{"id":1845,"date":"2016-07-07T15:38:30","date_gmt":"2016-07-07T15:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/?page_id=1845"},"modified":"2026-04-19T20:51:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T00:51:00","slug":"conditional-shellfish-harvesting-status","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/shellfish-safety\/conditional-shellfish-harvesting-status\/","title":{"rendered":"Conditional Shellfish Harvesting Area Status"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Shellfish harvesting waters in Virginia classified as \"Conditionally Approved\" are in the OPEN<\/em> status unless a 'condition' has been met.\u00a0 If the condition has been met, the waters identified immediately below will convert to CLOSED<\/em> (Restricted) status for a set duration of time.<\/h4>\n

Rainfall-based Conditionally Approved waters are in the CLOSED<\/em> status for ten days, and open on the eleventh day, when a rainfall 'condition' occurs.\u00a0 When rainfall exceeds the condition threshold for a 24-hour (8pm - 8pm) period, these waters will close.<\/h4>\n

Unless otherwise classified as condemned by separate order,<\/span><\/em> the current status of Rainfall-based Conditionally Approved Areas for the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels as of Monday, April 20, 2026:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Yeocomico River and tributaries\u00a0 Conditional Area Sections C23 and C24<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0 <\/strong>Conditional Area Sections C8, C25, C26, and C27<\/span><\/a>
\n<\/strong>-<\/em> OPEN.<\/h4>\n

Back River and tributaries Conditional Area Sections C21, C28 & C31<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0 Conditional Area Sections C22 & C29<\/span><\/a><\/strong>
\n-<\/em> OPEN.<\/h4>\n

Lynnhaven River and tributaries\u00a0 Conditional Area Section C1<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\n- <\/em>OPEN.<\/h4>\n

Onancock Creek and tributaries\u00a0 Conditional Area Sections C9, C20, C31 & C32<\/span><\/a>, Conditional Area Section C30<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/strong>- <\/em>OPEN.<\/h4>\n

Pungoteague Creek and tributaries\u00a0 Conditional Area Sections C4 & C33<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/strong>- <\/em>OPEN.<\/h4>\n

Nandua Creek and tributaries\u00a0 Conditional Area Section C5<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/strong>- <\/em>OPEN.<\/h4>\n
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.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Rainfall Decision Support Tool<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

This application offers a forecasting tool to determine rainfall closure possibilities associated with waters classified as Conditionally Approved Rainfall<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Disclaimer: 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

Number of Rainfall Events, Closed-Day Totals, and Annual Rainfall by Year and Conditional Area:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

2026<\/strong> (through March 31)
\nYeocomico River Conditional Areas:\u00a0 2 events\u00a0 20 days\u00a0 7.96\"
\nPoquoson Conditional Areas:\u00a0 4 events\u00a0 42 days\u00a0 9.73\" *
\nBack River Conditional Areas:\u00a0 4 events\u00a0 36 days\u00a0 9.83\"
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 1 events\u00a0 10 days\u00a0 7.79\"
\nOnancock Conditional Areas:\u00a0 0 events\u00a0 0 days\u00a0 6.20\"
\nPungoteague Conditional Areas:\u00a0 0 events\u00a0 0 days\u00a0 6.22\"
\nNandua Conditional Areas:\u00a0 0 events\u00a0 0 days\u00a0 6.61\"<\/p>\n

2025\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\nYeocomico River Conditional Areas:\u00a0 10 events\u00a0 87 days\u00a0 43.79\"
\nPoquoson Conditional Areas:\u00a0 13 events\u00a0 112 days\u00a0 52.53\" **
\nBack River Conditional Areas:\u00a0 16 events\u00a0 133 days\u00a0 48.23\"
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 12 events\u00a0 105 days\u00a0 50.30\"
\nOnancock Conditional Areas:\u00a0 7 events\u00a0 70 days\u00a0 33.99\"
\nPungoteague Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events\u00a0 60 days\u00a0 33.87\"
\nNandua Conditional Areas:\u00a0 8 events\u00a0 80 days\u00a0 37.17\"<\/p>\n

