Residents of Virginia Beach have reported a stench coming from Thalia Creek near Mount Trashmore. Now, state officials are working to find out why.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has officially opened an investigation into the smell. A complaint logged on the department’s public web portal describes “horrible” smells and “gas bubbles releasing from the bottom of the creek.”
Del. Michael Feggans said in a news release that he and Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler reached out to VDEQ about the smell, which prompted the investigation. According to Feggans, staff from the department gathered water samples from Thalia Creek, but the results “did not show abnormal results,” he said. More samples have been taken, and those results will be available within the next couple weeks. The department did not immediately respond to questions about the testing on Tuesday.
“Last week I walked the area near Mount Trashmore, Lake Trashmore and Lake Windsor to speak directly with residents about the strong odor they have been experiencing,” Feggans said in a statement. “I share their concerns and know how important it is for our community to have clear answers about our water quality and environmental safety.”
Ali Weatherton, a spokesperson for the city, said in an email that there are no indicators that the smell is coming from “illicit discharges” at this time.
“The key takeaway from the reports is that, while there is an odor present, the source appears to be a natural biological process rather than a mechanical or chemical issue,” she said. “This is very similar to our bodies of water that experience odors at low tide.”
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
https://www.dailypress.com/2025/08/26/stench-near-mount-trashmore/

