Is There a Problem With the Salinity of North Landing River?

That's a question I posed to Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologist Chad Boyce (see right) recently, as a result of comments I've heard from some local fishermen. Here is his response:

"So far this fall, I've been working in Back Bay and haven't had an opportunity yet to sample the North Landing River (NLR). However, it very well could have higher salinity than usual for multiple reasons. The drought this year has raised salinity in Back Bay from around 1 ppt to 2 ppt...so it has 'doubled,' but it's still very, very low when compared to the Chesapeake Bay. For comparison, 0 ppt is fresh, and 32 ppt is ocean salinity. The NLR likely is much higher due to its connection to the Intracoastal Waterway and the frequent openings of the locks, especially during this time of year. Elizabeth River salinity is much higher this fall due to drought, so when the locks open every 30 minutes, it's flooding the upper portion of the river with high-salinity water coming from the lower Elizabeth River. This could certainly affect bass distribution. Additionally, salt water from Lynnhaven can enter the river through upper West Neck Creek during north-wind events. I would definitely expect the NLR to have much higher salinity than usual, especially the upper portion of the river closest to the locks.

"A lot of folks think the NLR is a pristine river and is very 'natural,' but in terms of water quality, that couldn't be further from the truth. In terms of water quality, the NLR is one of the most severely impacted freshwater rivers in Virginia as it relates to undesirable saltwater intrusion into a relatively fresh-water ecosystem. It's a shame that aspects of the locks and saltwater intrusion don't get more attention. You mentioned that it seemed like people are catching more flounder than normal. The presence of Southern flounder isn't unusual at all, but if folks are catching more than normal, then it could be indicative of higher salinity."