2024\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\nYeocomico River Conditional Areas:\u00a0 3 events\u00a0 30 days\u00a0 24.20\" *
\nPoquoson Conditional Areas:\u00a0 13 events\u00a0 108 days\u00a0 45.09\"
\nBack River Conditional Areas:\u00a0 2 events\u00a0 20 days\u00a0 4.08\" *
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 19 events\u00a0 152 days\u00a0 53.39\"
\nOnancock Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events\u00a0 68 days\u00a0 31.57\"
\nPungoteague Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events\u00a0 68 days\u00a0 32.53\"
\nNandua Conditional Areas:\u00a0 10 events\u00a0 103 days\u00a0 37.99\"<\/p>\n

2023
\n<\/strong>Poquoson Conditional Areas:\u00a0 12 events 96 days 44.38\"
\nBack River Conditional Areas:\u00a0 8 events\u00a0 67 days\u00a0 36.70\" *
\nChuckatuck Conditional Areas:\u00a0 9 events\u00a0 77 days\u00a0 39.39\" *
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 12 events 118 days 47.33\"
\nOnancock Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events 56 days 28.51\"
\nPungoteague Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events 56 days 27.32\"
\nNandua Conditional Areas:\u00a0 7 events 57 days 28.89\"<\/p>\n

2022<\/strong>
\nPoquoson Conditional Areas:\u00a0 10 events\u00a0 93 days\u00a0 51.62\u2033
\nBack River Conditional Areas: 1 event 10 days 6.56\"\u00a0 *
\nChuckatuck Conditional Areas:\u00a0 8 events\u00a0 73 days\u00a0 44.29\u2033
\nNansemond Conditional Areas:\u00a0 8 events\u00a0 60 days\u00a0 33.00\u2033\u00a0 *
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 9 events\u00a0 69 days\u00a0 44.93\u2033
\nLinkhorn Conditional Areas:\u00a0 8 events\u00a0 57 days\u00a0 30.83\u2033\u00a0 *
\nOnancock Conditional Areas:\u00a0 4 events\u00a0 40 days\u00a0 32.60\u2033
\nPungoteague Conditional Areas:\u00a0 5 events\u00a0 50 days\u00a0 33.35\u2033
\nNandua Conditional Areas:\u00a0 7 events\u00a0 70 days\u00a0 33.98\u2033<\/p>\n

2021<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Poquoson Conditional Areas:\u00a0 8 events\u00a0 62 days\u00a0 23.58\u2033\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/strong>
\nChuckatuck Conditional Areas:\u00a0 15 events\u00a0 160 days\u00a0 48.43\u2033
\nNansemond Conditional Areas:\u00a0 36 events\u00a0 194 days\u00a0 51.86\u2033
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events\u00a0 69 days\u00a0 40.57\u2033
\nLinkhorn Conditional Areas:\u00a0 7 events\u00a0 54 days\u00a0 40.26\u2033
\nOnancock Conditional Areas:\u00a0 3 events\u00a0 30 days\u00a0 22.81\u2033\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/strong>
\nPungoteague Conditional Areas:\u00a0 4 events\u00a0 40 days\u00a0 29.58\u2033
\nNandua Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events\u00a0 60 days\u00a0 33.48\u2033<\/p>\n

2020<\/strong>
\nChuckatuck Conditional Areas:\u00a0 1 events\u00a0 10 days\u00a0 6.05\"\u00a0 \u00a0*<\/strong>
\nNansemond Conditional Areas:\u00a0 46 events\u00a0 276 days\u00a0 67.87\"
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 11 events\u00a0 99 days\u00a0 61.85\"
\nLinkhorn Conditional Areas:\u00a0 12 events\u00a0 103 days\u00a0 60.67\"
\nPungoteague Conditional Areas:\u00a0 5 events\u00a0 56 days\u00a0 48.24\"\u00a0 \u00a0*<\/strong>
\nNandua Conditional Areas:\u00a0 7 events\u00a0 63 days\u00a0 52.46\"\u00a0 \u00a0*<\/strong><\/p>\n

2019<\/strong>
\nNansemond Conditional Areas:\u00a0 33 events\u00a0 215 days\u00a0 49.30\"
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events\u00a0 60 days\u00a0 46.40\"
\nLinkhorn Conditional Areas:\u00a0 8 events\u00a0 66 days\u00a0 46.51\"\u00a0 \u00a0*<\/strong><\/p>\n

