Shellfish harvesting waters in Virginia classified as "Conditionally Approved" are in the OPEN status unless a 'condition' has been met. If the condition has been met, the waters identified immediately below will convert to CLOSED (Restricted) status for a set duration of time.
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.
Harvesters and other shellfish stakeholders interested in email and text updates of closures can Opt-In to be added to, or Opt-out to be removed from the contact list by emailing daniel.powell@vdh.virginia.gov. These contacts will receive text and/or email updates the evening before Rainfall Conditionally Approved Areas CLOSE or OPEN for harvest. Email addresses and mobile numbers will not be shared with additional groups. VDH Privacy Policy available here. Text messages are sent out only on evenings before an area becomes CLOSED. Message and date rates may apply.
Unless otherwise classified as condemned by separate order, the current status of Rainfall-based Conditionally Approved Areas for the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels as of Thursday, May 21, 2026:
Yeocomico River and tributaries Conditional Area Sections C23 and C24, Conditional Area Sections C8, C25, C26, and C27
- OPEN.
Back River and tributaries Conditional Area Sections C21, C28 & C31, Conditional Area Sections C22 & C29
- OPEN.
Lynnhaven River and tributaries Conditional Area Section C1
- OPEN.
Onancock Creek and tributaries Conditional Area Sections C9, C20, C31 & C32, Conditional Area Section C30
- OPEN.
Pungoteague Creek and tributaries Conditional Area Sections C4 & C33
- OPEN.
Nandua Creek and tributaries Conditional Area Section C5
- OPEN.
Nansemond River, Linkhorn Bay, Chuckatuck Creek, and Poquoson River are former Conditionally Approved Rainfall waters reclassified to Approved, Restricted, or marina-based Conditionally Approved status.
Rainfall Decision Support Tool
This application offers a forecasting tool to determine rainfall closure possibilities associated with waters classified as Conditionally Approved Rainfall. Disclaimer: This decision support tool is considered an experimental product, and thus NOAA will not be held liable from issues arising from its interpretation and use.
Number of Rainfall Events, Closed-Day Totals, and Annual Rainfall by Year and Conditional Area:
2026 (through April 30)
Yeocomico River Conditional Areas: 2 events 20 days 9.07"
Poquoson Conditional Areas: 4 events 42 days 10.53" *
Back River Conditional Areas: 4 events 36 days 11.51"
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 1 events 10 days 8.95"
Onancock Conditional Areas: 0 events 0 days 7.10"
Pungoteague Conditional Areas: 0 events 0 days 7.40"
Nandua Conditional Areas: 0 events 0 days 7.82"
2025
Yeocomico River Conditional Areas: 10 events 87 days 43.79"
Poquoson Conditional Areas: 13 events 112 days 52.53" **
Back River Conditional Areas: 16 events 133 days 48.23"
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 12 events 105 days 50.30"
Onancock Conditional Areas: 7 events 70 days 33.99"
Pungoteague Conditional Areas: 6 events 60 days 33.87"
Nandua Conditional Areas: 8 events 80 days 37.17"
2024
Yeocomico River Conditional Areas: 3 events 30 days 24.20" *
Poquoson Conditional Areas: 13 events 108 days 45.09"
Back River Conditional Areas: 2 events 20 days 4.08" *
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 19 events 152 days 53.39"
Onancock Conditional Areas: 6 events 68 days 31.57"
Pungoteague Conditional Areas: 6 events 68 days 32.53"
Nandua Conditional Areas: 10 events 103 days 37.99"
2023
Poquoson Conditional Areas: 12 events 96 days 44.38"
Back River Conditional Areas: 8 events 67 days 36.70" *
Chuckatuck Conditional Areas: 9 events 77 days 39.39" *
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 12 events 118 days 47.33"
Onancock Conditional Areas: 6 events 56 days 28.51"
Pungoteague Conditional Areas: 6 events 56 days 27.32"
Nandua Conditional Areas: 7 events 57 days 28.89"
2022
Poquoson Conditional Areas: 10 events 93 days 51.62″
Back River Conditional Areas: 1 event 10 days 6.56" *
Chuckatuck Conditional Areas: 8 events 73 days 44.29″
Nansemond Conditional Areas: 8 events 60 days 33.00″ *
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 9 events 69 days 44.93″
Linkhorn Conditional Areas: 8 events 57 days 30.83″ *
Onancock Conditional Areas: 4 events 40 days 32.60″
Pungoteague Conditional Areas: 5 events 50 days 33.35″
Nandua Conditional Areas: 7 events 70 days 33.98″
2021
Poquoson Conditional Areas: 8 events 62 days 23.58″ *
Chuckatuck Conditional Areas: 15 events 160 days 48.43″
Nansemond Conditional Areas: 36 events 194 days 51.86″
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 6 events 69 days 40.57″
Linkhorn Conditional Areas: 7 events 54 days 40.26″
Onancock Conditional Areas: 3 events 30 days 22.81″ *
Pungoteague Conditional Areas: 4 events 40 days 29.58″
Nandua Conditional Areas: 6 events 60 days 33.48″
2020
Chuckatuck Conditional Areas: 1 events 10 days 6.05" *
Nansemond Conditional Areas: 46 events 276 days 67.87"
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 11 events 99 days 61.85"
Linkhorn Conditional Areas: 12 events 103 days 60.67"
Pungoteague Conditional Areas: 5 events 56 days 48.24" *
Nandua Conditional Areas: 7 events 63 days 52.46" *
2019
Nansemond Conditional Areas: 33 events 215 days 49.30"
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 6 events 60 days 46.40"
Linkhorn Conditional Areas: 8 events 66 days 46.51" *
2018
Nansemond Conditional Areas: 37 events 269 days 51.77"
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 9 events 78 days 55.45"
2017
Nansemond Conditional Areas: 28 events 194 days 47.91"
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 11 events 104 days 49.43"
2016
Nansemond Conditional Areas: 10 events 45 days 25.52" *
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 15 events 111 days 75.13"
2015
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 9 events 69 days 50.51"
2014
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 14 events 114 days 50.92"
2013
Lynnhaven Conditional Areas: 6 events 51 days 22.43" *
* Totals denote a partial year since the date a specific conditional area became active / inactive.
** Includes days closed per emergency closure.
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:
None.
Middle Peninsula:
GA # 028 - Lagrange Creek: Section S217
GA # 028 - Robinson Creek and tributary: Section S218
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 # 006 - Gardner, Jackson and Bonum Creeks: Sections S1-S3 & S203
GA # 013 - Upper Great Wicomico River and tributaries: Sections S178-S180
GA # 013 - Lower Great Wicomico River and tributaries: Sections S84-S85 & S183
GA # 022 - Greenvale and Paynes Creeks: Section S108
GA # 022 - Beach Creek: Section S107
Middle Peninsula:
GA # 030 - Meachim Creek: Sections S35 & S214-216
GA # 031 - Locklies and Mill Creeks: Section S34
GA # 032 - Hunting and Sturgeon Creeks: Sections S36 & S37
GA # 037 - Queens and Lanes Creeks: Section S127 & S132
GA # 037 - Stutts and Billups Creeks and tributaries: Sections S128, S130 & S131
GA # 037 - Milford Haven and Gwynns Island: Section S126
Lower Peninsula:
None.
South of James River / Southern Hampton Roads:
None.
Eastern Shore:
None.
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.
Rainfall Decision Support Tool
Disclaimer: This decision support tool is considered an experimental product, and thus NOAA will not be held liable from issues arising from its interpretation and use.