEN.
Pungoteague Creek Conditional Area C4
– OPEN.
Nandua Creek and tributaries Conditional Areas C5, C6, and C7
– OPEN.
Chuckatuck Creek Conditional Area C8
– OPEN.
Onancock Creek Conditional Area C9
– OPEN.
Rainfall Closure Totals by Year and Conditional Area:
2020
Chuckatuck Conditional Area C8: 1 events 10 days 6.05″ *
Nansemond Conditional Area C2: 46 events 276 days 67.87″
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 11 events 99 days 61.85″
Linkhorn Conditional Area C3: 12 events 103 days 60.67″
Pungoteague Conditional Area C4: 5 events 56 days 48.24″ *
Nandua Conditional Areas C5, 6 & 7: 7 events 63 days 52.46″ *
2019
Nansemond Conditional Area C2: 33 events 215 days 49.30″
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 6 events 60 days 46.40″
Linkhorn Conditional Area C3: 8 events 66 days 46.51″ *
2018
Nansemond Conditional Area C2: 37 events 269 days 51.77″
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 9 events 78 days 55.45″
2017
Nansemond Conditional Area C2: 28 events 194 days 47.91″
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 11 events 104 days 49.43″
2016
Nansemond Conditional Area C2: 10 events 45 days 25.52″ *
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 15 events 111 days 75.13″
2015
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 9 events 69 days 50.51″
2014
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 14 events 114 days 50.92″
2013
Lynnhaven Conditional Area C1: 6 events 51 days 22.43″ *
* Totals denote a partial year since the specific conditional area became active.
Waters Classified Seasonally – Open from September 1 through March 31
Effective annually from September 1 – March 31, the following Seasonally Condemned Conditional Areas are OPEN to the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels:
Northern Neck:
GA # 016 – Dymer Creek: Sections S112 and S114
GA # 016 – Indian Creek: Sections S110 and S136
GA # 016 – Tabbs Creek: Section S115
Middle Peninsula:
GA # 044 – Severn River, Northwest Branch: Sections S155-S157
GA # 044 – Severn River, Southwest Branch: Sections S153-S154
GA # 048 – Morris Bay, Adams and Bland Creeks and Purtan Bay: Sections S90 and S164
Lower Peninsula:
None.
South of James River / Southern Hampton Roads:
None.
Eastern Shore:
None.
Waters Classified Seasonally – Open from November 1 through March 31
Effective annually from November 1 – March 31, the following Seasonally Condemned Conditional Areas are OPEN to the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels:
Northern Neck:
GA # 004 – Nomini Creek: Sections S124-S125
GA # 005 – Lower Machodoc Creek: Section S4
GA # 006 – Gardner, Jackson and Bonum Creeks: Sections S1-S3 and S14
GA # 007 – Northwest and West Yeocomico Rivers and tributaries: Sections S38-S39, S95-S96 and S199
GA # 007 – South Yeocomico River and tributaries: Sections S40-S41 and S97
GA # 008 – Coan River and tributaries: Sections S5-S6, S135 and S172
GA # 008 – Kingscote Creek, Wrights Cove and Glebe Creek: Sections S78, S133 and S173
GA # 009 – Cod Creek: Sections S175-S176
GA # 009 – Hull Creek: Section S177 and S200-S202
GA # 010 – Little Wicomico River and tributaries: Sections S11-S13, S86-S87 and S184-S187
GA # 011 – Gaskin and Owens Pond: Sections S189-S191
GA # 011 – Taskmakers and Little Taskmakers Creeks: Sections S192-S193
GA # 012 – Cockrell Creek: Section S194
GA # 014 – Mill and Harveys Creeks: Sections S148-S150 and S174
GA # 021 – Lower Corrotoman River tributaries: Sections S52-S53 and S101
GA # 021 – Middle Corrotoman River tributaries: Sections S55-S58, and S103
GA # 021 – Eastern Branch Corrotoman River and tributaries: Sections S59-S60 and S106
GA # 021 – Western Branch Corrotoman River and tributaries: Sections S62-S64 and S105
GA # 022 – Beach Creek: Section S107
GA # 023 – Lancaster and Morattico Creeks: Sections S118-S119
GA # 023 – Mulberry and Deep Creeks: Sections S120-S121
Middle Peninsula:
GA # 032 – Hunting and Sturgeon Creeks: Sections S36-S37
GA # 034 – Healy Creek: Sections S67 and S69
GA # 034 – Cobbs and Wilton Creeks: Sections S70 and S109
GA # 035 – Upper Piankatank River and tributaries: Section S65
GA # 036 – Barn Creek: Section S126
GA # 037 – Queens and Lanes Creeks: Sections S127 and S132
GA # 037 – Stutts and Billups Creeks and tributaries: Sections S128-S130
GA # 041 – Upper East River and tributaries: Sections S42, S43 and S45
GA # 041 – Lower East River and tributaries: Section S166, S197 & S198
GA # 041 – Put In Creek: Section S44
GA # 042 – Lower North River and tributaries: Sections S22 and S160-S161
GA # 042 – Upper North River and tributaries: Sections S23-S24, S159 and S162
GA # 043 – Ware River and tributaries: Section S25-S26 and S188
GA # 047 – Timberneck Creek: Section S16
GA # 047 – Cedarbush, Carter (Gloucester Co.) and Aberdeen Creeks: Sections S17-S18
GA # 047 – Jones Creek: Section S93
Lower Peninsula:
GA # 053 – Poquoson River: Sections S142 and S144
GA # 053 – Chisman Creek: Sections S138, S140 and S141
GA # 053 – Bennett Creek: Section S147
South of James River / Southern Hampton Roads:
None.
Eastern Shore:
GA # 086 – Mattawoman Creek: Sections S48, S195 and S196
For more information see the Division of Shellfish Safety’s web page at www.vdh.virginia.gov/shellfish, or contact the Division at 804-864-7480 during normal business hours.