2018<\/strong>
\nNansemond Conditional Areas:\u00a0 37 events\u00a0 269 days\u00a0 51.77\"
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 9 events\u00a0 78 days\u00a0 55.45\"<\/p>\n

2017<\/strong>
\nNansemond Conditional Areas:\u00a0 28 events\u00a0 194 days\u00a0 47.91\"
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 11 events\u00a0 104 days\u00a0 49.43\"<\/p>\n

2016<\/strong>
\nNansemond Conditional Areas:\u00a0 10 events\u00a0 45 days\u00a0 \u00a025.52\"\u00a0 \u00a0*<\/strong>
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 15 events\u00a0 111 days\u00a0 75.13\"<\/p>\n

2015<\/strong>
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 9 events\u00a0 69 days\u00a0 50.51\"<\/p>\n

2014<\/strong>
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 14 events\u00a0 114 days\u00a0 50.92\"<\/p>\n

2013<\/strong>
\nLynnhaven Conditional Areas:\u00a0 6 events\u00a0 51 days\u00a0 22.43\" *<\/p>\n

*\u00a0 Totals denote a partial year since the date a specific conditional area became active \/ inactive. <\/em><\/p>\n

** Includes days closed per emergency closure.<\/em><\/p>\n

Waters Classified Seasonally - Open from September 1 through March 31<\/span><\/h3>\n

Effective annually from September 1 - March 31, the following Seasonally Condemned Conditional Areas are OPEN<\/em><\/span> to the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels:<\/h4>\n

Northern Neck:<\/span>
\nNone.<\/h4>\n

Middle Peninsula:
\nGA # 028 - Lagrange Creek: Section S217<\/span><\/a>
\nGA # 028 - Robinson Creek and tributary: Section S218<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lower Peninsula:<\/span>
\nNone.<\/h4>\n

South of James River \/ Southern Hampton Roads<\/strong><\/span>:<\/strong><\/span>
\nNone.<\/h4>\n

Eastern Shore:<\/span>
\nNone.<\/h4>\n

Waters Classified Seasonally - Open from November 1 through March 31<\/span><\/h3>\n

Effective annually from November 1 - March 31, the following Seasonally Condemned Conditional Areas are OPEN<\/em><\/span> to the harvest of oysters, clams and mussels:<\/h4>\n

Northern Neck:<\/span><\/strong>
\nGA # 006 - Gardner, Jackson and Bonum Creeks: Sections S1-S3 & S203<\/a>
\nGA # 013 - Upper Great Wicomico River and tributaries: Sections S178-S180<\/a><\/strong>
\nGA # 013 - Lower Great Wicomico River and tributaries: Sections S84-S85 & S183<\/a><\/strong>
\nGA # 022 - Greenvale and Paynes Creeks: Section S108<\/a><\/strong>
\nGA # 022 - Beach Creek: Section S107<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Middle Peninsula:<\/span>
\nGA # 030 - Meachim Creek: Sections S35 & S214-216 <\/a>
\nGA # 031 - Locklies and Mill Creeks: Section S34<\/a>
\nGA # 032 - Hunting and Sturgeon Creeks: Sections S36 & S37<\/a>
\nGA # 037 - Queens and Lanes Creeks: Section S127 & S132\u00a0<\/a>
\nGA # 037 - Stutts and Billups Creeks and tributaries: Sections S128, S130 & S131<\/a>
\nGA # 037 - Milford Haven and Gwynns Island: Section S126<\/a><\/h4>\n

Lower Peninsula:<\/strong><\/span>
\nNone.<\/h4>\n

South of James River \/ Southern Hampton Roads:<\/strong><\/span>
\nNone.<\/h4>\n

Eastern Shore:<\/span>
\nNone.<\/h4>\n

For more information see the Division of Shellfish Safety\u2019s web page at www.vdh.virginia.gov\/shellfish<\/a>, or contact the Division at 804-864-7480 during normal business hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Rainfall Decision Support Tool<\/h3>
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis application offers a forecasting tool to determine rainfall closure possibilities associated with waters classified as Conditionally Approved Rainfall.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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