Water Quality
Back River from Jamestown island
Chuck Rafkind
Preliminary findings indicate generally good water quality in most surface waters within the park. Most of the water bodies and wetlands in the park have major portions of their drainage basin upstream and outside of park boundaries. The park, in cooperation with researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science conducted a study to investigate the effects of adjacent urban and agricultural development on the shallow groundwater and selected surface water resources of the park. Testing indicates potential local sources of groundwater contamination from nitrate and ammonia at several sites near Jamestown Island, Williamsburg and Yorktown. Salinity and phosphate concentrations were low or below detectable levels.
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Did You Know?
Artillery played a decisive role in defeating the British at Yorktown. According to Brigadier General Henry Knox, the American artillery commander, the Americans and French fired 15,437 artillery rounds at the British during the eight day bombardment. This is an average of 1.2 shots a minute!