Virginia Department of Health Reopens a Portion of the Upper Machodoc Creek to Shellfish Harvesting

March 14, 2022

Media Contact: Risk Communications Manager/Northern Region Public Information Officer Lorrie Andrew-Spear, lorrie.andrew-spear@vdh.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Health Reopens a Portion of the Upper Machodoc Creek to Shellfish Harvesting

(RICHMOND, Va.) – The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced today that a portion of the Upper Machodoc Creek in King George County, previously closed to shellfish harvesting January 21, 2022, due to a release of partially untreated sewage impacting water quality in the area, will reopen effective Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

The VDH Division of Shellfish Safety has been receiving sampling updates from the Department of Environmental Quality for the Dahlgren Wastewater Treatment Plant since the plant was found to be out of compliance. Sampling results show that the plant has returned to permitted limits and water quality sample results confirm that the area is now safe for shellfish harvesting.

For more information on shellfish closures, see the frequently asked questions on shellfish condemnations at www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/emergency-closures/.

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